Engaged Latina Leadership Activist (ELLA) Graduation and Showcase 2022

70 W Hedding St,San Jose CA 95110

23 July, 2022

Description

Our biggest class in its history, this year’s ELLA graduates came in full force demonstrating phenomenal leadership and courage to advocate for justice and equality for Latinas in the Silicon Valley. This year’s theme is “Yo soy ELLA; Together in Unity” and will focus on the collective power of working together to find solutions to the most pressing issues impacting Latinas in the community while valuing the individual uniqueness of our distinct culture and lived experiences. The topics presented by the ELLAs include: Combating stigmas in Latinx cultures as it relates to generational traumasDemystifying mental health services and therapyEnvironmental justice as it relates to health disparitiesFinancial literacy accessParenting empowerment as it relates to children’s wellbeing during uncertain timesDomestic violence and household health as it relates to the LGBTQ communityWe are excited to welcome the community to join us in celebration and learning! Come support and find out how they have been making a difference and how we can all participate and keep their momentum going. Keep reading below to learn more about our ELLA program! The Engaged Latina Leadership Program (ELLA) Program is a six-month leadership program created to help Latinas between the ages of 19-29 to gain leadership and civic engagement skills through a series of professional activities, resources and mentoring. The ELLA Program is a byproduct of Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley’s mission to create and sustain a network of professional women that support each other in the advancement of civic engagement and leadership – and implemented in partnership with the Santa Clara County Office of Women’s Policy. The program aims to develop future leaders that can tackle some of the most pressing issues impacting Latinas and supports the broader movement to empower Latina women in Silicon Valley ELLA 2021 Graduation Keynote Speaker - Alejandra Gonzalez Alejandra Gonzalez is a successful entrepreneur, food blogger, and the founder of the missfoodiebayarea social media pages. Missfoodiebayarea has more than 41,000 Instagram followers and over 73,000 TikTok fans. She has also recently cofounded Con Azucar Café, a gourmet coffee shop that delights in the festiveness of Mexican culture and has helped rejuvenate downtown San Jose with its inspiring authenticity and specialty coffee drinks and foods. Alejandra and her husband live in San Jose, CA. Our Wonderful Judges Mayra Flores Mayra Flores has spent the first 16 years of her career as a journalist in the South Bay. She is an award-winning reporter and life-long community enthusiast. Mayra is a graduate of the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Leadership Institute and a proud San José State University Spartan. She is the Chief of Staff to Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg. Outside of her work responsibilities, she is also the 2022 Co-Chair for the Latino Leadership Alliance and a contributor to East Side Magazine. She is a mother and proud daughter of immigrant parents. Corina Herrera-Loera Corina Herrera-Loera serves as a Trustee for the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District (ARUSD). Corina has been a leader for transformative systemic change, and with other community champions. She leads ARUSD which is among the first K-8 school districts to integrate Ethnic Studies into curriculum, defund contracts with police, and implement a first of its kind Early Learning Center for children of ages 0-5. Gloria Torres Gloria is a long time member of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley. She supports LCSV's mission and efforts. Gloria earned her Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Spanish from Santa Clara University and her Master's degree in Mexican American Studies from San Jose State University. Today, she is a paralegal on the Code Enforcement Team at the San Francisco City Attorney's Office. Gina Gates Gina Gates-Lopez is a native San Josean that attended local public schools. She is the lead partner in Gates Consulting Group that is dedicated to empowering the community by raising collective knowledge to create opportunity and momentum that affects change. She currently serves on the San Jose Senior Commission and the 211 Bay Area Information & Referral Services Advisory Board. Previously, she has served as the President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving for four bay area counties, Vice-Chair of People Acting in Community Together (focused on bank accountability, and foreclosures), Board Member of Neighborhood Housing Services Silicon Valley, and continues to serve in numerous community, political, and school efforts. Gates-Lopez educational background is in computer science and marketing and has continued her education in various forms, including certifications in Community Organizing, Human Resources, and Business Development. In 2005 Gates completed training with Hispanas Organized for Political Equality Leadership Institute (HLI). At the HLI commencement in 2005, she declared her commitment to bringing transparency to government and continues to do so. ELLA Class of '22 Speaker - Mariela Frias Mariela Frías is a first-generation, queer, Afro-Latina born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, a small city just off the coast of the Caribbean, and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. Mariela's career has focused on racial equity, social activism, and community building, leading her to uplift our future generations by helping cultivate a new world of innovative, insightful, and inspiring leaders. Currently, she works with the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) as their Racial Justice Fellow where she conducts original research by providing critical resources and learning opportunities for nonprofits around racial justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion. And in the fall, she will begin her fellowship with the California State Assembly as a Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellow. Mariela earned her Bachelor's in Comparative Ethnic Studies and Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies from Washington State University. She plans to further her career in Racial Justice, Public Policy, and Advocacy by creating safe spaces, opportunities, and better life outcomes for her fellow LGBTQ+, Latine, Black and African American, Indigenous/Native American, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Immigrant communities. Mariela is working to become a true racial equity leader and change-maker; she hopes to receive either a Masters in Public Policy or a J.D. in Civil Rights Law. Mariela volunteers for local nonprofits in her spare time and regularly enjoys traveling and experiencing new places. She also spends a great deal of time trying new foods. Mariela enjoys the art of expression and feeling through spoken word and poetry.