Latino Professionals Association of N.E.W.

As we kick off the new year, we’re excited to continue celebrating our talented members and their journeys through our monthly Member Spotlights. This month we spotlight Gabriela Amaro. I’m Gabriela Amaro, a Graphic and Web Designer and Web Developer at O'Connor Connective, LLC. Every day, I get to combine creativity and technical expertise to craft digital solutions that truly make a difference. I’m passionate about creating designs that are not only visually engaging but also user-friendly, helping organizations connect meaningfully with their audiences. Originally from Mexico, I earned my B.A. in Digital Art from the University of Guanajuato in Salamanca. My love for design and technology has always driven me, and I find immense joy in bringing ideas to life through innovative and impactful digital experiences. Giving back to the community is something I hold close to my heart. In my current role, I feel especially inspired when working with nonprofit organizations. Developing creative solutions that amplify their missions and help them make a greater impact in the communities they serve is deeply fulfilling for me. I believe that organizations like LPA play an essential role in supporting immigrant professionals as they work to establish themselves in the U.S. workforce. The guidance, tools, and supportive network LPA offers can make all the difference in navigating this transition and discovering new opportunities. What excites me most about LPA is its ability to empower individuals and open doors to success. I’ve seen firsthand how community-driven initiatives can transform lives, and I’m inspired by how LPA serves as a bridge to help people achieve their goals and thrive. Through my work and my passion for supporting others, I strive to make a positive difference, one project at a time.

However you and your loved ones celebrate this time of year, we wish you peace, joy, and happiness throughout the holiday season. ¡Felices fiestas!

A warm cup of coffee and time with LPA members is always a great way to start your day. Many thanks to the members who were able to join us last week for an early morning networking event at Kavarna Coffeehouse. LPA members represent an array of industries, professions and personal experiences. It was wonderful to learn about one another's personal-professional lives and identify opportunities to collaborate. We are looking forward to our next LPA event! We want to thank Kavarna for their warm hospitality, especially on such a cold morning!

We'd like to give a huge shout out to the 18 LPA members who were featured in our Member Monday posts and shared their stories with us. We are proud of having members from diverse backgrounds and professions and hope to showcase even more members in 2025. If you would like to join the association and/or be featured in an upcoming Member Monday profile, find more information on our https://linktr.ee/LPAofNEW From top left to right: Alondra Sanchez & Salma Sanchez l Isaac Sidon l Guadalupe Dorado l Robert Soto MA l Paulina Chavira-Duran, MBA l Vicki Villarreal l Alex Ysquierdo, MSc l Lissette Cruz-Jiménez MA l Pablo Espinar Plitt l Maleny Capetillo l JORGE GONZALEZ l Cristina M. l Stephanie Claudio l Eddie S. l Suzy Contreras l Elizabeth Reyes l Carlos J. Salazar Ph.D.

At LPA, we appreciate the immense value of being bilingual, the personal and professional benefits are countless. This is why we were thrilled to coordinate with José de Jesús Vargas Gutiérrez, a Certified Spanish Teacher, who recently launched a virtual classroom for LPA members Salma Sanchez, Mariana Vargas and Maria M. Lara Professionals & Organizations, we encourage you to learn more about "... the impact of foreign-language training on employees' professional and personal growth" https://lnkd.in/e-ypnCEr   LPA members, interested in joining these virtual classrooms, please refer to the next issue of Latino Connect. Non-LPA members, interested in lessons, please contact José de Jesús Vargas Gutiérrez

This season, we reflect on what we’re most thankful for—and guess what? It’s YOU, our amazing members and partners! Your support, ideas, and dedication inspire us every day. Thank you for being part of our journey and for making such a positive impact for our community. Let’s keep growing together! Drop a 🧡 in the comments if you’re feeling the gratitude vibes too! #Thankful #Communidad #Latinoprofessional

¡Es tiempo de celebrar! Let’s take a moment to celebrate ourselves and each other by sharing wins and giving shout-outs in the comments. ⬇️ #OrgulloLatino #Wednesdaywins

Member engagement is key to an organization's success. At LPA, "Member-led" events enable us to offer content that reflects member's talents, interests and goals. We want to thank Maleny Capetillo and Cristina M. for initiating our first book club as a way of sharing their love of stories, reflection and growth through books written by Latino authors. Many thanks to Jeanne Stangel and Curative Connections for providing the perfect venue. There are many reasons to join a professional association, here's a great article (https://lnkd.in/gYKyj9uJ) to help you assess which one(s) might be right for you. To learn more about the benefits of joining LPA, visit us and join (https://lnkd.in/grmTmNyt) Happy reading (picture, from left to right): Maleny Capetillo, Cristina Moreno and Vicki Villarreal.

It's not too late to #useyourvoice and vote in today's election. Visit VOTE411 to find your polling place, see what's on the ballot, get unbiased candidate information, and more: https://lnkd.in/emiJJSBz. Our unique perspective as part of the Latina/o/x community in Northeast Wisconsin has the power to shape the future by electing representatives who truly understand and reflect our diverse community and the issues that are important to us. Let's come together to ensure our voices are heard! #useyourvoice #usatuvoz #vote #vota

It's November already; time is flying by! It is also time for another Member Monday to learn more about our members. This month's spotlight is JORGE GONZALEZ, check out his story below. My name is Jorge Gonzalez, and I have been on staff with Young Life Green Bay for 11 years. There, I serve as Associate Area Director for Green Bay, working alongside teenagers in the community. We go where students are and have created safe spaces for them to ask questions about life, faith, or any thoughts they have. My dad is from Guadalajara, Mexico, and came over here when he was 15 years old looking for a better life. Here he met my mom who is from Amarillo, TX. They got married and moved to Illinois and now live in Green Bay where they Pastor a bilingual church called City of Hope. I am the oldest of 4. We’re all in Green Bay and met our spouses here. I am married to my beautiful wife, Lauren, and have 3 kiddos! Young Life has given us the opportunity to partner with other organizations by allowing us to bring students to give back to their own community. I also started a clothing brand, Waymakrs Apparel, to help people find what they’re good at and bring change right where they’re at. It’s an honor to help others in need by giving backpacks to students or giving around 200+ hoodies to St John’s and to those in need. I love that we get to gather and learn from each other. How we share our culture with this community is so important. How we work, raise our families, and how we live in this community says a lot to the City of Green Bay. I would love to see how we can walk alongside our teenagers and help develop leaders for today. Having a workshop where teens can come and hear the stories of their own people who have seen success in different ways. I met Juan at one of the Hispanic heritage events and from there he told me a little bit about LPA and I truly appreciate this group and the community they are building to have brothers and sisters support one another. Excited to see what this looks like 5 years from now.