Latest News | October 11, 2022
Hispanic Heritage Month: Amplifying Latino Leadership in New York State
Four Latino Leaders Making A Difference Across New York State
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we spoke with Latino leaders across New York State to learn how their personal experiences impact their every day work. Our conversations below with Lourdes Zapata, Marcos Crespo, Marc Soto and Ana J Almanzar offer advice for young Latino leaders looking to make a difference and also provide insight into how elevating Hispanic voices at nonprofits can enable organizations to better understand and engage with the unique needs of their communities.
Marcos Crespo | Senior Vice President – Community Affairs, Montefiore Medical Center
First we spoke with Marcos Crespo, a former New York State Assembly member representing the South Bronx and a member of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s independent Board of Directors. In his current role, Marcos oversees all community affairs efforts for Montefiore Medical Center, which serves over two million people in the Bronx and Westchester He works to partner with neighboring organizations to improve health and wellness outcomes and promote safe, productive communities.
Can you provide an example of how your presence as a Latino leader within your organization has impacted the community you serve?
I was born in Puerto Rico and lived through various storms and hurricanes, seeing firsthand the dangerous impact these pose to families on the island. It was this experience and my network on the island that allowed me to serve as a Co-Chair of the NYS Stands with Puerto Rico initiative coordinating millions of dollars in support, mobilizing needed supplies and coordinating volunteer efforts to respond to the crisis in Puerto Rico after the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. My experiences and position as an elected official positioned me to serve effectively and make a positive impact in that humanitarian response.
Another example, would be passing the Green Light Legislation in NYS, restoring the right to a NYS drivers license to all residents including those who are undocumented. My father arrived in NY as an undocumented immigrant. He worked hard, paid his taxes and raised a good family. But after 2001, undocumented New Yorkers were denied this privilege. Mothers couldn’t drive their kids to school or a medical appointment, workers could not drive safely to provide for their families and thousands were forced to drive uninsured throughout our communities. Understanding on a very personal level this injustice, I passionately advocated for this legislative change, crafted a fair piece of legislation, built broad support for its passage and saw The Green Light Bill once again restore an equitable approach and a life changing privilege to a large segment of our community.
What are some circumstances within the Hispanic/Latino community that you believe still need awareness?
Unfortunately, few Americans are aware of the longstanding history and the incredible contributions Latinos have made in this country. For too many, Latinos are viewed either as all undocumented immigrants or as in the case of Puerto Ricans who have been natural born American Citizens for over a century, as foreigners. It is imperative that Latinos help tell our own story and for mainstream media, our educational systems and Government leaders to promote an accurate portrayal of our many contributions to this country and the world.
How has your immigrant experience influenced your work and approach to serving communities in New York?
I was born in Puerto Rico to a Puerto Rican mother and a Peruvian father who first came to the US as an undocumented immigrant. I have experienced the challenges both sides of my family have faced. I also had the privilege of living and studying in Puerto Rico, Peru and Florida and NY experiencing firsthand so many aspects of my Latino heritage. All of these experiences have shaped who I am, how I think and my professional choices. Understanding that until we as individuals or as a community settle the identity question: who are we and where do we belong, we will face struggles to achieve equity and opportunity. In short, every decision I have made in my personal or professional life has been directly impacted by my immigrant experience.
What advice would you give young Latino/Latina professionals looking to effect change in their community?
Never shortchange your ask or your worth. Every one of us must find an issue we are passionate to solve, and find an outlet for that work. Once we do, we must not allow self doubt, or the perceived differences or privileges of others to shortchange our goals. Not only do we belong in every level of industry or leadership, but also, when looking for support for our causes, never ask for less than what is truly needed, as we deserve that support.
Ana J Almanzar | Director of Community Relations, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
Ana Almanzar currently works to ensure that the Foundation is best supporting local charities, community-based organizations and community leaders throughout New York State. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Ana’s career has been grounded in supporting immigrants by alleviating poverty and providing legal and education services and support.
What are some circumstances within the Hispanic/Latino community that you believe still need awareness?
We must encourage our Latino youth to invest in an education, either at the college level or trade school. For our community to move forward, for our country to move forward, we need all hands-on deck and can’t afford to leave anyone behind.
What do you consider to be the biggest contribution you have made to your community as a Latina Leader?
Being in service of others where I can influence policies and programs has been my core belief since getting my very first job. Now, within my current position at our Foundation, I only hope to be a positive influence to other young Latinos by replicating the story of many immigrants who came before me and demonstrated that in spite of coming from nothing, one can accomplish marvelous goals through hard work and a supportive network of family and friends.
How has your immigrant experience influenced your work and approach to serving communities in New York?
I am forever grateful for the opportunities the U.S. has afforded me. Landing in Bushwick, Brooklyn without any English language skills, I benefited from enrolling in an ELL class at a local community-based organization. Community and faith-based organizations are often the first contact for new Americans and serve as a bridge to the larger community. Organizations like the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation have been helping immigrants for hundreds of years. Being part of a long-standing history of charitable giving fuels my desire to continue helping communities and to keep the legacy of the Patron Saint of all immigrants – Mother Frances Cabrini — alive. I think about the immigrants that are arriving to restart their lives here. I pray that every child finds as many caring people interested in their success as I have. My only hope is that for at least a small number of them, I would be one of those people.
What advice would you give young Latino/Latina professionals looking to effect change in their community?
