Imagine Her Forward Issue
Helping women of color rise to their full potential
December 2020
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Imagine Her Forward Issue
Helping women of color rise to their full potential
December 2020
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Imagine Her Forward Issue
December 2020
Super achievers know NO limits!
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Words of President
Have you ever wondered why only a few people achieve their dreams and why most people don’t? Think about Steven Spielberg, everyone knows that he is world famous film director. Did you know he always wanted to be film director and that he had been making amateur movies since the sixth grade. We all know that he dropped out of college, and yet he has directed many box-office hits. So why was Steven achieving most of his dreams. The fact is Steven was doing the things that those elite few who achieve their impossible dreams do. People who achieve ordinary outcomes do so by using conventional approaches and methods taught in schools. People who achieve extraordinary to near impossible outcomes do so by using a different set of master strategies that are universally and consistently used by superachievers and are virtually unknown to the masses. Superachievers are those who get out of the river altogether.
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They use a set of strategies and skills that empower them to
pursue
extraordinary impossible
and
achieve
outcomes
dreams
and
consistently
in their professional or personal life. Rather than being limited by
the river, they know no limits. In this Newsletter, we want to introduce you to four superachievers who happen to be alumnus of our program. You will meet a serial entrepreneur with two little girls who had to reinvent herself when her husband one morning suffered a stroke which left him with aphasia. Next, you will meet a young woman who started her life purpose work because she wanted to advocate for her immigrant family, now she leads an organization that just completed its 10th years in serving the south suburban community of Chicago. We will then introduce you to a young woman who when I met her had just Latinas On The Plaza 4
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quit another job and wanted to just travel the world. That young woman has started several businesses and is now a rising manager with several direct reports. And, then there is an amazing woman, single mother of two daughters, who is very likely soon to run for a political office. In these dark days, where some people are putting their lives on hold. We want to encourage you to become a superachiever, and if you are past that, then consider giving us a generous donation so that we can continue to create and support and promote future superahievers amongst the women of color we serve.
Helping women of color rise to their full potential
December 2020
Imagine
Her
future
forward!
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At this moment, as the world continues to deal with a global health crisis, an economic crisis, and rampant injustice, Latinas On The Plaza will be joining others on Giving Tuesday, December 1st to raise money to move our programs to virtual platforms. We cannot postpone the development of our students. www.latinasontheplaza.networkfor good.com/projects/80953everyday-giving
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Together we can raise awareness of the systems of oppression and neglect that leave too many behind and demand that our work continues. Please get involved. You’ll feel great knowing you’re part of a worldwide movement working to make a difference -- and you won’t even have to leave your favorite chair.
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Imagine Her Forward
Karina Garcia
A Quiet Force
“You do not have to understand the business to jump in, you just need to have someone who does.”Karina Garcia, 39 years old, single mother of two young beautiful teenagers. Karina explained that she grew up with a tough exterior, it was definitely a divided community. She didn’t join a gang, but she certainly was someone who knew she had to be strong in order to survive in her school and neighborhood. When you meet her now you see a quiet force. She’s been leading the Aurora Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as C.E.O. for years now and working for the city of Aurora. She loves the city of Aurora, and believes that she can make a difference in it. Karina can be seen at many of the public events in Aurora, and is often called upon to
address rising issues in the city. She may not wear a political hat yet, but she certainly plays in that arena. Perhaps that toughness she dawned when she was young was just the right preparation for the battles she would face as she delves into the politics that will make Aurora better and stronger. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so recently I partnered with a Trucking Company and a House Flipping business. I am learning how to make these businesses
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LOREM IPSUM
successful, so that in 5 years these businesses can be financially viable and growing. I do see myself entering the political arena in Aurora. What do you need to get there (5 years)? I will have to dedicate time and focus to lear ning these new businesses. I am so grateful to have some business partners that are willing to teach me the business. I also plan on going back to college to finish my degree. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I know I will be still engaged in entrepreneurial businesses and I will very likely hold a political office in Aurora.
