On October 3rd, 2024, at the Esperanza facilities, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Esperanza, Inc. held a powerful and uplifting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion panel titled “Let’s Celebrate Our Accomplishments! It’s Your Turn!”
This dynamic discussion highlighted incredible achievements of the Hispanic/Latino community in Cleveland and explored pathways for future success. From impactful leadership stories to innovative ideas on entrepreneurship and community building, our panelists truly inspired everyone in attendance! We are so grateful to them!
Key Takeaways:
- Victor Ruiz, President & CEO of Esperanza, Inc., shared his journey of boosting educational attainment and creating opportunities for the Latinx youth.
- Jenice Contreras, Executive Director of Hispanic Business Center, emphasized the importance of supporting small businesses and cultural advocacy.
- Jose Colon, Owner & Co-Founder of Cultura Capital Partners, inspired with his entrepreneurial journey, sharing how his passion for advancing the Latino community has shaped his career.
A few big shout-outs:
- Sebastián Leonel Canales, our amazing moderator, who’s devotion to empowering students shows how critical the next generation is to our collective future.
- Esperanza’s Post-Secondary department for their hard work in coordinating this event! Your dedication made this day one to remember.
- All Esperanza team members and partners who lent a hand in bringing this all together, further emphasizing the collaborative strength of our community!
- Huge thanks to our sponsors who made this event possible: Dahlia Coffee Co., Smoothie Media, and Gregory Wilson
This event reminded us that we are all part of a bigger movement — one that celebrates our roots and encourages us to rise higher. Let’s continue to make an impact together!
