Part 2, Gigi Pedraza on Nonprofit Challenges and Living in the South

"I always say, if you have a brain, if have a body...you have a voice and you can be a leader. And we are all influential in our own networks. - Gigi Pedraza, Founding Executive Director of Latino Community Fund of Georgia

Gigi Pedraza is founding Executive Director of the nonprofit, Latino Community Fund of Georgia. In part two of our conversation, Gigi shares what she loves about living in South including the increasing diversity of people in the region.  She also shares more about the challenges facing nonprofits - from the way the work is perceived to having to face society’s most complex  challenges with limited resources. Gigi invites all of us to become leaders in our own spaces and support the organizations doing impactful work in the Latinx community. 

• Find out more about Latinos for Democracy redistricting work, Un Mapa Para Todos.
• Connect with Latino Community Fund of Georgia and support their work: @lcf_georgia.
• If you missed Part 1 of our conversation, you can listen here: https://bit.ly/GigiPedraza

Thank you for supporting Latina South podcast! Please share the show with a friend or drop us a line: hola@latinasouth.com.

Podcast Music: “The OGS Present Higher” Written by Divinity Roxx, Marcie Chapa, Katty Rodriguez, Nikki Glaspie, Tia Fuller Published by Hot Tottie Music (ASCAP), Wambui Publishing Company, I M A Funkateer (BMI) Used by permission. All rights reserved.

"The most important thing that someone can have, if they don't understand something, is curiosity. [If] people just ask why, I think we have already common ground. - Gigi Pedraza, Latino Community Fund of Georgia

Gigi Pedraza is the founding Executive Director of the nonprofit, Latino Community Fund of Georgia and one of the most influential Latinas in the state. In the first of two parts of our conversation, Gigi shares with us the catalytic moments which fueled her journey to become both a social entrepreneur and vocal advocate for the Latino Community in Georgia. Gigi also shares her thoughts on philanthropy and her approach to both creating awareness and securing resources for the organizations tackling the most complex issues for the Latino community Georgia. 

Stay tuned and be sure to listen to part two of this episode where Gigi reveals more about living in the South, nonprofit challenges and critical issues impacting the community.

Thank you for supporting Latina South podcast! Please share the show with a friend or drop us a line: hola@latinasouth.com.

Podcast Music: “The OGS Present Higher” Written by Divinity Roxx, Marcie Chapa, Katty Rodriguez, Nikki Glaspie, Tia Fuller Published by Hot Tottie Music (ASCAP), Wambui Publishing Company, I M A Funkateer (BMI) Used by permission. All rights reserved.

"It's important that you network with other leaders, directors - not necessarily just executives - so that they are advocating for you as well. It's not just a one of one, it's one of many conversations that you have to have to build that network and for others to also be able to envision how you can be part of that leadership team." - Ana Baskharone

Ana Baskharone is a Director in a large utilities company headquartered in Houston, Texas. After 30 years of working hard, Ana began to feel stuck in her career - so she hired a coach. That move, among others, helped her to land a new position when she began to advocate for herself and share her story as a leader. Ana talks about her Latina identity and her journey as a first generation college student to corporate director. She describes her love of golf and its parallels to life. She also shares her passion for early childhood education as a Board member of nonprofit, Collaborative for Children.

Thank you for supporting Latina South podcast! Please share the show with a friend or drop us a line: hola@latinasouth.com.

Podcast Music: “The OGS Present Higher” Written by Divinity Roxx, Marcie Chapa, Katty Rodriguez, Nikki Glaspie, Tia Fuller Published by Hot Tottie Music (ASCAP), Wambui Publishing Company, I M A Funkateer (BMI) Used by permission. All rights reserved.

"Anger is the spark.  You know, anger is good sometimes. It's good if it moves you to action." - Dr. Betina Kaplan, Co-founder, ULead Athens

Dr. Betina Kaplan teaches Latin American cultures and literatures at the University of Georgia. In 2010 she became angered by the policies banning undocumented students from the top 5 public universities in Georgia. Betina shares how anger inspired her to take action - she became part of the founding group of Freedom University in Atlanta, a safe space for undocumented students to continue their education. In 2014, she also co-founded ULead Athens, a volunteer organization enabling college access for immigrant students and students from immigrant families - where she continues her work today.

Thank you for supporting Latina South podcast! Please share the show with a friend or drop us a line: hola@latinasouth.com.

Podcast Music: “The OGS Present Higher” Written by Divinity Roxx, Marcie Chapa, Katty Rodriguez, Nikki Glaspie, Tia Fuller Published by Hot Tottie Music (ASCAP), Wambui Publishing Company, I M A Funkateer (BMI) Used by permission. All rights reserved.

“I said: send me, let me go, I want to do this." - Ashley Garcia, COVID ICU Nurse

Tejana and healthcare hero, Ashley Garcia, is a nurse who, early in career and at the height of the pandemic, volunteered to work in COVID Intensive Care Units of hospitals throughout the country. In addition to sharing stories from the ICU, Ashley talks about how being a part of a team and having a self-care routine got her through difficult times while she caring for others. She also talks about getting married to her long-time love in a drive-thru wedding where guests were able to drop off gifts and receive their packaged dinner while enjoying music by a Selena impersonator - a time of joy and celebration during the toughest days of the pandemic.

Mental health is more important now than ever. For resources and help, please visit National Alliance on Mental Illness: nami.org.

Thank you for supporting Latina South podcast! Please share the show with a friend or drop us a line: hola@latinasouth.com.

Podcast Music: “The OGS Present Higher” Written by Divinity Roxx, Marcie Chapa, Katty Rodriguez, Nikki Glaspie, Tia Fuller Published by Hot Tottie Music (ASCAP), Wambui Publishing Company, I M A Funkateer (BMI) Used by permission. All rights reserved.