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AUGUST 13, 2020
Do you feel supported by any organization? Yes, HACIA has been a great supporter for me, as well as many of the Chambers I am a part in Aurora. What would you say to a LOP Donor that would encourage them to donate to our organization? There could be more people like me out there who have potential but they don’t know how to do it. When you support the Latinas On The Plaza programs you are really giving rise to future leaders. Karina Garcia ceo@ahcc-il.com
How did the ArcHer Program help you? The ArcHer Leadership Program really helped me to clarify my purpose and, I learned how to take my purpose to create my future. When you think about the type of salary you want to earn, what is that amount? $1M Helping women of color rise to their full potential
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h a v e a g r e a t t e a m o f Elizabeth Cervantes millennials, everyone being just under 31 years old. We value young people because they see the world differently, and have the ability Advocate for Justice to imagine impossible things. Currently, most of our staff have a direct or indirect Fo u n d e r and Director connection to immigration as an issue of Organizing for Southwest Suburban that impacts their lives. Their heart is Immigrant Project (SSIP), in the work we do and so leading them Northeastern University -Sociology is such an honor. It all started with advocating for myself as a young student and for my In 5 years, I see myself growing and family, I had no intention to start a expanding the work we do. I see non-profit. I just wanted to help myself continuing families and communities that groom our young leaders to spearhead were experiencing injustices and g ro u p s, p ro j e c t s, i n i t i a t i ve s, fear. As a young immigrant woman and communities, and I want to have and DACA recipient, I have hopes the certainty that when I’m not in this and aspirations in this work one day, the work will continue. country, the country I have known mo And, although in a way that is st of my life, and so the mission of my happening today, I want to multiply work is that of liberating the that every time we hire a new team i m m i g r a n t c o m m u n i t y f r o m member. The need for our work is not fear while finding the power of their g o i n g a w a y , s o I w a n t v o i c e in the midst to continue increasing our impact in of shameful, hurtful portrayals of the region immigrants in this country. What’s it going to take for you to Where do you see yourself in 5 achieve that dream in 5 years? years? I am committed This year, my organization made it t o t h e m e n t o r s h i p a n d to its 10th year. We began like many empowerment of young people of other non-profits with little funding color. I never want to lead with a and little structure. But today we mindset of we’ve always done it this have secured diverse funding and we Helping women of color rise to their full potential
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way. That is not the mindset of the m i l l e n n i a l a n d e v e n yo u n g e r generations, they are experiencing and analyzing the world in real time, and thinking about the future in a different way. These experiences allow us to create programs that work to address social issues in the immediate, while building sustainable communities for the longrun. Where do you see. Yourself in 10 years? People often ask me whether I would consider running for office one day if the law changed and I became an American citizen. I understand why that is a natural question given my line of work. However, running for office is not the only way to influence good and change. It’s exciting to see other young women of color running for office, but I think my role as a leader and catalyst in the social sector is key — i t a l l o w s m e t o w o rk w i t h government to find and push for the solutions to the most pressing issues in our communities, one of them being justice for immigrants.
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How did The Latinas On The Plaza Programs help you? So I was the very first student to do both the FUERTE Program when I was 28 years old, and then I completed the ArcHer Leadership Program when I was 30 years old. I have been the youngest graduate of the ArcHer Leadership Program. The FUERTE program taught me about the importance of discipline. I mean we had to give up 10 of our Saturday mornings for four hours. I quickly realized that I could use Saturdays to continue to work on personal growth myself once the program ended. I also learned a lot about myself, becoming aware of my strengths and the importance of i n v e s t i n g i n m y s e l f . M y confidence increased, and I learned how important it is to walk into a room with confidence. Being aware of impostor syndrome has served me well as I continue to meet with politicians and elected officials. My favorite was the ArcHer Leadership Program. I loved the women in my cohort, they were older and had s o much experience that they easily shared with me. For the first time, I saw myself as a p ro f e s s i o n a l wo m a n . T h e assessments we took gave me clarity on my leadership style. I learned key Latinas On The Plaza 14
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leadership skills I could use with my team. It changed me in such an important way. What would you say to the Latinas On T he Plaza Donor? We are at a historic moment in history with a daughter of an immigrant on the ticket to be the Vice President of the United States. She is paving the way for black and brown girls to see themselves in positions of power. We need to create infrastructure to support women of color so that this historic moment becomes the norm, You can help us do that with your generous donation. Elizabeth’s organization is SSIP. For more information email her at elizabeth@ssipchicago.org or visit www.ssipchicago.org
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Cyndi Manriquez Risk Taker “Failure is a learning experience”- Cyndi
Cyndi Manriquez, Revenue Cycle Manager at Option Care Health, Owner of Cynco Liberal Arts Degree-Northern Illinois University Master in Public Health-Benedictine University I’ve always had a curious nature. My life moto is “to live life without regrets” and grasping the opportunities that are presented in front of me regardless of the result I find those can always be a learning experience. Any time I have a chance to learn or do something new I find that exciting Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Since I’m fairly young, I see myself continuing to grow as a leader. But more importantly, I want to continue to become a leader that fosters growth Helping women of color rise to their full potential
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and talent in others. I think as a leader you need to be able to inspire others through actions and through the workplace culture you create and endorse. I believe in working smarter and exploring innovative approaches work. In a personal note, having just got married in July, I do want to have a family and create some risk takers just like me. What’s it going to take for you to achieve that dream in 5 years? I need to continue to develop myself and to be very deliberate about developing people so that one day they can replace me. I know the importance of learning from great bosses and mentors who willingly pour their skills and experiences into me. Where do you see. Yourself in 10 years? I want to have some deep knowledge and expertise in my field. Of course, being a Vice President is likely a position I will seek. But hopefully, in 10 years I would have my own business. A business that is provides meaning to people, I’m not sure what that is right now, but I know I will figure that out.
