Progreso Latino Fund

Celebrating Latine Leaders

Inspired by HBO's "The Latino List," Celebrating Latine Leaders brings you up-close and personal interviews with Latine leaders serving Greater New Haven and Connecticut.

Joe Rodriguez, State Deputy Director for Sen. Richard Blumenthal Credit: Contributed

Leading From Where You Are

The Progreso Latino Fund (PLF) is pleased to present the series: Celebrating Latine Leaders. While the individuals profiled represent a diverse group of men and women from many countries, professions and age groups, each is united by his or her commitment to social change through giving back and creating opportunities for others. PLF seeks to expand the definition of leadership to promote the leadership and advancement of Latines.

We hope you are inspired by the profiles below of Latine leaders in our community.

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Celebrating Latine Leaders: Joe Rodriguez ›

08.01.2022

"I firmly believe that we all have a role."

Celebrating Latine Leaders: Jacob Padrón ›

11.10.2021

"New Haven is a glorious city full of different communities, full of different experiences, is incredibly diverse, and I want the stages at Long Wharf Theatre to reflect that diversity."

Celebrating Latine Leaders: Gabriela Garcia Perez ›

09.01.2021

"We are in a time where divisiveness is very prevalent and I think the reason why is that we are not having many interactions with each other from different cultures or socio-economic backgrounds."

Celebrating Latine Leaders: Domingo Medina ›

12.03.2020

"I was happy to learn about the Progreso Latino Fund because I was able to see people … that are second, third or fourth generation Latinos that are leaders in their communities: they're in finance, they're in education, they're in health, they're making an impact..."

Celebrating Latino Leaders: Michael Negrón ›

12.03.2020

“Networks are key. But we need to ask ourselves, how well are we promoting and publicizing the things we have, and leveraging the resources and opportunities for Latinos in our community?”

Celebrating Latino Leaders: Yolanda Caldera-Durant ›

12.03.2020

"A really important part of my continued success is my giving back to young people, helping them develop leadership skills and helping them understand that they deserve success as much as anyone else."

Celebrating Latino Leaders: Raquel Santiago-Martinez ›

12.03.2020

“If you live by a certain set of values and people respect you for those values, 90 percent of your success is achieved.”

Celebrating Latino Leaders: Jordy Padilla ›

12.03.2020

“It’s a duty of mine, as an educated individual, to fight for the people who didn’t have the same opportunity as me.”

Celebrating Latino Leaders: Ricardo Henriquez ›

12.01.2020

"You do not always have to understand what someone is asking you to do if there is trust in the middle."

Celebrating Latino Leaders: Yadira Duran Ijeh ›

11.19.2020

"It’s easier, as a young person, to see yourself doing something when you see that somebody else is doing it."

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