“THE WAY FORWARD”
November 17th, VIRTUAL - 9am to 2pm
The Southeast of the United States has a rich history of hundreds of years. From local and indigenous nations known by mound-building cultures and deep respect for nature, to the arrival of explorers and colonizers from France, Spain and England, horrific 200 years of slavery followed by indenture servitude, the migration to the north, the rise of the civil rights movement and more recently the evolution to a region that is home to some of the fastest growing Asian and Latin American communities in the nation.
“As the South goes, so goes the nation” wrote W.E.B DuBois, at a great watershed moment during the Jim Crow era. Today, the region is representative of great diversity. Vast inequities, some of the most innovative and effective organizing, global companies and high tech industries share space with traditional agricultural activities and people from all corners of the world live, work, play, talk, learn, vote and love here.
The time has come to educate ourselves, take in the history, the leadership, the work, the people and communities that came before us to get us where we are now and embrace this moment of profound change. A moment we must recognize we have a role to play in dismantling systems of inequity and oppression and step into envisioning what a South with possibilities and opportunities for all would look like.
The Latino Community Fund (LCF Georgia) and Ser Familia are excited to host this 8th Annual Latinx Summit and dive into where we are now, and how we believe we can help build a better future for all people in which language, heritage and race come together to realize the dream of place where can not merely survive, but thrive.
2021 Latinx Summit Program
9:00 am WELCOME! Program, process and intended outcomes
Event co-hosts Gigi Pedraza (Latino Community Fund) and Belisa Urbina (Ser Familia)
9:15 AM Centering on Race and Social Justice. Shared Language and Understanding
Defining what is the meaning of these terms, why is it important and what role do we all play in the systems we live in.
Marisol Jimenez, Chief Operating Officer, Tepeyac Consulting
Elias Alonzo, Director Ixtapan Foundation, Adelante Guatemala
Elias Alonzo
Director of Development of Ixtatan Foundation, Vice President of Adelante Guatemala and advisor to the Maya Heritage Project at Kennesaw University,The second of seven children, he developed a strong desire to get a good education, which at that time meant going away from his home and family from the middle school level on. He is an interpreter of 2 Maya languages in the US and a small business owner
Marisol Jimenez
Founder and lead consultant for Tepeyac Consulting. Twenty years of community training/facilitation, and policy advocacy experience. Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago and Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work. Adjunct faculty at both NC State University’s and UNC Chapel Hill’s social work graduate programs
K. Juree Capers, Ph.D.
associate professor in the Department of Public Management and Policy at Georgia State University and a faculty affiliate with the Georgia Policy Labs. Her research focuses on social and racial equity at the intersection of public administration, policy implementation, and race and ethnic politics
10:20 AM Current Baseline. Realities in the Latinx Community In Georgia
Stories and data paint a clear picture of what is truly happening within the community in Georgia. From mental health to school attendance, this panel explores findings, opportunities and priority areas to focus on when working with Latinos as part of a rigourous research project.
Briana Woods-Jaeger, PhD, Emory University
Grant Rivera, Ed. D, Marietta City Schools
Belisa Urbina, Co-Founder and CEO, Ser Familia (facilitator)
Dr. Briana Woods-Jaeger
A licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor of behavioral, social, and health education sciences at Emory University. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Duke University and her doctorate degree in child clinical psychology from the University of Washington. Dr. Woods-Jaeger provides cognitive-behavioral therapy for children, adolescents, and adults with particular expertise in traumatic stress, anxiety disorders and behavior disorders.
Belisa Urbina
Co-Founder and CEO of Ser Familia, Belisa has led the transformation of an organization from idea and a family project to arguably the fastest growing comprehensive social service organization in Georgia. In the process of opening their 5th office, Ser Familia provides direct and comprehensive family services to Latinos in Georgia.
Dr. Grant Rivera
The Marietta Schools Superintendent believes great schools are built on the combined strength of supported families, talented educators, and an engaged community. Prior to his current position as superintendent of Marietta City Schools, Dr. Rivera served as Chief of Staff and principal of two high schools for Cobb County, the second largest district in Georgia. Northwestern and Univ. of Alabama graduate, he holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Alabama, with an emphasis in school law
Dr. Flavia Rossi
Medical Director at at Affinity Pediatrics based in Tifton Georgia, she provides health services to children 0-18 years old.
