OUR MISSION:
Forward Latino empowers affiliates to inspire and engage communities, strengthen our democracy, improve the lives of working families, protect the environment, and stand up for equality and civil rights. We cultivate, train, and support a diverse national network of Latina/o/x community leaders addressing the civic, economic, and political challenges of the 21st century.
OUR REACH:
Forward Latino currently has members 29 states across the country including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin as well as in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Forward Latino is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Darryl Morin is President & CEO of Advanced Wireless, Inc. serving customers in 14 countries. In addition to his professional efforts, Mr. Morin serves on the Board of the MIlwaukee Jewish Museum, ,Employ Milwaukee and Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort and Education Fund in addition to the board of the Hmong American Peace Academy, our nation's largest Hmong population serving educational institution. For his many philanthropic efforts Mr. Morin was named Hispanic Man of the Year by UMOS, named a "Friend of Education" by the State of Wisconsin, named to the United Way of Greater Milwaukee's "Philanthropic Five" and more. Darryl is a charter member of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Justice for Immgrants Committee and founding member of the Latino-Jewish Alliance. He also served as LULAC National VP-Midwest and was responsible for all advocacy and service programs for the 12 state region. Mr. Morin is a graduate of the University of North Texas and is a proud husband and father to two sons.
Joe Enriquez Henry is a graduate of Iowa State University and former LULAC National VP-Midwest serving a 12 state region. A former Washington DC staffer for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Mr. Henry served in various capacities, ranging from leading national field and civic engagement campaigns to contract negotiations for the 1.5-million-member union from 1992-1999. From 1999-2003, he managed issue and candidate campaigns, ranging from city council to congressional and a statewide effort to stop “English Only.” In 2012, as state director for LULAC, worked with the ACLU to take on a 2-year battle against the Iowa Secretary of State who attempted to suppress the vote amongst Latinos and other minorities. Led a successful 5-year statewide voter outreach effort that culminated into tens of thousands of additional registered Latino Voters, a first ever data base of identified registered Latino Voters, and a record turnout of Latinos in the 2016 Iowa Presidential Caucuses. For his many efforts, Mr. Henry was award the Louise Noun Award by the American Civli Liberties Union Foundation of Iowa.
Eileen Figueroa is a passionate community advocate. She has and continues to lobby for DREAMers, immigrant rights, education and against family detainment across the state of Wisconsin and through to the doorways of Capitol Hill. Eileen works with the Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent and others on the district's Black and Latino Male Achievement Initiative and more. Ms. Figueroa just completed her tenure as State Director for the League of United Latin American Citizens and was the Chair of the host council that organized the 2019 LULAC National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With her Bachelors of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, she is passionate about improving public safety. Eileen advocates for the implementation of community-based problem oriented policing strategies across the state as a member of the Community Coalition for Quality Policing. Professionally, Eileen coordinates hundreds of volunteers throughout the state of Wisconsin for a major non-profit, which provides life-sustaining products to thousands of patients in the communities they serve. In addition to being committed to a life of service, Eileen is a proud wife and mother.
Steven Monroy is a civil rights attorney with experience in community organizations and state government. As a legislative staff attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Steven worked on policy throughout the Midwest in the areas of employment, education, immigrants’ rights, and voting rights. Steven led advocacy on key Illinois legislation, including laws providing DACA recipients access to professional licenses and a right to equal employment opportunity. He also provided technical assistance to government and community stakeholders. Steven received his law degree from Loyola University Chicago and is a veteran of the Illinois Army National Guard.
Alicia Rios is a lifetime advocate defending the rights of the underserved. In addition to serving on the National Board of Forward Latino, Alicia serves as the Lake County Military Service Academy Board as well as the board of Neighbors' Educational Opportunities (NEO). Alica has also held local state and leadership roles with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and is the Finaince Committee Chairperson of the LULAC Neational Educational Service Centers (LNESC).
Born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and raised in Northwest Indiana, Ms. Rios is a graduate of the Bishop Noll Insitute and is most proud of her three children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Ms. Medina enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in 1981, graduated from boot camp at Parris Island, SC. and went on to become the first female aircraft system technician in the Corp working on AV8-A and AV8-B Harrier Jump Jets. Upon completing her military service with her husband Joe Medina, they moved back to Waukesha where she served as Director of the Office of Military & Veteran Student Services at Carroll University, joined and served in the American GI Forum, launched the Wisconsin Latino Veterans Memorial Foundation and assisted with the Milwaukee County War Memorial. She is currently the Director of the UW-Milwaukee's Military And Veterans Resource Center (MAVRC). Ms. Medina received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies and a Master’s degree in Adult, Community and Professional Education from Carroll University and plans to enter the Ph.D. program in Anthropology at UW-Milwaukee in the spring of 2020 to continue her research on Moral Trauma in the military.
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