Hispanic Heritage Month: Four Leaders Igniting Positive Change
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we highlight four philanthropic leaders who dedicate their time to Latinos and other underserved groups in our diverse community. In Houston, there are a vast number of incredible people who work to ignite positive change for this community. Because this list is far from exhaustive, we encourage you to share the name of a philanthropic leader in this space that we should highlight in the future by emailing [email protected].
Lulu Alvarez, Accountant at Greater Houston Community Foundation and Former Genesys Works Intern
Lulu Alvarez was the first person on both sides of her family to graduate college and land a dream job where she could give back to the community while advancing in the accounting field as an Accountant at Greater Houston Community Foundation (Foundation).
“As a Hispanic female, I often feel I must work twice as hard. School, work, family, and mental health can get overwhelming sometimes, but at the end of the day, it is worth it. I hope to inspire others to be the best versions of themselves. Six years ago, my family and I struggled to put me through school and pay for basic necessities. With determination, perseverance, and my mom’s love, everything was possible.” – Lulu Alvarez, Accountant at Greater Houston Community Foundation
Alvarez found her way to the Foundation through Genesys Works as an Accounting Intern. Genesys Works is a national nonprofit that provides pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences, and impactful relationships. Alvarez credits Genesys Works with exposing her to the opportunities she needed to get where she is today. In addition, Alvarez has had the opportunity to supervise and manage two different Genesys Works Accounting Interns at Greater Houston Community Foundation. It is a full-circle moment where she gets to be a part of their networking and professional development.
Alvarez is inspired by Houstonians as, through her work at the Foundation, she has observed firsthand how Houstonians tend to be generous and eager to help. When disaster strikes, there is an overwhelming outpour of support and volunteer opportunities that our community eagerly engages with through the Foundation.
While at Greater Houston Community Foundation, Alvarez’s impact on the Foundation spans well beyond the accounting department. Annually, she has joined the Foundation’s Scholarship Review Committee, helping screen eligible scholarship applicants. In addition, in 2023, she played a pivotal role in launching some of the scholarship applications in Spanish. Alvarez is an active member of the DEI Council, which began as the Voice Task Force in 2022 under her leadership. She is slated to be Vice Chair of the DEI Council in 2024. Alvarez is also heavily involved with the Foundation’s Engagement Squad, where she assists in coordinating staff-wide activities and initiatives to enhance employee experience.
“As a daughter of immigrant parents, I value diversity, equity, and inclusion to promote fair opportunities for everyone. I am passionate about encouraging our donors to help our lowest-income places to make adjustments to imbalances. Houston is inspiring and diverse and should promote education and workforce development programs for Houstonians to get the skills needed for the evolving job market.” – Lulu Alvarez, Accountant at Greater Houston Community Foundation
Alvarez is an intelligent, empathetic go-getter who is passionate about igniting meaningful change in the community she calls home. Those fortunate enough to call her a colleague have witnessed directly how she works to create a more inclusive and harmonious society.
Staci LaToison, Founder of Dream Big Ventures, Board of Directors for Houston Hospice and Discovery Green Conservancy, Dean’s Advisory Board at the University of Houston College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Member of the Greater Houston Partnership Digital Tech Attraction Committee,Executive Member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association, and a member of the prestigious Women Presidents Organization
Staci LaToison is a proud Puerto Rican and Cuban leader committed to increasing awareness and opportunities for women, Latinos, and other underestimated groups in our diverse community. In addition, LaToison is a native Houstonian and a first-generation college graduate.
After two decades in a corporate role, in 2022, LaToison left to start her venture capital firm, Dream Big Ventures, and has not looked back. Her intrinsic motivators are to increase awareness and access to opportunities for women, Latinos, and other under-represented groups, educate the community, raise awareness about access to capital, angel investing, and venture capital, and mentor middle and high school girls about careers in STEM.
“I am proof of what can happen when you never lose sight of your dream. I am using my time and experience to inspire others to do the same, but in ways that will help close the generational wealth gap. I am passionate about empowering people and helping them reach their full potential, which keeps me focused and humble while I continue to build Dream Big Ventures and my venture capital fund. Any time I speak, I aim to leave the audience with the same message: dream big, advocate for and invest in yourself, and don’t let fear hold you back.” – Staci LaToison, Founder of Dream Big Ventures
LaToison is passionate about bringing people together, locally or nationally, to foster collaborations that will help Houston continue to lead in energy, tech, and health innovation. When we asked LaToison what she finds most inspiring about Houstonians, she shared,
“Houstonians are dreamers – we see the possibility of a brighter future and strive to turn those dreams into reality. We embody a shared vision of a compassionate and creative community where diversity is celebrated and nurtured, making the city an inspiring and magical place to live. We also embrace the spirit of exploration and ingenuity, drawing from the diverse tapestry of our city. Houstonians shine as beacons of innovation, pushing the boundaries of what is possible, whether it’s in space exploration, medicine, the arts, or any other field. This spirit is one of the reasons I named my venture capital firm Dream Big Ventures. As we continue to dream big and cultivate a culture of creativity, our city remains a place where the power of innovation ignites, making Houston a symbol of progress and a testament to the potential of a united and diverse community.” – Staci LaToison, Founder of Dream Big Ventures
In her personal time, LaToison currently serves on the Board of Directors for Houston Hospice and Discovery Green Conservancy, as well as on the Dean’s Advisory Board at the University of Houston College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. LaToison sees Houston as a hub for technology and other innovations, which led her to serve as a member of the Greater Houston Partnership Digital Tech Attraction Committee, helping to build the emerging Houston innovation ecosystem.