"The only thing we have guaranteed in this world is that we are going to face change. That, to me, has always been an empowering thought...all my life, I have faced change with optimism." - Mariela Romero

Mariela Romero is an award-winning journalist and Univision’s Regional Community Empowerment Director and host of the television magazine, Conexion Fin de Semana. With 27 Emmys and a Latin Grammy nomination among her accomplishments, she has over 25 years of television and radio broadcast experience. Her first day at CNN Radio En Español  took place on the terror-filled September 11, 2001. Let’s listen as she shares how that one day of reporting prepared her for journalism in a way she could not have even imagined. Mariela also shares with us how her time as a hospital and court interpreter opened both her eyes and her heart to the issues impacting the Latino community and inspires her empowerment work today. 

Here are just of few organizations Mariela mentions in her interview. She helps to provide nonprofit heroes a voice in her daily work and invites us to support these organizations as well.

Latin American Association

Latino Community Fund of Georgia

Corners Outreach

Los Niños Primero

La Amistad

Thank you for supporting Latina South podcast! Please share the show with a friend or drop us a line: hola@latinasouth.com.

Podcast Music: “The OGS Present Higher” Written by Divinity Roxx, Marcie Chapa, Katty Rodriguez, Nikki Glaspie, Tia Fuller Published by Hot Tottie Music (ASCAP), Wambui Publishing Company, I M A Funkateer (BMI) Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Hopefully, like many of you, we are taking a break! We'll enjoy some summer vibes while working to bring you Series II of some of the most inspiring stories of amazing Latinas making things happen throughout the South. In the meantime, I invite you to listen to a REPLAY of Latina South Episode 14, featuring Latina Marcie Chapa where she talks about her journey as a world class percussionist. 

Also make sure you visit the shownotes where we include a link to our recent Latina South listener survey! Let us know what you think for a chance to shape the show and to win some Latina South swag. Thanks for your support! Hasta la proxima, see y’all! To listen to prior episodes and more, visit us: www.latinasouth.com

Podcast Music: “The OGS Present Higher” Written by Divinity Roxx, Marcie Chapa, Katty Rodriguez, Nikki Glaspie, Tia Fuller Published by Hot Tottie Music (ASCAP), Wambui Publishing Company, I M A Funkateer (BMI) Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Hopefully like all of you, we're taking a break! We'll enjoy some summer vibes while working to bring you Series II of some of the most inspiring stories of amazing Latinas making things happen throughout the South. In the meantime, I invite you to listen mi amiga, my friend, Audra Agen of Women in the Arena podcast where she celebrates everyday women living extraordinary lives in plain sight. Let's listen as Audra speaks to Latina and educational leader, Dr. Lupita Hightower where she talks about her passion for education and her journey to District Superintendent in Arizona. 

Also make sure you visit the shownotes where we include a link to our recent Latina South listener survey! Let us know what you think for a chance to shape the show and to win some Latina South swag. Thanks for your support! Hasta la proxima, see y’all! To listen to prior episodes and more, visit us: www.latinasouth.com

Podcast Music: “The OGS Present Higher” Written by Divinity Roxx, Marcie Chapa, Katty Rodriguez, Nikki Glaspie, Tia Fuller Published by Hot Tottie Music (ASCAP), Wambui Publishing Company, I M A Funkateer (BMI) Used by permission. All rights reserved.

"We get one ride..." - Women in the Arena Podcast Guest Delilah Buitrón Arrebola

Hopefully, like all of you, we're taking a break! We'll enjoy some summer vibes while working to bring you Series II of some of the most inspiring stories of amazing Latinas making things happen throughout the South. In the meantime, I invite you to listen mi amiga, my friend, Audra Agen of Women in the Arena podcast where she celebrates everyday women living extraordinary lives in plain sight. Let's listen as Audra speaks to Latina and Flamenco dancer, Delilah Buitrón Arrebola where she talks about her journey to dance and more. 

Also make sure you visit the shownotes where we include a link to our recent Latina South listener survey! Let us know what you think for a chance to shape the show and to win some Latina South swag. Thanks for your support! Hasta la proxima, see y’all! To listen to prior episodes and more, visit us: www.latinasouth.com

Podcast Music: “The OGS Present Higher” Written by Divinity Roxx, Marcie Chapa, Katty Rodriguez, Nikki Glaspie, Tia Fuller Published by Hot Tottie Music (ASCAP), Wambui Publishing Company, I M A Funkateer (BMI) Used by permission. All rights reserved.

"What is being Simply Latina? It really doesn’t have to fit a narrative. It’s just YOU being whatever you feel like as being Latina....We each have our own perspective of what that looks like.”" - Nataly Suarez, Simply Latina

Nataly, Blanca, & Samy Suarez are three sisters and founders of Simply Latina, a growing brand based out of Atlanta, Georgia that began with scented candles and apparel inspired by their Mexican culture. With cute sayings like ‘Sana, sana, colita de rana,” and “Necesito mi cafecito,” they incorporate their bicultural and family experiences into their scents and creations. Let’s listen as they share with us what it takes to start a business and keep it going, all while having each other’s back and putting family first.

Keep up with their newest creations and inspirations on Instagram @SimplyLatinaDesigns or visit their shop on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SimplyLatina. 

Thanks for supporting Latina South podcast! Please share the show with a friend or drop us a line: hola@latinasouth.com.

Podcast Music: “The OGS Present Higher” Written by Divinity Roxx, Marcie Chapa, Katty Rodriguez, Nikki Glaspie, Tia Fuller Published by Hot Tottie Music (ASCAP), Wambui Publishing Company, I M A Funkateer (BMI) Used by permission. All rights reserved.