The Importance of Representation

914 Elm Avenue,Norman OK 73072

24 July, 2022

Description

Saidy Herrera Orellana was born and raised in Guatemala until the age of 16 when she continued her studies in New York, then California, and finally Oklahoma in 2004. She is the co-founder of Iglesia Pueblo de Dios, the Multicultural Officer for the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS), and reigning Señora Guatemala for Oklahoma 2021-2022. She has been called a pioneer, an educator, a cultural ambassador, and an advocate for higher education, equity, and immigrants’ rights. After relocating to Oklahoma with her husband Otto and three children: Paola, Daniel, and Abi; she resumed her education by completing the Ordained level at the School of Ministry, then an Associate in Business from OCCC, a Bachelor’s in Business focused on Supply Chain, a minor in Nonprofit Orgs, and a GBLSS certification by the College of Engineering, at the University of Oklahoma. She was elected among the top 100 entrepreneurs in the nation by the Hispanic Scholar Foundation, completed the Community Scholars program by the Carl Albert Research Center, the 2019 National Women in the Leadership Program, and the elite JCPenney Leadership Program by the Price College of Business. OKHURA and the UN Oklahoma Chapter recognized her as a Human Rights Awardee in 2019, later named top 50 Making a Difference by the Women of the Year in 2020 from the Journal Records for her service to the community while busy with family and education, and this June 2022, accepted into the Oklahoma Leadership Class #35. Over the years, Saidy has served the Hispanic community with spiritual, social, and empowerment services. Then it evolved into volunteering with the Latinas Women in Norman, the City of Norman - Citizens Financial Oversight Board, the Norman Coalition for Refugee Support, and pioneering the bilingual program at the Heritage Academy, among other activities. On a regular day, she is busy with any of the above or working as the OHS Multicultural Officer. Her primary responsibility is to develop program and outreach initiatives focused on Oklahoma’s diverse heritage and historically underrepresented communities, creating bridges of communication and cultural exchange opportunities for all Oklahomans. In this talk, she would like to share about “The Importance of Representation.”