Use Your Voice…Claudia Flores

"We must be impatient for change. Let us remember that our voice is a precious gift and we must use it."

—Claudia Flores, Immigration campaign manager, Center for American Progress





On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are featuring the "50+ Most Influential Latin-American Women in History" as published by Parade Magazine. Latinx leaders like activist Delores Huerta, Joan Baez, Rita Moreno, Soledad O'Brien, Zoe Saldana, American Ferrera, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Sonya Sotomayor have become so respected and well know that their names are known to most Americans. But do you know Sonia Nazario, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lizzie Velásquez? Their contribtions may not be as well known, but they are no less valuable to history and understanding of what is possible when someone dares to use their voice to create change.

For more information on #LeadershipTuesdays, follow us on Twitter: @LeadershipTuesLeadershipTues.

#LeadershipTuesdays: I Know Who I Am

We’re constantly being told what other people think we are and that’s why it is so important to know yourself.

--Unknown

Every other Tuesdays, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Today on the last Tuesday of the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we feature Johnson & Johnson executive, Arisa Batista Cunningham. She is the Vice President of Global Diversity and Inclusion for the Medical Devices and Diagnostics Group, a $24 billion medical devices and diagnostics business.

Some time ago Ms. Batista Cunningham talked with Aurelia Flores of PowerfulLatinas.com about being born and growing up with her family in rural Panama. She described facing discrimination and low expectations in grade school because she was a girl and she was not from a prominent wealthy family. Ms. Cunningham also spoke about overcoming her own insecurities regarding her accent and adjusting to the American culture when she came to the U.S. for college.

As she reflected on her experiences from her current vantage point as an accomplished C-Suite executive at a Fortune 100 company, she shared wisdom that will inspire Latinos, and any woman, man, adolescent boy or girl who has had to confront adversity.  

To listen to the interview, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here.

Arisa Batista Cunningham

#LeadershipTuesdays: The Power Of Images

As the first Hispanic female governor in history, little girls often come up to me in the grocery store or the mall. They look and point, and when they get the courage, they ask 'Are you Susana?' and they run up and give me a hug.

--Susana Martinez, 31st Governor of New Mexico

Meet Governor Susana Martinez

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Images are so important in today's society. So much of what we see on television or in the media, whether accurate or not, is taken as the norm. It is very hard to become what you do not see. Meaning, it is very hard, not impossible, but hard to become an astrophysicist if you grow up in a town of farmers, come from a family of farmers, and you are never exposed to people who have studied astronomy or the sciences. But if you watched "Cosmos: A Personal Voyage" by Carl Sagan on PBS or became familiar with his work through that exposure, you would be able to decide whether you had interest in astrophysics.

Now that's an extreme example, nonetheless it amplifies a broader point: it is important for little girls and boys to be exposed to powerful images of accomplished women, men and minorities who are leaders. It shows them what is possible. Governor Susana Martinez's story as told in the quote above is a powerful one. Being the first Hispanic and woman to be elected as Governor of New Mexico creates a legacy for other Latinos and women that are sure to follow her. So today, during Hispanic Heritage Month, we salute Governor Susana Martinez for her accomplishments and legacy.

As mentioned earlier, the images we see in the media are important to our worldview. I invite you to check out this brief video blog entitled, "Women and The Media: Miss Representation?", which talks about the images of women and minorities that we are expose to on American television and the power that we, especially women, have to impact what we see in the media.

For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here.