THE 2022 NATIONAL LATINO LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM

October 19-22, 2022

Estancia del Norte Tapestry Collection by Hilton

San Antonio, TX

“These times call for us to lead grounded in the power of our ancestors and with great Brown joy – LIDERAMOS is just that – calling us to change the world from that centered place!” – Patricia Mejia, VP Community Engagement and Impact, San Antonio Area Foundation

Our 4th Annual National Symposium, Re(membering) Comunidad: The Corazón of Latino/a/x Leadership was a phenomenal success! Immense gratitude to the 100 community leaders who left home to learn and to grow with one another. Our stories carry testimonies and evidence of leadership rooted in our relationships to place, our cultures, our families, and how we each make up the weaving/tejido of the United States and our homelands.

We want to thank our sponsors who make this work and initiative possible. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has been instrumental in our formation and providing the stability it takes to build a reputable national organization. American Express investment in leadership will not go forgotten.

The pandemic has been a telling tale of who you can count on. The San Antonio Area Foundation and the National Association of Community Asset Builders were patient and waited til we could host our gathering this year in San Antonio. We are incredibly thankful and we hope your investment in these days will be paid forward in the memories and lessons grown with so many leaders in and out of San Antonio.

Symposium Highlights

“When the Soul is present, Spirit comes.” Ramon D. Vasquez, American Indians of Texas, opened and blessed our 4th Annual National Symposium! Each attendee was welcomed with our traditional colorful rebozo to let them know we accept them with open arms. San Antonio DJ Rambo Salinas dropped us into the groove of San Antonio sounds and cultura for a beautiful opening reception under the stars.

“There are people who lead, and there is leadership,” Carlos Orta, LIDERAMOS Board Chair. The second day was a testimony to “leadership” in the Latino community! Patricia Mejia, our luncheon keynotes shared from the heart how her Mama, her daughter, and those incredible mentors guided her leadership and Brown joy! The workshops and sessions lit up the community leaders. Marieangelie Ortiz Ortiz and ‘We Still Here’ documentary were a testimony to, “Quien dice que no se puede.” (Who says we cannot?). A powerful example that we can respond to natural disasters and be successful through grassroots community leadership.

On day three, Juana Bordas energized and invoked the POWER of Latino leadership. Our day continued with the nine sessions from National facilitators and coaches. LIDERAMOS is very honored to honor our Founder and President Emeritus Juana Bordas with our first National Leadership Award. The LIDERAMOS National Leadership Award is our way to honor Juana’s roots, the lessons we have learned from her struggles and triumphs, her scholarship, and more than anything else her fantastic SPIRIT that fortifies the bridges and movements for Latino leadership to be recognized and grow throughout the United States.

Our Local Leadership Awards were given to the Co-Founders of San Antonio’s Fuerza Unida, Viola Casares and Petra Mata. Through their leadership and legacy, Fuerza Unida is not only an organization but a refuge for anyone to come in. Their community center fosters collective organizing, women leadership, sewing classes, and convivios.

LIDERAMOS never wants to forget the power and efficacy of our local and National leaders.

We came full circle in corazón and community by listening to the song of Rodolfo Lopez and imagining community maps of care. No nos vencerá! We will lead, stay connected, and continue to celebrate our Brown joy and leadership!

Noche de Cultura Awards Ceremony

Our Noche de Cultura was an evening that captured ‘Brown Joy’! The smiles emanating from the Photo Busters photo booth and the tears of happiness flowing with our inaugural Local Leadership and National Leadership Awards is testimony that we see one another in each other. Our leadership is deep and we feel it in our bones and hearts.

LIDERAMOS is very honored to honor our Founder and President Emeritus Juana Bordas with our first National Leadership Award. Sylvia Puente, CEO of the Latino Policy Forum shared,

“We all know by now that Juana Bordas is a force. From the moment she was born in the hills of Nicaragua to her family’s journey to Tampa, Florida to unite in their immigrant dream. Her Mama’s determination to give her an education and the chaotic joy of being in a household with seven brothers and sisters, Juana says it best, she was raised with “ the resourceful, scrappy, talented, and street smart” skills that situate her leadership, writing, and teaching. Now, 83 years later and younger than ever, her vision and determination to include Latinos in leadership canon and development is coming full circle.

Thus, the LIDERAMOS National Leadership Award is our way to honor Juana’s roots, the lessons we have learned from her struggles and triumphs, her scholarship, and more than anything else her fantastic SPIRIT that fortifies the bridges and movements for Latino leadership to be recognized and grow throughout the United States.”

