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Visited Hanford,California for the first time as part of HOPE’s Regional Leadership Program focused on the Central Valley which has a focus in three counties including Kings County. The community is rich for additional investment and I’m proud to be part of the team bringing leaders together to grow opportunities!

Yesterday, Blue Shield of California hosted their Latino/a Employee Resource Group, UNIDOS, Annual Event with a theme: Adelante: Unidos for Empowerment and Impact.

Both myself and Rafael González who leads Grand Performances were invited to give keynotes and address nearly 100 leaders who joined us virtually and the leaders in the room with us!

In hearing Rafael’s keynote, I was reminded that while we each have the chapters in our lives that shape our stories, there are so many connections and shared experiences that we face in our journeys of resilient leadership and community service. It’s always heartwarming to have a moment to reflect...

A huge thank you to the Unidos ERG team which strives to engage and employer employees through a collaborative network that promotes cultural awareness, talent recrfueitment, retention, and professional development of Hispanic/Latino talent at all levels. Thank you for your leadership: Caprice McIlvaine and Ron Thompson, Executive Sponsors of this group, Co-Chairs Valerie Martinez, Edgar Alonzo, MBA, and Advisory Council Maria Lackner.

To the Pillar Leads who did an amazing job organizing the signature event yesterday and all of the work you do Manuel Lopez, Michele Rivera Suarez, Antonio Becerra, Brigitte Lamberson, MPH, Connie Brown, Kim Derpic, Rina Cruz and the Ambassadors: Julie Steinhorst, Vanessa Macias, MPH, PMP, Araceli Garcia, MSG, Vanessa Grover, MBA, and Anthony “Tony” Villegas, MBA.

THANK YOU TO THE team Blue Shield of California for all you do to support the access of quality care to families here in California. I look forward to more conversations and opportunities to partner! Thank you for your continued support of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) work in research, advocacy and education!

So excited to meet Rey León, Mayor of Huron, and the founder and executive director of The LEAP Institute (Latino Equity Advocacy & Policy), a valley-based Latino nonprofit organization. Currently based in Fresno County, he focuses on economic, environmental, transportation and climate justice, clean energy, green jobs, and community development. He has been working to ensure that environmental justice principles are advanced in the region’s institutions and culture.

Also reconnected with Fabiola Moreno who is leading IBEW 569’s Renewable Energy and Manufacturing Division as Renewable Energy and Manufacturing Organizer (REMO), Fabiola grew up in Salinas Valley in the small agricultural town of Gonzales. She is a former Legislative Aide to Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia where she staffed the Assemblymember on bills related to agriculture, public safety, jobs and economic development, and labor. She is the founder of the Ruelas Fulfillment Foundation which supports high school students who want to pursue a career after high school while being committed to giving back to their communities. She is also part of HOPEs Latina Power Circle!

Meeting Dunkson—mascot for the Stockton Kings 🏀 ..I knew I liked his vibe especially after learning he’s a Pisces ♓️ like me!!