This is the third of a five-part series. Part one is here and part two is here.
Amanda Salazar is the director of operations at Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan, WI, where she leads daily operations to ensure the organization meets its goals. Prior to her role at Bookworm Gardens, Amanda served as the manager of earned revenue and mission advancement at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. She is the founder of Sheboygan SOUP (Support Our Urban Projects) and co-founder of Active8 Sheboygan, where she currently serves on the Board of Directors. She served on the City of Sheboygan Common Council from 2021 to March 2024, which included a year as Council vice president. She was named one of Coastal’s Top Ten Young Professionals in Sheboygan County in 2017. In 2015, she received the President’s Award at the Sheboygan County Chamber’s Next Wave Awards.
Dr Dominic J Ledesma is assistant vice provost for culture, climate and engagement at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Information Technology (DoIT). He joined DoIT earlier this year after two years as chief diversity officer, and two years as interim director of the Office of Access, Inclusion and Compliance, and three years as language access coordinator, all at UW Extension. Prior to that spent six years as student services coordinator and associate director of the Chancellor’s and Powers-Knapp Scholarship Programs. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Italian from UW-Madison, a master’s
Judge Reyna Morales is a Milwaukee County Circuit Judge for Branch 42. She was appointed in October 2020 and won election to a full term in 2021. Before stepping up to the bench, she served as a public defender for more than 23 years, first in Racine County and then Milwaukee County. She graduated from State University of New York at Binghamton and Marquette University Law School.
Mercedes Bibiana Gonzalez owns a bilingual childcare facility in Green County that caters to the needs of the area’s Latino community. She is a leader in the Multicultural Outreach Program (MCOP) in Green County. This has included planning and holding community celebrations for Dia del Niño, Independence Day, Dia de los Muertos, and community posadas. As a recognized leader, people reach out to her when looking for resources and opportunities to flourish in Green County. Bibiana is also on the Elevando Wisconsin Advisory Committee, providing culturally relevant leadership development programming for Latino people across Wisconsin. She is also on the Green County Rural Entrepreneurial Venture team, working to build up opportunities for Latine entrepreneurs, and coordinates with housing providers to find housing for Latino families in need.
Dr. Nydia Martinez is executive Director of the Latino Academy of Workforce Development, a role she took on earlier this year. Prior to joining the Latino Academy, Dr. Martinez served as the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Eastern Washington University, where she led strategic initiatives to foster career readiness, diversity, and inclusion. Additionally, she held positions as Director of the Chicano (Latinx) Studies Program and Academic Director of the College Assistance Migrant Program. She has served on the Board of Directors of Nuestras Raíces of Spokane. Dr. Martinez holds a Ph.D. in Latin American History from the University of New Mexico and degrees from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Rolando De Leon is Milwaukee director of diversity, equity and inclusion and community engagement at UW Credit Union. He joined UWCU in December after two years in DEI at Froedtert Health. In addition, he has more than 16 years of experience working in higher education at Waukesha County Technical College’s Multicultural Resource Center and the University of Wisconsin Whitewater CEPS – Future Teacher Program. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with an emphasis in race & ethnic cultures and master’s degree in organizational leadership from Marian University in Fond du Lac.
Sandra Dempsey is owner of video production and marketing company Source TEN, and producer, influencer, and marketing advisor. A native of Mexico, she has lived and worked in the U.S. for over 20 years and worked for major media organizations like ESPN and Telemundo before launching her own successful business which specializes in communications, Hispanic marketing consulting, storytelling and video production. She also co-founded Estamos Unidos US, a bilingual, multi-platform brand created to showcase Milwaukee experiences with high energy and cultural authenticity, adding health and wellness content to make it an even more wholesome brand. Among other recognitions, Sandra’s latest award, “Connecting Comunity” by Milwaukee Downtown Bid #21, recognizes her ability to create and engage the Latino Community in Milwaukee. She graduated with a degree in Mexican law and labor law from Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro.
Part four coming tomorrow!