Mario A. Salinas, Manager of Leonel Castillo Community Center, President of Latino Giving Houston, and Chair of the Latinx Initiatives Advisory Committee for Holocaust Museum Houston
Mario A. Salinas is a fourth-generation Houstonian who is inspired by Houston’s deep local history and culture. Salinas serves his community as the manager of the historic Leonel Castillo Community Center, which provides various services in the Near Northside to low – and moderate-income residents in need. Throughout his professional career, Salinas has always prioritized exposing members of his community to more opportunities and resources, with the goal of helping them reach their full potential. Over the years, this has looked like many things, including registering young Houstonians to vote, establishing programs for retirees, and running a building that houses an early childhood center.
We asked Salinas what his vision for a better Houston region is, and he shared,
“My vision for a better Houston region is one where every community feels heard and understood, and renters feel they have a stake in the future as much as homeowners. Every square foot of public space should feel welcoming to all Houstonians, with a true mass transit system to connect everyone.” – Mario A. Salinas, Manager of Leonel Castillo Community Center
Salinas is the current President and a founding member of Latino Giving Houston (LGH). LGH was founded in 2008 and is Greater Houston Community Foundation’s longest-active giving circle. LGH promotes philanthropy in Houston’s Latino community, and participants make a collective impact with its giving. Over the last 13 years, LGH has granted $92,500 to 13 local nonprofit organizations that serve the Latino community in the Greater Houston area.
“The [LGH] funds go towards our yearly grant to a Latino-serving 501(c)3, chosen by our members. The whole process is a great learning opportunity for anyone new to the nonprofit sector or philanthropy. It’s all about power in numbers through collective giving!” – Mario A. Salinas, Manager of Leonel Castillo Community Center
Salinas also serves as Chair of the Latinx Initiatives Advisory Committee for Holocaust Museum Houston, comprising a dynamic group of Latino leaders who recognize that in an ever-changing world, the lessons of the Holocaust need to be understood by every generation and people of all ethnicities, especially in a city as diverse as Houston. The Latinx Initiatives Program builds bridges between Houston’s Latinx community and the Holocaust Museum Houston.
Salinas shared with us about how he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a newborn with a prognosis that he would likely never walk nor talk. After years of physical therapy and other interventions, Salinas has used his experience to broaden his perspective on education. He shared,
“Beginning school in special education courses and graduating high school with all honors and gifted and talented courses, I have been exposed to every level of public education available, which has given me a wide perspective on the educational challenges facing students in the Houston area. My journey has taught me that everyone has a voice that deserves to be heard and a story that deserves to be understood. There is power in numbers, but only if those numbers are put into action, especially for the largest single demographic group in our city, county, and state – Latinos.” – Mario A. Salinas, Manager of Leonel Castillo Community Center
In January of 2012, Salinas gave a powerful TEDx talk about overcoming the negative labels and lowered expectations that some held about him growing up and related his experience to some of the macro-level challenges Harris County’s growing Latino population faces moving into the future. Salinas is an incredible example of overcoming obstacles and using his personal journey to pave the way for a better future for those in his community.
Mary Vazquez, Vice President of Community Outreach at United Way of Greater Houston
For over 30 years, Mary Vazquez has worked with United Way of Greater Houston to engage in Community Outreach programs that connect individuals to critical resources that improve their financial stability and quality of life. As a child, Vazquez’s family accessed United Way services to help them through economic hardship, so she has experienced firsthand the needs parents have to improve their circumstances and ensure their children have a brighter future. Because of her childhood, she has a tireless passion for service to others and a commitment to the United Way, where she gives back to her community and pays it forward every day.
As Vazquez has continued to advance in her career, she has assumed greater leadership responsibilities, leading her to be the first Hispanic female executive officer at United Way of Greater Houston. Vazquez humbly shared, “I could not have done it without the support and encouragement of wonderful leaders, mentors, colleagues, friends, and family who have been an inspiration to me.”
Vazquez’s leadership efforts have led to several innovations at United Way of Greater Houston, which in turn, is better for the Houston community at large. Vazquez was heavily involved in the evolution of the 211 Texas/United Way Helpline as it increased its capacity to become the largest helpline of its kind in the state and one of the largest in the nation. This helpline has provided help and hope to over 1.2 million connections annually and over 15.6 million during the last 20 years.
More recently, Vazquez has helped maintain and formalize a partnership with Greater Houston Community Foundation regarding various disaster relief efforts.
“I am very proud of our partnership with Greater Houston Community Foundation. We worked together to implement the Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund and the Houston Harris County Winter Storm Relief Fund, raising $35 million in disaster resources for our community. Together, we have now launched the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance that will continue to lead our community’s philanthropic response, strengthen year-round disaster preparedness and ensure our region is ready to respond in times of disaster.” — Mary Vazquez, Vice President of Community Outreach at United Way of Greater Houston
The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance (Disaster Alliance), launched in May of 2023, is a partnership between Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston that will strengthen Houston’s year-round disaster preparedness. The Disaster Alliance will ensure that our region has the social services network and systems in place to respond rapidly, equitably, and effectively in times of disaster.
“My vision for Houston is centered around its people — a place where people can be healthy, happy, and have the opportunity to create a better life for themselves and their families.” — Mary Vazquez, Vice President of Community Outreach at United Way of Greater Houston
Vazquez is inspired daily by her community and its diversity, culture, events, and spaces that make Houston a wonderful place to live and work. Through the care and compassion that she shows to residents of our four-county area in her daily work, Vazquez is undoubtedly strengthening the resiliency of the city we call home, Houston.