Voices of Impact: Nurturing Connections with Hispanic Audiences Lunch & Learn

Join us for the second event in our Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) programming- a vibrant and insightful marketing discussion featuring a panel of four distinguished Hispanic experts. 

We'll be hitting on a few of these topics along any questions you bring to the table:

• Creating campaigns that celebrate Hispanic history and achievements
• Collaborating with Hispanic business owners, artists, and influencers
• Leveraging social media to reach Hispanic audiences
• Understanding and avoiding common stereotypes and clichés

Meet the Panelists:


- Dr. Lizette Rivera (She/Hers/Ella) is the newly-hired Director of Hispanic Serving Initiatives at Dominican University. Before joining Dominican, She was a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging at Ivy Tech Community College of Indianapolis. She has a Master's degree on Public Administration from Roosevelt University and a Doctor of Education from National Louis University. As a Indigenous Latina of Puerto Rican Taíno Heritage and with her extensive background in diversity and inclusion, she is an amazing addition for our panel. 



- Jaime Garza (He/His/El) is a musician, graphic designer, and cultural promoter. As the Events Manager for the Pilsen's non-profit ESDC, he produces the annual Mole de Mayo festival. He also leads Pachanka Music Culture, presenting national and international acts in various venues, galleries, and festivals. A multi-instrumentalist, Jaime regularly performs with Dos Santos, Almafuerte, and Ida y Vuelta, blending his Mexican-American roots into a unique sound. As a board member for several national organizations, he has organized hundreds of cultural events over the past decade, focusing on showcasing Latino art, music, and food. 

- Pedro Guerra (He/Him/El) has spent over a decade advancing his career across business, education, and nonprofit sectors.

With a background in finance as a business advisor and expertise in career development as an educator, Guerra co-founded the Business Technology Educational Center. This organization is instrumental in providing educational programs to underserved communities within the Chicago public school system. He also played a key role in founding Rise and Organize.

Currently, as Chamber Manager at the Berwyn Development Corporation, a high percentage of Hispanic residents and business owners- Pedro brings networking opportunities and resources to support business growth in Berwyn to better serve the community. 

- Michelle Valle (She/Hers/Ella), Marketing and Administration Manager, joined the OPRF Chamber three months ago and has been slowly adding character and storytelling to our social media. As a first-generation Mexican-American with a marketing background, Michelle has first-hand experience and knowledge of the importance of representation and how to build out genuine social media campaign to the Hispanic community. 


Schedule:
11:25-11:40 AM - Arrive, Network, Get Started
11:40-11:45 AM - Introductions
11:45-12:30 PM - Introduce HHM + Jump into panel questions
12:30-12:40 PM - Questions + Answers
12:40-1:00 PM - Conclusion + Networking! 

(Vegetarian options available upon request)

Fees & registration details

$25 for members
$30 for non-members

(Vegetarian options available upon request)

History 
Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 honors the history, cultures, and contributions from Americans whose lineage comes from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and/or Central and South America. This month-long celebration is meant to highlight the rich heritage and diverse traditions the community holds.