Our Local Leadership Awards were given to the Co-Founders of Fuerza Unida, Viola Casares and Petra Mata. In 1990, the Levi Strauss closed three manufacturing plants in Southside of San Antonio left 1,150 Southsiders (primarily Mexican and Mexican American women) jobless without any compensation for the sudden layoff. Petra and Viola said, “We gotta do something.” And they organized with other women in the community to fight for their severance pay. Viola’s hunger survived her hunger strike for 21 days, just like Ghandi. Their class action lawsuit against Levis’ arguing that the closure of the plant discriminated against Fuerza’s members who filed worker’s compensation claims was dismissed by the United States District courts, and charged the attorney representing Fuerza Unida $5000 for “filing a frivolous claim.” This did not stop Fuerza Unida, it made them stronger. The court enriched their belief and power in their movement where they traveled around the world to share their cause. And ultimately pressured Levi-Strauss to offer severance packages to future employees.

Today, through their leadership and legacy, Fuerza Unida is not only an organization but a refuge for anyone to come in. Their community center fosters collective organizing, women leadership, sewing classes and convivios, and offers catering services.

LIDERAMOS never wants to forget the power and efficacy of our local leaders.

We were also moved with giggles of the ‘cucuy’ by San Antonio Storyteller, Xavier Garza. And we ended the night dancing with San Anto Callajeros!

2022 LIDERAMOS CCL Fellows

Our gathering also uplifted the LIDERAMOS Center for Creative Leadership Fellowship. For the past three years, thanks to the vision and leadership of our founder, Juana Bordas, we have partnered with CCL to send Latinos leaders in the non-profit sector to their Leadership Development Program. This year, LIDERAMOS is proud to designate their first fellow at Leadership at the Peak, CCL’s C-Suite executive program and opens a new chapter of our partnership. We congratulate:

Natalia Chaves-Larkin, from National Association of Community Assets Builders, a pivotal change agent in their National Leadership Fellows Program.

Maricela Alcala, the CEO of Gryphon Place in Kalamazoo, MI who provides mental health and crisis counseling to the communities of Kalamazoo and nationally. And a co-founder of ELLAS, a Latina women’s leadership program.

Amy Hinojosa, a beloved LIDERAMOS Board member and the President and CEO of MANA: A National Women’s Organization, who is a compassionate and wise advocate in DC visibilizing Latina’s issues and connecting a network of women across the country.

Cesar Morena Perez, the Senior Associate Director Human Rights & Community Relations Department at the American Federation of Teachers, who travels to communities across the US listening and sending messages of teachers back to DC.

Jose Marco Paredes, the Director of Civic Engagement at Latino Policy Forum, an integral part of the connecting policy to community in Illinois.

Marco Davis, the President and CEO at Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, who we appreciate for raising the bar of how we embrace and visiblizie Latinos all over the country.

The Fellows’ participation is integral to expanding a nation of Latino leaders.

Latino Leadership Programs

LIDERAMOS highlighted two community based leadership programs we have the privilege of accompanying.

The ELLAS program in Southwest Michigan was organized in 2018 and they launched in 2021 in collaboration with LIDERAMOS. Their vision is to “reclaim our power as Latine leaders, allies and accomplices to become bridge builders and anti-racist change agents.”

The Adelante Leadership Institute is being launched this January in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Adelante Leadership Institute will deliver on the development of leadership principles including ethical behavior in leadership, enhancing respectful and inclusive relationships, selfless service, and making a meaningful difference in the Pikes Peak region. The Adelante Leadership Institute’s 8-month fellowship program will prepare Colorado Springs Latino and minority leaders for elevated roles in the public and private sectors.

A huge thank you to our Co-Host Carol Rodriguez and Richard Martinez who were game changers and the ultimate guides, hosts and inspirations in the grounding and planning of this National Symposium.

Thank you to our Host Committee Members: Patricia Mejia, San Antonio Area Foundation; Juan Valdez; Office of the Mayor, San Antonio, Richard Perez, CEO, San Antonio Chamber of Commerce; Levar Martin, Executive Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer, National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders; Roger Caballero, Executive Director, Madonna Center Inc.

Thank you to Red Rojas, a Yanawana artist who created our gathering art, and the photo mural art with so much care and intentionality.

Thank you to all of our volunteers and our Coordinator, Araceli Espinoza Garcia. They each brought enthusiasm and their talent so we could have a seamless and vibrant National Symposium.

Much thanks to the staff and hospitality of Estancia del Norte Tapestry Collection by Hilton.

We are incredibly thankful and we hope your investment in these days will be paid forward in the memories and lessons grown with so many leaders in and out of San Antonio.

are proud supporters of LIDERAMOS