Latinas From The Block To The Boardroom Theresa E. Gonzales

 Fatima Espinoza Vasquez. Ph.D.  Associate Professor University of Kentucky College
of Communication and Information School of Information Science will share with us her dedication to leveraging Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for positive social change, which originated from a panel conversation from the Latina Futures Symposium created by the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center and the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute earlier this year, to bridge a conversation across our social media usage, AI for businesses and also for political misinformation. 

Fatima's roots in Honduras and her role at the American embassy during the tumultuous events of 9-11 gave her a profound insight into the significance of information management. She shares with us her pivotal moments that helped reshaped her perception of technology—from an initial optimism about its universal benefits to a more critical awareness of the power dynamics and societal influences that mold its use and to holds and harnesses the access.

In the heart of our conversation, Fatima shed light on digital inequity, making a vital distinction from the oft-cited digital divide. She argued that digital inequity goes beyond mere access to technology—it is deeply intertwined with broader social structures such as race, gender, immigration status, and economic conditions. Illustrating this point, she brought up inspiring cases like rural Argentine communities creating digital infrastructures through cooperatives, challenging the normative corporate grip on technological advancement. Join us in learning how communities learn how they have power to leverage digital knowledge and infrastructure within their own communities. 

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Podcast production by Theresa E. Gonzales and Audio Engineered by Robert Lopez. 
To learn more about Latinasb2b.com and how you can work with us in a sponsorship opportunity, please contact us at info@latinasb2b.com. 

Gracias. 

We are incredibly honored to host Marlene Sanchez, the Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. As the Executive Director of theElla Baker Center for Human Rights, Marlene is a proud San Francisco native, and Chicana, where she has spent more than 20 years building power with youth and formerly incarcerated people. Through her work, Marlene has created pathways to invest in the leadership of people directly impacted by the criminal legal system and helped center the voices of young people to bring youth justice. For the past decade, she has helped pass policies focused on youth justice, reproductive justice, LGBTQ discrimination, police accountability, and sentencing reform. Marlene came to community work at age 15 looking for employment and a way out of the juvenile justice system. She is the result of change through a resourced community. 

In this episode, we discuss how incarceration breaks families and communities apart and it’s not the answer to keeping communities safe.  The United States prison system has the highest incarcerated population of brown and black men, and the legacy of prison systems stems from slavery and economic exploitation that this country was built upon. (Author, Nicole Hannah Jones mentions within the first chapters of her book, The 1619 project,) By holding accountability of elected officials, for housing, jobs and healthcare, instead of increasing funding to police and prison job creations, the Ella Baker Center has created impactful policy reform, recognizing their instrumental role in the passage of the Racial Justice Act. As we transition to the crucial topic of voting rights, we spotlight the advocacy groups like All of Us or None and Initiate Justice, tirelessly championing the electoral voice of the incarcerated. Ella Baker herself was the champion of civil rights and justice by fighting racisim and organizing the first non-violent youth movements, for the civil rights movement and championing our power to vote.  Marlene shares with us an open invitation to join the Ella Baker Center's newly launched membership program, starting May 22nd, here in Oakland California and online, to provide opportunities for you to participate or support their upcoming political organizing initiative and “Get The Vote Out” training programs for the summer of 2024. Marlene is a testament to the power of community activism in shaping a democracy that truly represents us all. Gracias Marlene. 

Join us as we welcome the remarkable Valerie De La Garza, a trailblazing Latina and the pioneering CEO of Fenton, a social justice and impact PR agency. Valerie shares her compelling journey from the working-class neighborhoods of Southeast Los Angeles to becoming a beacon of leadership in the communications field. Her narrative, deeply rooted in her 11th generation Chicana heritage, sheds light on the racial, economic, and educational disparities that have fueled her commitment to social change.

In this episode, we discuss the C-Suite and Boardroom representation when it comes to looking for Latinos and Latinas outside our familiar networks. This discussion serves as a call to action for bravery in stepping out of comfort zones, confronting the often risk-averse nature of organizations, and dismantling the cycle of sameness that hampers true diversity, especially within the public relations industry.

Rounding off our conversation, we delve into the challenges facing democracy and the responsibilities we all share in advocating for social justice. Valerie brings her insights on the legacy of Unidos and the significance of representation and voting rights in today's complex political landscape. Furthermore, we reflect on the success of initiatives like Homeboy Industries and the transformative power of storytelling and community action. I am especially grateful to have Valerie share her experience from the board of Homeboy Industries, illustrating the monumental shift from intentions to actions that can reshape communities globally. Tune in for a powerful discussion that will leave you inspired to engage, vote, and be a part of the change you wish to see in the world. 

Highlights:
(00:00 - 00:46) Latina Success in Media and PR
(07:29 - 08:37) Navigating Educational Opportunities for Latinos
(18:26 - 19:09) Diversity Challenges in PR Industry and Boardrooms
(25:53 - 27:21) Addressing Homelessness, Voting and Social Responsibility
(34:51 - 35:25) Global Community Action and Impact Through Homeboy Industries

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Podcast production by Theresa E. Gonzales and Audio Engineered by Robert Lopez. 
To learn more about Latinasb2b.com and how you can work with us in a sponsorship opportunity, please contact us at info@latinasb2b.com. 

Gracias. 

