Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Professional Summary ♦ Visionary out-of-the-box thinker with a relational approach and long-term focus. ♦ Creative strategist: ideation, refinement, and streamlining. Focused on sustainability and equity. ♦ Successful team- and community-builder. Designer of goal-driven strategic partnerships. Expert manager of indirect reports. ♦ Communications veteran. 25 yrs. of experience and a vast toolkit to convey intricate concepts in an accessible way. Facilitation work in multicultural settings ♦ Leadership development expert with 15+ years of culturally-sensitive, people-centered and research-based expertise. ♦ Highly skilled at implementing antiracist & restorative frameworks and developing intercultural humility. About me: I am a devoted and innovative equity strategist, communicator/educator/facilitator, researcher, coach and mentor. An expert project leader, I have developed BIPOC-centered trainings, coordinated and facilitated coalition work, organized culturally-relevant initiatives and supported legislative efforts for the betterment of us all. I have been involved in a variety of equity-centered initiatives to make my community more inclusive, including workshops for Latinx power and partnerships to assess inclusion in the classroom, engagement in the community and community needs in the non-profit sector. I am versed in the use of Intercultural competence assessment tools and techniques to measure/evaluate and develop intercultural humility. 15+ years of experience in nonprofit (Higher Education and Leadership Development). I taught and researched Ethnic Studies, Cross-cultural Studies, and Hispanic/Latinx Literatures/Cultures. My wide experience has influenced my multi-disciplinary academic endeavors, leadership style and project development. I have published 5 academic papers in peer-reviewed journals, 3 book reviews, as well as journalistic pieces and creative writings in print media. I am an active member of my diverse community: I coordinated fundraising auctions in Chicago; I curated and promoted films for the Minneapolis-St Paul International Film festival; and organized a multi-channel video exhibition for Latinx teens (Regis Center for Art, 2012). Since 2016, I have been engaged in varied initiatives to improve equity and inclusion in my community.
As Director of Leadership Development, I lead all our programs . My goal is to create the infrastructure needed to have more Latinx leaders by expanding opportunities for success, influence, and power. I work to increase Latinx access, visibility and opportunity via intentional programming, connections, partnerships and coalition building. I build our programs from the ground up, including the Avanzando Liderazgo Program (6 month leadership program for emerging and established leaders), and events in collaboration. I alsi lead strategic convening to align efforts and boost collective power. Avanzando Liderazgo Program ALP -I continue to improve ALP with goal of it becoming a true referent of Latinx Leadership Development. -I recruit the ALP cohort and selection committee. -I develop systems centered of access and impact. -I develop and facilitate sessions/meetings. Self Study: Community Needs Assessment I am leading the Community Needs Assessment initiative, a year-long project to better understand the community we serve and the community we could be serving. In partnership with Wilder Research (https://www.wilder.org/wilder-research), this network-wide and network-expansive project will inform LatinoLEAD's strategic plan. Elevate Inspire LatinoLEAD series -I organize varied, relevant, inspiring and culturally responsive monthly events including our race-focused event Afrolatinidad, panels with community leaders and initiatives in partnership with organizations such as the Department of Employment and Economic Development, Latino Economic Development Center, Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research, Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs (MCLA), St. Thomas University, Borikén Cultural Center and Mujeres Latinas Unidas de Minnesota. Linking Leaders/ Solidarity Com. of Practice: I work in coalition with local Ethnic-based orgs aligning efforts to boost collective power.
My vision as Community Engagement Manager is to become a community builder by bringing people in and nourishing deep-rooted transformational connections to expand Latinx access, visibility and success. Avanzando Liderazgo Program -I successfully recruited a strong, intergenerational and diverse 2021-22 cohort of established and emerging leaders across sectors and life experiences. -I developed, facilitated sessions/meetings. Elevate Inspire LatinoLEAD series -I organize varied, relevant, inspiring and culturally responsive monthly events including panels with Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, School Board members, MN teacher of the year Natalia Benjamin; an info sessions about Covid relief funds for small business in partnership with DEED; and a Latinx-centered management shop. Education Action Team, coalition work -I support the work of the team. Currently I am facilitating their meetings, organizing coalition work and supporting a Legislative campaign for more funding for ELL students in MN. I have made sure we, Latinx are at the table, we met with Gov. Walz, MDE, other organizations and plan meetings with Legislators to advance our agenda. LiderCon, leadership conference -I support the organizing team. I co-led and introduced four 2021 sessions.
I designed and taught Latina/o/x-centered asynchronous, fully online courses exploring the introductory concepts, the history and experiences of Chicanos and Latinos in Minnesota and in US, from an anti-racist perspective. The majority of the students are first generation, BIPOC and/or adult learners. "Latino/Hispanic Cultural Competency: Introductory Concepts" course (upcoming) "Latinas/os in MN course": 7 week asynchronous, fully online offering studying the history and experience of Chicanos and Latinos in Minnesota, including the origins of the Chicano/Latino community, social and political histories, and contemporary issues affecting Chicanos and Latinos in Minnesota. Focuses include immigration to the state; agricultural and urban labor history and settlement patterns; contemporary immigrations streams; race, racism, and xenophobia; and the development of community organizations focused on Latino issues. Significant focus is given to issues of race and racism. Instructor's approach: We will explore Latino/a/x communities in Minnesota from an anti-racist perspective; their history, struggles to belong and be part of the larger Minnesota community, knowing that this community does not “stand on approximately equal footing” (Kendi, 18). We will pay special attention to the various formulations of identity for Latinas/os/x; considering intrinsic intersections of race, ethnicity, gender and class. Students will also study community organizations focused on Latina/o/x issues.
St. Olaf College – Department of Romance Languages (six courses/year: 36 classes taught 2014-2020) Teaching: I co-designed and taught 36 Courses in Cross-Cultural Studies (Literature, Culture and Spanish Language) to more than 700 students including classes such as Latinx Experiences in the U.S. and Intercultural Connections in a Global World: The U.S. and the Spanish-Speaking World. I connect my courses with my research and my multicultural community. I have successfully developed and improved my classes to include all students. 3 Deans of Humanities supervising my work have recognized my work to help students succeed academically and emotionally. Selected Curriculum Development on Equity and Inclusion: I trained and led conversations to make the St. Olaf curriculum more inclusive. Specifically, I trained on diversity, inclusivity, subconscious bias, and microaggressions (DiversityEDU, 2017), as well as on curriculum design to address race, equity, gender and inclusion; I piloted new primary materials and pedagogies, assessed students learning and was invited to present the outcomes/assessments of a course pilot in 2018-19. I played an active role in an equity and inclusion retreat on curriculum design (Summer, 2019). I participated in the St. Olaf Teaching Summit Workshop “Developing Culturally Responsive Pedagogical Strategies for Students of African Descent” and “Cultivating Classroom Inclusivity through Structured In-class Activities” (Fall 2019). I was invited to present the findings of my “To include is to Excel”/Mellon Foundation project (Center for Innovation in the Liberal Arts, Fall 2019).
Advising and Mentoring: In 2019, I was selected to train as International Advising Specialist. I helped students meet their academic, legal and emotional challenges as well as navigate the resources on campus to help all students succeed.
Advising and Mentoring: Starting in 2017, I have been the academic advisor of more than 15 students, a vital role of the intentionally residential support system at St. Olaf. I meet with students regularly, was consulted for registration and planning for opportunities during and after college.