The Latino Professionals Association (LPA) and Midwest Mujeres will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a “Cafecito con Comunidad” event on Friday, Oct. 2 from 8 a.m. to noon at Comfort Suites Madison West in Middleton.
The gathering will provide mentorship opportunities within the community, recognizing the achievements of local Hispanic and Latino change makers while uplifting aspiring professionals in the workplace.
Featured panelists Araceli Esparza, Julia Arata-Fratta, Marisol Castillo and Olivia Buenrostro-Soto will discuss personal stories related to career development, community service and identity before answering questions from the community. Their fields of expertise range from public service, entrepreneurship, law, financial wellness and advocacy.
Following the panel, local vendors and community organizations will be showcasing their services to highlight talent and entrepreneurship within the Latino community.
“Being part of a movement is more than just the metrics,” said Esparza, founder and CEO of Midwest Mujeres. “It’s about resiliency, and we’re going to talk about accomplishments through leadership, mentorship and reflecting back to the community what organizations like LPA and my own are out to do.”
Latino professionals remain underrepresented in boardrooms and key industries despite a rapidly growing population in Madison, according to the LPA’s website. To address this gap, LPA offers professional development workshops and financial support to more than 500 members.
Similarly, Midwest Mujeres focuses on empowering entrepreneurial Latina and Black women through leadership training, networking and enhanced digital visibility to increase their social capital.
“Your name recognition is really important so that people know who you are and what you do. Oftentimes, cultural humility puts us in a corner and shames us for speaking our worth. We have to speak up that we want money, that we deserve money and what our worth is,” Esparza said.
Amid ongoing nationwide immigration raids and broader adversities facing the Latino community, Esparza hopes the event serves as a reminder of collective strength.
“It hits home what’s happening, but we’re also showing up for our joy, and our joy is to talk about each other, how we’re building our communities and are highlighting these beautiful stories of resilience,” Esparza said.
Those interested in attending this event can find additional information and RSVP here.
