Governor Healey names over 40 Latino leaders to new Governor’s Council on Latino Empowerment

BOSTON – Tomorrow, Governor Maura T. Healey will sign an Executive Order establishing the Governor’s Council on Latino Empowerment and will appoint more than 40 Latino leaders from across the state. This council will advise Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll on strategies to expand economic opportunities for and improve the overall wellbeing of Massachusetts’ Latino community. The Governor will sign the Executive Order and appoint the members at the first meeting of the Council on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023.

“Our Latino community makes Massachusetts strong. With the collective vision and drive of this incredible group of Latino leaders, we will grow even stronger,” said Governor Healey. “Together, we can break down systemic barriers and expand access opportunity by prioritizing education, job training, entrepreneurship and affordability.”

“As Mayor of Salem, I was proud to work with many of our Latino residents to grow our economy and strengthen our public schools,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “I’m proud to continue these partnerships and expand our impact to every region of the state.”

“The Latinx community, one of the youngest and fastest growing communities of color in this state, will continue fueling the state’s robust growth. Massachusetts needs the Latino community to continue to thrive and by investing in the Latinx community we are investing in the growth of our state. That is why this Council and its work is so important. We will be able to bring our expertise and insights directly to the Governor and advise her on targeted strategies that will support and strengthen our communities,” said Josiane Martinez, Chair of the Governor’s Council on Latino Empowerment and CEO of Archipelago Strategies Group. “I am honored to have been asked to chair this committee. I am looking forward to working with everyone on the Council and grateful to Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll for their commitment to equity across the Commonwealth.”

“I am honored to have been asked to serve as Vice Chair of this Council and grateful to Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll for their commitment to equity,” said Gladys Vega, Vice Chair and Executive Director of La Colaborativa. “This council is an important means to bring our experiences and expertise directly to the Governor to help benefit our communities and move our Commonwealth forward.”

Members of the Governor’s Council on Latino Empowerment will include:

Chair Josiane Martinez, Former Executive Director, Office for Refugees and Immigrants; Founder and CEO, Archipelago Strategies Group

Vice Chair Gladys Vega, Executive Director, La Colaborativa

Liliana Patino, Director of Community Engagement, Eliot Family Resources Center

Grace Moreno, Executive Director, Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Eneida Román, President and CEO, Amplify Latinx

Margareth Shepard, Community Leader and Former Framingham City Councilor

Heloisa Galvão, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Brazilian Women’s Group

Lenita Reason, Executive Director, Brazilian Worker Center

Adrian Velazquez, Chief Advocacy Officer, Cooperative Credit Union Association, Inc.

Carmen Arce-Bowen, COO, The Partnership, Inc

Oscar Escobar, CEO, Blue Nest Real Estate

Amanda Fernandez, CEO and Co-Founder, Latinos for Education

Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, Chief Strategy Advisor, Mrs. Wordsmith /Boston School Committee Member

Marty Martinez, CEO, Reach Out and Read National; Former Chief of Health and Human Services for the City of Boston

Carolina Trujillo Executive Director, Citizens Inn, Inc.

Cristina Aguilera Sandoval Executive Director, Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative

Luisa Peña Lyons, Founder and CEO, Bridge Forward Fund

Roxana Rivera, Vice President, 32BJ SEIU

Zamawa Arenas, Founder & CEO, Flowetik

Celina Barrios-Millner, Co-Vice President, Office of Race and Equity Research at the Urban Institute

Betty Francisco, CEO, Boston Impact Initiative

Representative Andy Vargas, Vice Chair, Black & Latino Legislative Caucus

Carlos Aramayo, President, UNITE HERE Local 26

Patricia Sobalvaro Executive Director, Agencia ALPHA

Damaris Frias-Batista, Chief of Operations & Co-Founder, Center for Assistance to Families/ Centro de Apoyo Familiar

Gladys Ortiz, Bilingual Advocacy and Systems Change Manager, REACH Beyond Domestic Violence

Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, CEO, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA)

Grace Corporan, Site Director, Families & Youth Initiative/PATCH Lawrence

Nahir Torres, Senior Program Officer, The Hyams Foundation

Monica Lowell, Former Vice President Community Health Transformation/Community Benefits at UMass Memorial Health

Samalid Hogan, CEO and Principal Consultant, Greylock Management Consulting

Juan Lopera Fernando, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Beth Israel Lahey Health

Juan Carlos Morales, Founder and Managing Partner, Surfside Capital Advisors LLC

Carolina Avellaneda, Chief Strategy Officer & Strategic Counsel, UMass

Yvonne Garcia, Chief of Staff to CEO, State Street

Rosalin Acosta, Managing Director, Government & Public Sector at Ernst and Young; Former Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development

Dan Rivera, President and CEO, Mass Development

Dr. Joseph R. Betancourt, President, The Commonwealth Fund

Mary Skelton Roberts, Climate & Philanthropy Strategist