“Latinas’ hard work ethic has driven their workforce growth to outpace both non-Latinas and Latino males for the first time in history”
– Latinas Powering Forward Report, Telemundo.

Latinas in the U.S. have made tremendous strides across all levels of higher education. As highlighted by our Gender Equity Dashboard, Latinas have the highest rate of bachelor’s degrees or higher education attainment in Miami-Dade County. However, despite their impressive educational achievements, a persistent and disheartening reality remains.  Latina women continue to face a substantial wage gap compared to their white counterparts and remain underrepresented in executive and leadership positions.

This gap hampers the economic mobility and well-being of Latina women and their families. It serves as a stark reminder that the journey toward achieving equity and justice is still a work in progress. The large population of Latina women in Miami-Dade, 51.4% of total female residents, according to the 2021 census, makes this issue particularly relevant for our community.

This event took place virtually via Zoom Webinar on Thursday, July 6, from 9:00 am- 10:00 am

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Having grown up in an urban neighborhood Marilyn learned early on about the impact of giving back to the community, volunteerism and paying it forward. Her parents migrated to the U.S. from Puerto Rico in the early 1950’s and instilled the importance of “la Familia,” culture, our language and being involved in “La Communidad.”

She earned her B.A from the University of CT. in Storrs, CT and later an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix. Marilyn has worked in the corporate arena for more than twenty years where she has held numerous management positions within the airlines, pharmaceutical, education, financial and health insurance industries. As an entrepreneur, she led Ethnic Marketing Solutions for 9 years, an agency that focused on strategic marketing for companies interested in learning about and tapping into multicultural markets.

As a recognized multicultural marketing professional, Marilyn has led numerous companies and businesses through strategic marketing and branding strategies that help grow the business.

PANELISTS

Patricia Murillo is a dynamic nonprofit leader, strategist, and powerful learning facilitator. With twenty-five years of progressive leadership in the nonprofit sector, she has empowered countless leaders through consultation, coaching, and transformative facilitation, enabling them to construct practical and visionary long-term plans, fortify board capabilities, and cultivate leadership excellence in various contexts.

In her role as the Chief Learning Officer for How Women Lead, Patricia curates diverse learning content for a national network of 20,000 executive leaders. Having previously served as an Executive Director and Chief Program Officer, she excelled at expanding programs and fostering team growth through inclusive and co-creative approaches. Patricia’s true passion lies in creating organizations and learning communities that inspire individuals and forge connections that align with a greater purpose.

Rooted in her upbringing within a farmworker Mexican family on California’s Central Coast, Patricia learned invaluable lessons about the virtues of hard work, the significance of a blue passport, and the transformative power of education as a golden ticket.  She lives in the East Bay with her partner Lashun, 10-year-old stepson Nigel, and Phoenix the cat.

OMILANI is a graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. She graduated summa cum laude and upon graduation, immediately embarked upon a Fulbright Hays-Group Project Abroad in Nigeria. She completed a study at the University of Cambridge (UK) for her Masters thesis as well as returned to Africa and the Caribbean for further fieldwork. Ms. Alarcón is a visual and performing artist, poet, scholar and Founder of the Latinegras brand. She has over ten scholarly publications, 8 albums , and was in the top 7 GRAMMY Showcase Finalists. She is fluent in four languages other than English and has traveled and studied business, languages, and performing arts in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas. Her documentary, “LATINEGRAS: The Journey of Self Love through an AfroLatina Lens” debuted in Seville, Spain. Currently she is working on a Tagalog album dedicated to her Filipino Roots called UGAT FILIPINO (Filipino Roots), a Yoruba Diaspora album called Ore Yeye O and she has just completed a documentary about the search for her long lost relatives from the Philippines called “APART of the Story”

Primary teaching in all areas of entrepreneurship. Director of Latina Programs; Former Director of Entrepreneurship Programs.
Ed.D., Education, University of Miami, 2022
MBA, Marketing and Management, University of Miami
BBA, International Finance and Marketing, University of Miami