About LMI
On October 21, 2021, Latina Equal Pay Day, Governor Hochul announced the launch of the Latina Mentoring Initiative to support young Latinas and begin leveling the playing field. The New York State Mentoring Program, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Office of Women’s Affairs, and Latina government, community, and corporate leaders, is rolling out programming across the state.
The Latina Mentoring Initiative focuses on:
- Providing positive, caring adult mentors to support and empower.
- Connecting young Latinas to internships, scholarship opportunities, and professional development.
- Empowering future leaders by building soft skills and confidence, and nurturing aspirations.
- Encouraging and modeling self-advocacy.
- Celebrating heritage while creating community where success looks like our youth.
Latina Leaders from across the state of New York have helped to build the Latina Mentoring Initiative. From the private and public sector, we are grateful to the inspirational women who have contributed their experience and connections and look forward to launching more programs during Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15th to October 15th, 2022.
Committee Leaders
Samantha Callaghan, LMI Committee Member, New York City
Director of Adoption and Kinship Support Programs, LMSW - New Alternatives for Children, Inc.
Mentoring is so important because it gives youth the opportunity to see their full potential. Connecting to mentors allows youth to learn healthier coping mechanisms, increase self-esteem, earn better grades, gain improved social and emotional development, and most importantly guide youth to making better decisions.
As someone who has mentored youth for a very long time, I see the value in how impactful mentoring can be. Not only do you get the opportunity to be a positive role model, but you learn a lot about yourself along the way.
Maria Margarita Cruz, LMI Committee Member, Buffalo
AVP of Employee Engagement at Evergreen Health
Mentoring is so important to me because I have learned that the success to life is building relationships. Relationships that guide, empower, connect and support are essential. Mentoring saved me as I was a teenager. I had individuals in my corner that helped me see things from different perspectives and connected me to valuable resources.
There is power in numbers. We, Latinas, are undervalued and overlooked. It has taken us a long journey to reach positions that others never even imagined us in, why not help pave the way for others? Let them see that we are valuable and powerful beyond measure.
Jessica Garcia, LMI Committee Member, New York City
Head of Sales, Grafica Trends & Threads
I believe that mentorship is fundamental in a person’s life because it fosters personal, educational, and professional growth through guidance, encouragement, and the assurance that everyone belongs in any space they choose. The Latina-to-Latina mentorship offered through LMI is invaluable and will make a huge impact in the lives of the young Latina mentees because it will support in fostering confidence and resilience in a world where they often face unique challenges. Having mentors who understand their backgrounds empowers the students to envision a future where they can achieve their dreams, regardless of personal and societal barriers.
Vanessa Lockel, LMI Committee Member, Long Island
Executive Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County
The Latina Mentoring Initiative is an opportunity to give back. I consider this a chance to ensure that the younger generation has all the opportunities possible for them to achieve their highest aspirations. The perspective of our young Latinas is so important to the positive growth of our organizations and to society, as a whole. I want to do my part to make sure the personal journeys of these young women are seamless and successful!
Mentoring ensures that young people have role models and cheerleaders who are there for them throughout their personal and professional careers. These young women need to witness firsthand the bonds that can be created through the practice of mentoring.
Clarissa Rodriguez, LMI Committee Member, New York City & Mid-Hudson
Chair, NYS Workers’ Compensation Board, Office of the Chair
Contributing to the LMI program allows me the unique opportunity to empower and uplift young women from traditionally underrepresented and marginalized communities like the one I come from. As a first-generation Latina of Dominican-diaspora, I truly understand the challenges and obstacles many of them can face in pursuing their personal and professional goals and aspirations. As the mother of two amazing Latinas, I also recognize the importance of fostering a space where young women can obtain sound guidance and form as they navigate life’s many challenges.
Wendoline Vargas, LMI Committee Member, New York City
Founder and President of Her Vaga Bound Roots
Contributing to LMI has been both healing and empowering. It’s a chance to give back to my community by supporting, cultivating, and encouraging the passions and dreams of young women. Having mentors who look like us and come from similar backgrounds is essential. There are unique nuances within our culture and communities, and someone who truly understands those experiences can make a powerful impact.
