LatinActivista 2025 – Elevating Latinas in Civic Engagement & Leadership
- LatinoLEAD
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 8
This year’s LatinActivista was a powerful gathering that brought together intergenerational Latinas and gender-expansive Latines committed to civic engagement, leadership, and advocacy. Hosted by the Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub, this event celebrated International Women’s Month by creating an intentional space to uplift voices that have shaped our communities through activism, policy, and leadership.
The morning kicked off with a warm welcome from Brenda Sanchez, LatinoLEAD’s Director of Leadership Programs, who set the tone for the day, encouraging attendees to engage, learn, and take action. She emphasized that advocacy is a collective effort and reminded us that we all have a role to play in shaping the future.
“I enjoyed LatinActivista because it was a powerful and safe space to think about all the ways we can work together to build a more inclusive and solid democracy. It takes all of nosotras!”
– Rosa Tock, Executive Director at Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs (MCLA)
Empowering Conversations and Training
We were honored to host Arianna Genis, a political strategist and founder of the Movida Initiative, who led an engaging training on how Latinas can build political power, counter disinformation, and drive systemic change. Her insights on mobilizing communities and leveraging cultural strengths in advocacy were truly inspiring.
Panel Discussion – Latinas Leading Change
The highlight of the afternoon was an impactful panel featuring Minnesota House Representative Maria Isa Pérez-Vega, Mayor Amada Marquez Simula, City Council Member Heidi Garrido, and Minneapolis School Board Member Adriana Cerrillo. Moderated by Sabrina Tapia, LatinoLEAD’s Advocacy Program Manager, the panelists shared their journeys, challenges, and strategies for navigating leadership as Latinas in public office.
Key themes from the discussion included:
The Power of Storytelling– How personal and cultural narratives fuel advocacy.
The Importance of Self Care– How important it is to ensure you have a supporting circle to uplift you and how to manage your time wisely.
The Future of Latine Leadership– Mobilizing Gen Z and ensuring the inclusion of undocumented and mixed-status families in civic engagement.
The audience had the opportunity to ask thought-provoking questions, such as work life balance, deepening the dialogue and sparking new ideas for action.
A Community-Driven Experience
Beyond the discussions, attendees enjoyed a vibrant Latina Vendor Market featuring local businesses such as Brow Jefa x Con Amor Esthetics, Collage Co, Nayeli Photos, and Kat Roman. Lunch, provided by Boca Chica, allowed for informal networking and connection-building.
LatinActivista was more than a training—it was a movement, a moment to reaffirm our collective power. We encourage you to continue the conversation and advocacy in your own communities.
📸 Check out the event photos and share your experience! Find them on our Flickr and tag us when posting. Let’s amplify the voices of Latinas leading change!