Start with those closest to you! I believe I can change the world, but I cannot harness the power to reach such ambitious goals unless I am willing to take care for those who are closest to me. From a college-bound teenager who needs someone to read her admission’s essay, to a recent college graduate who needs help getting his resume ready to apply for his first job, or a bodega worker who finally saved enough money to file for citizenship but needs help completing the form, we all bear the responsibility to help dismantle barriers for others. It is my greatest wish to lend my skills and talents to those who need them.
Marc Soto | Director of Prevention & Community Services, Youth Enrichment Services
Marc Soto of Youth Enrichment Services works with the local schools and communities to prevent youth substance use and mitigate the impact of substance abuse in Long Island. Marc has a long career at leading law firms and Long Island nonprofits, including previously as Executive Director at Pronto of Long Island where he continues to volunteer and serve through advocacy work.
What do you consider to be the biggest contribution you have made to your community as a Latino Leader?
I led a Latino Hispanic employee resource group for over 25 years that assisted the corporation in developing its’s Latino market, increasing revenue, developing and promoting extraordinary Latino employee talent and better supporting the Latino community philanthropically. In that time, I led our team to start and maintain a scholarship fund for NY & NJ students and awarded over $200,000 in scholarships to Latino students attending college.
Can you provide an example of how your presence as a Latino leader within your organization has impacted the community you serve?
My understanding of Latino culture, my Spanish proficiency and my diverse life experience have all blessed me with the ability to connect with our Latino families and our children in particular. My passion to serve the underserved has driven me to mentor, coach, empower and assist those in need through compassion, service, education and food distribution.
How has your immigrant experience influenced your work and approach to serving communities in New York?
My mother and her parents migrated from Puerto Rico in her childhood to Spanish Harlem, NY. As a result, our impoverished assimilation experience impacted my life to focus on my education. Through hard work and simultaneous service to those in our similar status I felt fulfilled. My passion to focus on God, family and service was made very clear by the love of family and our experience.
What advice would you give young Latino/Latina professionals looking to effect change in their community?
Dream and think big and remain resilient and determined in defeat. Accept failure as a necessary part of the journey to success. Keep a strong commitment to serve others and help make your space better than how you found it. We can all change the world one action at a time!
Lourdes Zapata | President and CEO, South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation
We spoke with Lourdes Zapata, President and CEO of the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBro), a grantee of the Foundation. SoBro addresses all aspects of community development– since its founding in 1972, SoBro has served more than 20,000 students, helped to create and retain more than 40,000 jobs for area residents, and created the climate for hundreds of million dollars of capital investment into the South Bronx.. Zapata discussed what being the first Latina leader at SoBro in over 50 years means to her.
What do you consider to be the biggest contribution you have made to your community as a Latina Leader?
My story and experiences have shaped and informed every aspect of my work and approach towards others – clients, colleagues, adversaries and partners. As a first generation college student and within the generation of family members that are first to be involved in office/white collar work, the one thing that I have always felt missing was the ability to call upon a mentor for career guidance or support. My family were my biggest champions – there to hear my fears, there to cheer my successes. But women at work, and particularly women of color, need to hear from other women who have faced similar challenges and share similar experiences in the workplace – cultural distinctions, language barriers, gender-based workplace issues, etc. My blue collar family could not give me advice on how to take the seat at the Board table. As a result, I have made it a point to not only mentor but to champion women of color in my community and in my work world. Mentoring to provide them with guidance on navigating the office world, championing those who are exceptional and worthy of advancing. Making sure that others see the light and talent that I see in many women I have had the honor to work and serve with.
Can you provide an example of how your presence as a Latina leader within your organization has impacted the community you serve?
As the first Latina to head this 50 year old organization, I feel a heavy responsibility to show our community and my colleagues that there is a purpose to the work that I do that goes beyond ambition and title. I am often greeted with surprise when our clients meet me and learn that I am “the boss” – and that surprise is always with a smile and a nod of recognition. I have been stopped on the street by our community residents who have questions about the work we do or a need they would like us to help them address – and our community leaders know that I am always ready to provide support and my viewpoint on what is needed. Having been tapped by both the Governor and Mayor to serve transition and a variety of advisory committees I am very proud to represent the Bronx and the Latino community’s perspective in important conversations.
What are some circumstances within the Hispanic/Latino community that you believe still need awareness?
My community is not monolithic. We are united in our language but varied in our issues, needs and concerns. It is misleading for leaders, the media and popular culture to assume that we all place the same levels of value to specific questions of economic or social issues. Yes we are family and community-focused, but how we interpret that focus is as diverse as how we look. Our brown hair, brown eyed, brown skinned brothers and sisters will still have different experiences than our fairer skinned community members – like everyone, Latino or not, every facet of our lives are guided by our personal history and experiences. So while we share many elements of geography, culture and language – respect our uniqueness as much as you enjoy our gifts.
What advice would you give young Latino/Latina professionals looking to effect change in their community?
Celebrate what you bring to the table. Do not be apologetic about anything in your background or experience. It made you who you are and has served to bring you to the place you are today. You have the opportunity to be a voice for those of our community who need it – those who are still working to achieve the language fluency, education level, luck and/or perseverance needed to be successful. You have the opportunity to represent those who need representation – while looking and sounding like our community – don’t underestimate how important that is. Whatever your passion you have the chance to elevate your issues, and your community, in ways that no one else can. Go get ‘em!
As we reflect on Hispanic Heritage Month, it’s critical that we uplift Latino leaders who bring their lived experiences to the forefront of such groundbreaking work everyday.