Fanny Villarreal, JD, LMI Committee Member, Syracuse
YWCA Executive Director, Syracuse & Onondaga County
When we support the growth and empowerment of girls through mentorship, we raise the quality of life for all. This is because when women lead, they not only lead industries, but they also lead in their communities, the fight for their children, and they get together to give voice to issues that are important for them. This is why mentorship is important.
As a Latina, I believe it is important to be involved in mentorship because we will encourage our young Latina girls’ ambition and empower their confidence. We can help them to set goals and work toward achieving them. I know our Latino girls are smart, strong, and Bold. I see that while they participate in our Girls Inc at YWCA program, they just need YOU and me. We are the role models; we are their inspiration and as mentors we will change the life of these Latina girls.
Founding Committee Members
Fleriser Bello, Founder and CEO of Fleriser Bello, Inc. & Bellas Fashionistas, Inc
Lucy A. Candelario, Executive Director, The Belle Center
Erika Flores, MPA, Senior Program Associate, Cause Strategy Partners
Bethaida "Bea" Gonzalez, Former Special Assistant to the Chancellor at Syracuse University / Vice President for Community Engagement
Rita Paniagua, Syracuse City Councilor At-Large
Dr. Yomaris Peña, MD, Chief Medical Officer, SOMOS COMMUNITY CARE and CEO/Medical Director, YPP New Modern Medicine PLLC
Tayrin Tapia, Director of Operations at Capital Management
Webinars
January 2023: Life is Precious - Suicide Prevention for Latina Teens
During 2023's National Mentoring Month, the New York State Mentoring Program teamed up with Life is Precious to present a valuable training for all mentors participating in the Latina Mentoring Initiative.
Young Latinas have become the teen population with the highest rate of suicide attempt in the country. In New York State, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Latina teens and in NYC 18.5% of Latina teens seriously considered suicide in 2019, a percentage higher than their peers.
Understanding that mentors can play a huge part in supporting mental health, we want to provide additional tools to equip our volunteers. This hour-long training gives mentors an overview of suicide prevention, specific to Latina teens, and offers additional resources as well.
More on Life is Precious:
Established in 2008 by Dr. Rosa Gil, the Life is Precious™ (LIP) Latina Girls Club & Suicide Prevention program is a project of Comunilife, a leading nonprofit housing, health and human services agency serving NYC's Hispanic community since 1989. We are grateful to partner with them to offer this opportunity. To learn more go to: www.comunilifelip.org
February 2023: Pouring Into Ourselves - Modeling Self-care for the Next Generation of Latinas
The Latina Mentoring Initiative's focus for February was "Self-care/Self-love." To further support our mentors in their journey, we hosted the "Pouring into Ourselves: Modeling Self-Care for The Next Generation of Latinas" webinar.
A stellar panel of Latina experts from the mental health space and the self-care realm shared wisdom, tips and tools on how to model self-care for their mentees. Dr. Mariel Buque, Psychologist and Intergenerational Trauma Expert, Amanda Vacca, EMDR Therapist, and Cindy. Y. Rodriguez, CEO & Founder of Reclama (a Spiritual Hiking and Journaling Community for Women of Color) joined us to share how mentors, who give so much of themselves, can personally benefit from practicing self-care and positively impact the youth they serve.
March 2023: Latinas Leading the Way - Celebrating Latina Excellence
In honor of Women's History Month, the New York State Mentoring Program's Latina Mentoring Initiative hosted a very special webinar celebrating Latina excellence.
On March 28th we celebrated four powerhouses who are giving back to their communities through their work and service. Founder and CEO, Fleriser Bello, Honorable Wilma Guzman, New York State Chief Diversity Officer, Julissa Gutierrez and CEO and Founder and CEO of Encounter Your Potential, Sandra Garcia. They shared their inspiring stories and advice as women making a difference in their fields and their communities.
In the News
Deserving youth advocate surprised with trip to Walt Disney World ( Goodmorningamerica.com)
New York State mentoring program's Latina mentoring initiative (hervagaboundroots.com)
Mentoring initiative inspiring young Latinas in Syracuse (spectrumlocalnews.com)
Estudiantes de Uniondale preparan pupusas y celebran la cultura salvadoreña – Noticia NY
Contact
To learn more about how to support or sign up to volunteer, please contact:
Samantha McQuibban, Deputy Director, NYS Mentoring Program