Month: July 2023

Suppliers of Whole Foods Market are empowering microentrepreneurs with economic opportunity. These generous brands fund microloans for entrepreneurs living in poverty so they can start or expand a small business, often home-based. With a small loan of around $200, an entrepreneur can purchase essential needs for their small ventures, such as products for a food stand, equipment for a sewing business, or tools for a small-scale farm.  Profits from their microbusinesses provide these entrepreneurs the opportunity to lift themselves and their families out of poverty, one loan at a time. 

Supporting brands are invited to help further our mission by funding additional microloans. Brands that donate $25,000 in July to fund microcredit are recognized as members of Whole Planet Foundation’s Poverty Is Unnecessary Fund. This month’s generous donors include Ben & Jerry’s and So Delicious Dairy Free. 

So Delicious Dairy Free

Since 2015, So Delicious Dairy Free has been committed to funding opportunity through Whole Planet Foundation. As a repeat 2023 donor, their $50,000 commitment this year will help fund an additional 270 microloans for entrepreneurs living in poverty. With a small microloan, microentrepreneurs can start or develop a business, often home-based, to support themselves and their families. “So Delicious Dairy Free is on a mission to show what’s possible when everyone has an equal seat at the table. This means advocating for a more inclusive economy and creating economic opportunities for marginalized communities. We are proud to support Whole Planet Foundation and their mission to alleviate global poverty through microfinance”, says Virginia Kelly, VP of Marketing for So Delicious Dairy Free.

Ben & Jerry’s

Since 2020, Ben & Jerry’s has a business model of linked prosperity. Their social mission is to work towards their goal to create positive change in the world from inside the pint out, starting with responsible sourcing and support of their suppliers. As a $25,000 Poverty is Unnecessary Fund member in 2023, they extend that support in the form of microloans to microentrepreneurs living in poverty all around the globe. 

Whole Planet Foundation’s $25,000 donors believe Poverty is Unnecessary. That’s why they support our mission to empower microentrepreneurs with income-generating opportunities, like Margaret a microcredit client from Uganda. Watch the video about Margaret’s inspiring story and how you can help support our work here.

UNITED STATES, July 14, 2023 /3BL/ – The Council for Latino Workplace Equity (CLWE), an initiative under the National Diversity Council, will host the Eighth Annual National Latino Leadership Conference virtually via Whova on Tuesday, Sept. 19th and Wednesday, Sept. 20th, from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. CT. This year’s theme is “Escalando y Superando (Rising and Overcoming): The Stories of Our Leaders.”

The 2023 National Latino Leaders list highlights individuals who have achieved success in their careers while paving the way for other Latinos to advance in the corporate arena. These individuals contribute to creating and promoting a culture where Latino talent is supported and leveraged for organizational success. They demonstrate leadership excellence and high visibility in the Latino community and maintain a record of professional accomplishments.

“We must recognize and honor our National Latino Leaders for rising in leadership and overcoming various obstacles in their workplaces and communities,” said Anika Rahman, CEO of the National Diversity Council. “The honorees represent the diversity and strength of the Latino culture and are exemplary individuals paving the way for the Latino community at large.”

2023 National Latino Leaders Award

Marco Martinez 
Director, Vendor Risk Management 
CenterPoint Energy

Omar Guzman 
Emergency Medicine Physician 
Vituity

Julio Cruz 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Specialist 
Saint Joseph Health System

James Sanchez 
Director of Business Development & Senior Commercial Lender 
WeStreet Federal Credit Union

Gilbert Alonzo 
Vice President, Performance Excellence and Reporting 
PSCU

Jesús Trivino 
Senior Director, Industry Relations & Global Latin 
TIDAL 

Pedro Turushina 
Vice President 
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando

Mark Delp 
Branch Manager 
Impact Wealth Management

Jesse Gutierrez 
Founder & CEO 
Hymn Consulting LLC

Dr. Armando Orduna 
Executive Director 
Latinos For Education-Texas

Rudy Garza 
CEO 
CPS Energy 

Dr. Yerko Sepulveda 
Director of Community Engagement and Belonging 
Porter-Gaud School

Brigitta Toruño 
CEO and Founder 
UNO Translations and Communications, LLC

Christy Pacini 
Vice President, Global Human Resources 
SBA Communications 

Niki Tapia 
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer 
City of Chandler | City Manager’s Office

Melissa Mendez 
Director of Early Childhood Programs 
Wheeler Health 

Keila Lopez 
Associate Professor, Pediatrics Director, Transition Medicine, 
Division of Pediatric Cardiology 
Texas Children’s Hospital

Ellen Flores 
Senior Operations Manager 
One Call

Sineria Ordóñez 
Vice-President, External Affairs Market Manager and 
National Hispanic Business Development Manager 
Comerica Bank 

Cristina Lopez 
Senior Vice President – Human Resources 
VillageMD

Yazmin Castellano 
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD-USF) 
Consultant & DEI Program Coordinator

Lori Castillo Martinez 
Executive Vice President and Chief Equality Officer 
Salesforce 

Suzanne Ruiz 
Vice President and Editor in Chief 
Sorenson 

Camila Casale 
Chief Marketing Officer 
Sorenson 

Martha Pretelt 
SVP, COO Business Management & Strategic Initiatives 
FIS 

Registration for The 8th Annual Latino Leadership Conference is currently open and can be purchased starting at $249 for non-partners and $299 for partners at www.clwe.org. For more information about this event please contact: Emily Pfister at emily.pfister@nationaldiversitycouncil.org.

About The National Diversity Council

A non-profit organization committed to fostering a learning environment for organizations to grow in their knowledge of diversity. The council affords opportunities for organizations to share best practices and learn from top corporate leaders in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion. More information about the National Diversity Council is available at: www.nationaldiversitycouncil.org.

About the Council for Latino Equity Council 

The Council for Latino Workplace Equity is a resource and platform to foster workplace equity for Latino talent. It highlights the pertinent issues concerning Latinos in the workplace in order to advance equal opportunities and incite change within organizations. For information about the CLWE is available at www.clwe.org.

Media Contact 

Kamaria Monmouth 
Sr. Communications Specialist 
National Diversity Council 
kamaria.monmouth@nationaldiversitycouncil.org