Today, we're joined by the creative and innovative founder of Nopalera,  Sandra Lilia Velazquez. Sandra takes us on a journey through a powerful narrative of embracing Chicana identity, to  her band Pistolera, to crafting beauty products with the Mexican cactus, the Nopal,  that encapsulates Mexican heritage.  The Nopal cactus isn't just a plant; it's a testament to the untapped potential within Latino communities, as we, Latinos,  know how utilize the entire Nopal: From The pads, which have medicinal purpose in being cooked, to the yummy “tunas” the reddish/purple fruit that grow from the cactus pads that you can eat!   But Sandra’s mission for Nopalera is clear:  to be bold and worthy of luxury. 

Together, we discuss how we can elevate Latino goods in the marketplace, much like the esteemed European luxury brands, and to ensure these products evoke the respect and value they deserve from consumers. It’s about self worth, as we clearly saw in her famous SharkTank episode, and her pivotal start up journey, where the challenges of learning the operational ropes with technology and trademarks, demonstrated her resilience in entrepreneurship.  Overall, she presents a passionate appeal to all listeners to support Nopalera's mission, by showing the power of customer advocacy in shaping a brand's success-We need to ask for the products where we shop, such as Ulta and Sephora, the higher end retailers where we see other European beauty and bath products.  We belong there too.  Sandra's story is one of resilience, identity, and the bold spirit of entrepreneurship to change our narrative. 

If you would like more information about Nopalera, you can visit their website at Nopalera.co and if you would like to learn more about Sandra, you can visit her website, which is full of valuable information, you can go to Sanda Lilia Velazquez.com 

Highlights:
(06:57 - 07:23) The Ordinary Nopal in Everyday Life
(09:40 - 10:41) Community Power Dominates Brand Influence
(16:48 - 18:11) Latinas in Leadership and Ownership
(21:08 - 22:06) Importance of Business Licensing and Trademarks
(26:19 - 26:45) Cost of Learning the Hard Way
(34:57 - 36:04) Empowering Latinas in Corporate Leadership

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Podcast Executive production by Theresa E. Gonzales and Creative Design & Audio Engineered by Robert Lopez.

To learn more about Latinasb2b.com and how you can work with us in a sponsorship opportunity, please contact us at info@latinasb2b.com. 

Gracias. 

We continue to celebrate Black History month with multi-award winner and Ambie award-winning host Anna DeShawn, as she pioneers the media landscape with a blend of rhythm and revolution from E3 Radio, to The Queer News Podcast and now, The Qube app that curates the best music and podcasts by BIPOC and QTPOC creators.  Recently inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame 2023, Anna's mission is clear - From her early days at E3 Radio.fm, Anna has been dedicated to creating a bigger platform for marginalized voices by creating the Qube and The Queer News Podcast. Her passion for elevating the stories and perspectives of BIPOC and QTPOC individuals has led to her becoming one of the most influential figures in the podcast media industry, as she brings us the Queer News as it happens, delivering stories and insights that traditional legacy media often overlooks. Her work is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is considered mainstream, ensuring that the narratives of BIPOC and QTPOC communities are brought to the forefront of media consumption. Through her pioneering efforts and support through Tech Rise in Chicago, Anna is not only informing her audience but also empowering them by reinforcing the importance of building inclusivity and diversity in tech with the stories we share and consume. Gracias, Anna for joining us today on Latinas From The Block To The Boardroom.

To connect with Anna on Social:
TikTok - https://tiktok.com/@annadeshawn 
Instagram - https://instagram.com/theannadeshawn   
Twitter - https://twitter.com/annadeshawn 
Facebook - https://facebook.com/annadeshawn

To connect with Latinas From The Block To The Boardroom

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YouTube @Latinasb2b
Join newsletter: www.latinasb2b.com
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Podcast production by Theresa E. Gonzales and Audio Engineered by Robert Lopez. 
To learn more about Latinasb2b.com and how you can work with us in a sponsorship opportunity, please contact us at info@latinasb2b.com. 

Gracias. 

Talib Jasir is a lifelong creator and storyteller and his journey has been one of evolution and resilience. He takes us on a journey of how he was captivated by audio storytelling in the back of his mother’s car and from listening to audiobooks through the library dial up telephone. YES, it was a thing back in the day!  

His narration of storytelling is profound through 5 generations of his family as lifelong storytellers through the women in his family, explaining the importance of keeping the family narrative together and passing it down to future generations. As POC keep moving through the digital world, it's even more imperative for us to tell our stories, to keep an archive of the events, to teach and inspire future generations. 

As a leader, creative, founder and CEO, Talib hasn’t been without challenges as he mentions that every obstacle has served to fortify his belief in his abilities and underscored the importance of seeking support and fostering a community-centric, collaborative approach​​. Talib became a dual-certified life coach in 2015 and he’s partnered with high-performing creatives and business owners across various industries. His own personal journey through personal coaching led him to establish a creator space and event,  Afros & Audio in 2018, aiming to empower and unite Black audio creators and professionals in a field where our voices were just beginning to gain the mainstream recognition they deserved​​. Gracias Talib. 

For more information about Talib, You can follow her here:



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Connect with Latinas From The Block To The Boardroom
Website: www.latinasb2b.com 
YouTube @Latinasb2b
Join newsletter: www.latinasb2b.com

Facebook: @Latinasb2b.marketing 
Instagram: @Latinasb2b 
X.com: @LatinasB2B 

Podcast production by Theresa E. Gonzales and Audio Engineered by Robert Lopez. 

To learn more about Latinasb2b.com and how you can work with us in a sponsorship opportunity, please contact us at info@latinasb2b.com. 

Gracias.