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How did The Latinas On The Plaza Programs help you? I knew I had confidence coming into the FUERTE Program, but what I didn’t know was how it important it was to solidify my future successes. I learned about the importance of being resilient and gritty. Failure had to be viewed as a learning experience, so leaving a few jobs was just that a learning along my journey. And, seeing other young women like me in the room talking about like-minded issues and challenges was an eyeopener for me. I also embraced and shared my sense of humor with the class and I saw it as a gift to break down walls and tense moments. What would you say to the Latinas On The Plaza Donor? Donating to Latinas On The Plaza is money well spent! You will have no regret. Your money goes to helping young women find their voice. The Latinas On The Plaza programs fire up young women of color to pursue their ambition and encourage their growth. Cyndi’s business is Cynco, For more information call her at 630.776.101 or visit her Etsy page www.etsy.com/ shop/cyncostore.
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Tanya Flores The Serial Entrepreneur
“Everything you do today is creating your tomorrow!” Tanya Flores
Tanya Flores, Realtor, Wife, Mother of two girls D e Pa u l U n i v e r s i t y – B . A . i n Psychology – Human Development and Spanish Website Design and Print Company Co-owner, Bilingual Presenter, and Realtor/Mentor at The Tanya Flores Team brokered by eXp Realty I think it all began when my grandmother had 14 children. She came to America when my grandfather died and started to work. She was such a hard worker with low education credentials, but she was headstrong on being able to support her big family. For a very long time, I’ve had a vision of a community where women empower, encourage, and support one another. My grandmother did not have that, and honestly, I have not always had that type of support and encouragement. Helping women of color rise to their full potential
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Where do you see yourself in 5 years? So, when I think about where I see myself in 5 years, I see myself helping to elevate women in my new field, which is real estate. I realize that if I do all the work, then I’m only serving myself and my family. If I want to multiply my impact, I will mentor, train, and develop a team of women who can then turn around and multiply their success with other women, and a community of support can arise. What’s it going to take for you to achieve that dream in 5 years? First and foremost, I need to learn sound financial management. I recently hired a coach to help me do that so that I can grow my economic power, which will then equip me better to help others. I also want to continue to learn how to be a better leader because I want to run multiple p ro fi t a bl e a n d s o c i a l l y d r i ve n businesses, that empower women and uplift their communities. Of course, I will continue to shar pen my negotiation skills so that I can negotiate even better on behalf of my real estate clients. All of this will take time, but with the right people and resolve, I know it is possible. I’m also providing remote learning for my two girls, which fuels me even more. Latinas On The Plaza 21
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years, I want to have a global community that empowers women, who continue to radiate more love into this world, showing up as leaders, with financially strong enterprises, non for profits, or careers. I see myself empowering women through the books I write, workshops, and the collaboration of other like-minded women and men, all committed to helping one another. I’ve been dreaming of this for years now. More women are leaving the workplace today to take care of children with remote learning, and the need to support women is even greater. I know how to make this dream come true.
How did The Latinas On The Plaza ArcHer Program help you? When I completed the ArcHer Leadership Program back in 2018, I was in a state of unrest. I had just relaunched my real estate business, with two little girls and a husband recovering from a stroke that led to aphasia. I was struggling. First off, the women in my cohort were amazing, they were a strong force, and their journey in leadership helped me to see that I could start again and be successful. Secondly, the assessments I Helping women of color rise to their full potential
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took helped me to understand and own my strengths and embrace my personality. Thirdly, the capstone project helped me to see that I could start a non-profit and that my dream of a community of women was no longer a pipe dream. Although that dream has not been realized yet, I know now how to get it going. What would you say to the Latinas On The Plaza Donor? When you give to Latinas On The Plaza, you are helping your company because you might hire one of our alumni in the future, or reap the benefits of having one of our women of color on your board. You are also helping to create a stronger woman, stronger families, and women of color who can one day occupy the c-suites and certainly the board rooms. Our women work hard, they run their businesses, and they are like my grandmother was to me, a true role model, and that is what I want to be for the next generation. Tanya is available to help you buy or sell your home. For more information call her at 773-234-8022 or visit her website www.thetfteam.com.
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. Go to: www.latinasontheplaza.org/ archer-leadership-program/
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Armor of Protection Responsibility Respect Own
Her Behavior
Widens
Sees
of Self
Her World View
Her Success
Live and Virtual Programs are available: www.latinasontheplaza.org/littlearrows-squad-from-princess-towarrior/
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Click here to join: www.latinasontheplaza.org/ fuerte-growing-strongprogram/ Helping women of color rise to their full potential
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Where to find us?
Facebook: www.m.facebook.com/ LatinasOnThePlaza/
Website: Events:
www.latinasontheplaza.org
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