Q&A with Michael Anthony, GRATITUDE AMERICA. Drawing on Gratitude and Inner Strength.
What we can learn from other diverse communities going through pain, chronic anxiety, stress and trauma
BREAK, RECHARGE YOUR WAY! Choose between:
Latinx Music Trivia with LCF Georgia DJ Pedro or….
Innovative Mindfulness Practices with Katie Portillo, LAPC and / or Antonella Cirino, MSW
12:00 AM Building on our assets. A learning network of community organizations
23 organizations and their volunteers became first line responders when people did not have anything to eat or needed basic information in 2020. These same organizations connected real life problems with policies and representation challenges. What made this coalition so effective and how similar learnings, findings and successes are found in history but also in other communities and spaces.
Edna Rodriguez, RAFI-USA
Laureen Fredella, Educator, Tenement Museum New York
Louis Negron, 100 Black Men of Atlanta
Edna Rodriguez
Executive Director with RAFI-USA leading strategic growth and advocacy for equity and justice and launching as a consequence the Farmers of Color Network. Edna serves on the Boards of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC). Originally from the Dominican Republic, Edna was raised in a global environment, growing up between The Hague, Netherlands, and Santo Domingo. Prior to joining RAFI-USA, Edna served as Senior Program Officer at the Atlanta Women’s Foundation,. Edna holds a B.A. in Economics with a concentration in Latin American Studies from Haverford College.
Louis E. Negron Sr.
Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta,.Born and raised in Oakland, Calif., to Puerto Rican parents after a decade-long stint in higher education, he has worked with Year Up, United Way of Atlanta, United Way of Transylvania County, Operation HOPE and Supportive Housing Communities. Negron has a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from Mercer, a Mastes in administration from Central Michigan University and a BA in Spanish from Morehouse College in Atlanta
Laureen Fredella
Tenement Museum Educator, grantwriter, artist and program development consultant. Laureen has managed large portfolios of programs specifically serving the Latinx and refugee community in various states. She is has a M.S. in applied linguistics and Teaching English as a Second Language, and a B.A. in Spanish. She consults with various organizations across the country.
Gigi Pedraza
Executive Director with LCF Georgia, Gigi has extensive experience successfully launching social ventures both for profit and nonprofit. She is an active community member and advocate for Latinos, women and immigrants.
She was raised in Peru and has worked in South America, Europe, and Asia with dynamic multicutlural and multi-lingual teams.
BREAK, RECHARGE YOUR WAY! Choose between:
Latinx Music Trivia with LCF Georgia DJ Pedro or….
Innovative Mindfulness Practices with Katie Portillo, LAPC and / or Antonella Cirino, MSW
1:15 PM Inclusive policies & narratives. Redefining the South
Creating barriers to access and information but also the ability to react, plan and design inclusively are both in the hands of policy makers. We share in this panel a sample of key and important efforts that created a space for emergency response, advancement and true partnership between local governments, state entities and community organizations in Georgia.
Christopher Perlera, Principal, Critical Point Consulting
Luisa Cardona Vence
Regional Services Director with Montgomery County, Maryland, she previously served as the Deputy Director for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs in Atlanta where she advocated and organized COVID-19 emergency response and recovery. Luisa is an experienced organizer and political stretegist having worked in various campaigns. She is an immigration attorney wtihdegrees from American University and Georgia State.
Natalie Towns
Director of Prevention and Community Support at DFCS, she is responsible for supporting community partners with funding and guidance. Former Director of Programs at Georgia Juvenile Justice System. Nataiie is a committed advocate for youth. Master in Social Work from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University.
America Gruner
Founder of the Coaltion of Latino Leaders in 2006 to raise awareness, mobilize, organize and empower each other to create change. She holds a BA in Psychology and Specialization in Group Therapy from UNAM, a Specialization in Human Resources Management from the University of Minnesota and addictions counseling from East Los Angeles College. She’s a qualified Medical Interpreter, and she has a combined experience of 31 years as an investigative reporter, columnist and proofreader. She previously lived 12 years as undocumented
Christopher Perlera
Experienced External Affairs Executive and consultant for various government and social sector organizations, Chris served as Senior Director for Partnership with DFCS, has led various projects with the Secretary of State and has been heavily involved in advocating for inclusive policies and invesetments for local organzations in the front lines serving BIPOC and LGTBQ communities. Bachelor in romance languages and many awards including 40 under 40 by Georgia Trend
