Home Wisconsin Sí Se Puede 2020: The Most Influential Latinos in Wisconsin, Part 3

Sí Se Puede 2020: The Most Influential Latinos in Wisconsin, Part 3

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This is the third in a five-part series. Part one is available here, and part two is here.

Jimmy Anderson represents Wisconsin’s 47th district in the State Assembly, serving areas south and east of Madison, including Fitchburg, McFarland and Monona. In 2010, Jimmy was paralyzed from the chest down in a collision caused by a drunk driver, which killed his parents and younger brother. He earned a law degree from UW-Madison in 2012. Elected to the Assembly in 2016, he serves on the committees on Colleges and Universities, Environment, Health, Judiciary, Medicaid Reform and Oversight and Science and Technology, as well as the Speaker’s Task Force on Suicide Prevention. He is also founder and director of Drive Clear, a nonprofit organization that aims to prevent drunk driving and offer support and financial assistance to victims.

Marisol Coriano is the vice president of human resources for Rockwell Automation, where she supports close to 9,000 employees. Coriano is an important member of Rockwell Automation’s leadership and entrusted with maintaining the happiness of employees, whether it be through perks, benefits, or recognition and awards.  Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Coriano became the first person in her family to pursue higher education in the United States.

Victoria Sanchez is a Multicultural Student Services Coordinator at UW-Stout in Menominee. In her role, she advises students from different backgrounds and serves the Latinos Unidos and Black Student Union student organizations. Sanchez also helps educate students on cultural competency as it relates to self-awareness and cultural identity. Sanchez earned her bachelor’s degree from Winona State University and her Master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration from UW-La Crosse.

George A Torres, a Milwaukee native, is the CEO and president of La Causa Inc., a bilingual nonprofit social services agency working with the south side of Milwaukee. Prior to this role, he served as the director of the Department of Transportation and Public Works for Milwaukee County. Torres received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s in business management from Cardinal Stritch University.

Maria Luisa Morales has been a Latinx community activist around the state of Wisconsin for nearly 60 years. She is well known in Racine for getting out the vote through translation, education and registration. She has fasted more than once to protest in favor of migrant rights, immigrant rights and healthcare rights. In Racine, she helped form a coalition of people who pushed the city council to make living conditions better for migrant workers by installing indoor plumbing, paving the streets and adding sidewalks. She has worked for Voces de la Frontera and served on the board for the Urban League. 

Jose Ortiz Jr. is an orthopedic surgeon at the Luther Campus Clinic in Eau Claire, which is part of the Mayo Clinic Health System. He specializes in hand surgery and is experienced in elbow surgery and hand and wrist surgery. He has been in practice for at least 25 years and has been Chief of Staff at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire since 2012.

David Aguayo Director of Latino Outreach in Wisconsin for the Biden for President campaign, leading the campaign’s efforts to secure a critical voting block in a crucial battleground state. A 2015 graduate of UW-Madison, he is also Latino Outreach Director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. He interned with US Representative Mark Pocan and also previously served as executive assistant in the state’s Department of Workforce Development.

Carmen Cabrera was appointed by Mayor Tom Barrett as the first Latina Election Commissioner in Milwaukee’s history. Cabrera has been working in the Latino community for decades and is well-known for her community activism and considers working for social justice and equal opportunity for all her true passion and duty. Cabrera, who is of Puerto Rican descent, was instrumental in bridging a network between the Puerto Rican and Mexican community to work together and her activism in the 1970s helped lead to changes in education policies and other successful strives and opportunities for Latinos in Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin.

Part four is coming tomorrow!