The Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce has been honored with the US Hispanic 2020 Chamber of the Year Award.
“It’s very exciting to receive this award … just the fact that nationally people are looking at what we’re doing and seeing us as a catalyst in many different levels. The fact that it is here in our state and here in our city,” Jessica Cavazos, the president of the Latino Chamber, tells Madison365. “We are honored to be recognized.”
The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) hosted its National Conference titled “Building America’s Business Future: Securing Wealth and Health for All Latinos” Sept. 27-29 where more than 3,000 people gathered virtually throughout the United States. The Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce was one of three chambers honored by the USHCC. In the “Large Chamber Category,” the Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce was honored for the work they do in Pueblo, Colorado. In the “Medium Chamber Category,” the winner was the Hispanic Chambers of Commerce of San Francisco.
“The two chambers that won with us have big Latino populations. Pueblo, Colorado, has a huge Latino population. San Francisco and California have an incredible amount of Latinos, too,” Cavazos says. “Then we got the Latino Chamber of Wisconsin. It kind of like we’re out here smack dab in the middle of the U.S. with a growing Latino population but yet still very small compared to these other states. It’s a complete honor to be able to represent.”
The criteria for the judging of the ‘Chamber of the Year” award included major accomplishments achieved in the areas of business, economic development, procurement and/or access to capital; leadership, partnerships and service to the Hispanic community and business community; and measurable results and outcomes within the Hispanic business community.
“Sometimes what I think is that we have to use this Chamber as a catalyst for change so that other chambers can see what effective work is and how we can really impact our economy and change the narrative,” Cavazos says. “That’s what I learned from our previous [Latino] Chamber president Mayra [Medrano.] We have to own the narrative. We have to construct how we want to be seen and heard and let people know that we are an important community.”
Cavazos says that despite the prestigious award, there is still much work to do.
“The fact that Latinos are still underrepresented in every sector of industry, the fact that our Latino entrepreneurs continue to be erased from conversations that have to do with our economy, it perplexes me,” Cavazos says. “Latinos are a very young population and they will create the policies of tomorrow, so we really have to create opportunities for the next generation to lead.”
The award inscription says “The Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce,” as the organization has expanded its services statewide over the last couple of years, but many people in the area know the organization as the Latino Chamber of Dane County.
“We will always be known as the Latino Chamber of Dane County but under our new name – which is the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce – it is really to add alignment within various communities throughout the state on how we can better serve,” Cavazos says.
Originally scheduled to meet in person in Florida, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was able to host its annual event with more than 3,000 attendees virtually.
“It was supposed to be in Boca Raton this year, but they decided to go virtual,” Cavazos said. “We received the UPS box and we put it on the table and everybody came out of their offices and we opened the box and did our own little presentation ceremony at the Latino Chamber.”
Cavazos thanked the Latino Chamber staff, adding that “the award is not possible without a team effort.”
“Our team has really not just gone through a pandemic and an economic suppression and seeing some of our businesses close, but our sense of self has changed, too, and we really went into this active mode to help businesses,” Cavazos says. “So this award means a lot because of that, because of COVID, and the fact that we had 300 percent hike in calls and assistance.
“The award came as a tribute to all of that work we did in the past 6 months,” she adds. “I hope there are many more awards to recognize other efforts so that we can keep the bar high and continue to create change and mobilize our Latino communities that really need it.”
