Recap: Thousands Attend LATINAFest® to Meet Iconic Leader Dolores Huerta

In Los Angeles, nearly 3,000 people attended the 5th annual LATINAFest®: Mind, Body & Soul at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes on Sunday, March 19^th. Despite the rain, and LA Marathon street closures, Angelenos came together to support over 100 Latina-owned small businesses that participated in this year’s event. LATINAFest®, sponsored by Chase, is the largest outdoor festival that celebrates Latinas in Los Angeles. This year’s event was celebrated in unity with Women’s History Month. Full recap below courtesy of LATINAFest®:

Bel Hernandez, Naibe Reynoso and Dolores Huerta – LATINAFest®

The theme of this year’s celebration was “Super Latina”, paying homage to Latina heroes, past and present, who planted the seeds and inspired generations of women to follow in their footsteps. Donning superhero custom-made capes and shields with empowering messages, LATINAFest® co-founders, Bel Hernandez and Naibe Reynoso led a parade of women accompanied by the Garfield High School Marching Band to launch the festival with the message, “Our Voice is Our Superpower.”

LATINAFest® Grand Entrance led by Co-founders, Bel Hernandez and Naibe Reynoso – March 2023

In addition to civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, other powerful Latinas who spoke at the festival included: Hilda Solis, LA County Supervisor, Silvana Montenegro, Global Head of Advancing Hispanics & Latinos at JPMorgan Chase, Sonia Smith-Kang, Founder and Designer of Mixed Up Clothing, Leticia Buckley, Executive Director of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, Maria Garcia, Regional Director of Banking for the North Los Angeles Region at JPMorgan Chase and Flor Martinez, Founder and CEO of Celebration Nation.

LATINAFest® and Chase awarded the annual Hero Women Rising Entrepreneur grant at the festival. This annual $5,000 grant is awarded to a Latina entrepreneur who has shown growth, leadership, innovation, and commitment to the community. Lina Muñoz, Los Angeles Central Market Manager for Business Banking at JPMorgan Chase, presented a $5,000 check to this year’s grant recipient Maggie Solorzano-Muneton of Semillitas Learning Community in Long Beach. Semillitas Learning Community provides a learning space for children to reclaim their Spanish language and preserve their culture.

Also onstage included a conversation on Latina empowerment that featured civil rights pioneer Dolores Huerta and farmworker activist Flor Martinez moderated by Telemundo 52 Acceso Total Host Elva Saray.

LATINAFest® Grand Entrance led by Co-founders, Bel Hernandez, and Naibe Reynoso - March 2023
LATINAFest® March 2023 - Grand Entrance
LATINAFest® Co-founders Bel Hernandez, Naibe Reynoso, on stage with civil rights activist Dolores Huerta - LATINAFest® March 2023
LATINAFest® and Chase awarded the annual "Hero Women Rising Entrepreneur" grant - LATINAFest® March 2023
LATINAFest® March 2023
LATINAFest® Co-founders, Bel Hernandez, and Naibe Reynoso - March 2023
LATINAFest® Co-founders, Bel Hernandez, and Naibe Reynoso - March 2023

LATINAFest® also included food trucks, a Sip and Paint corner, a photo booth, and more. Diana Diaz, CEO of Goddess Mercado, displayed a variety of apparel designs during an onstage Super Latina Fashion Show. Other highlights included a Barbie You Can Be Anything photo booth and Barbie® doll giveaway, a morning yoga session sponsored by AARP, and mommy and me paintings by the Kids Zone.

LATINAFest® is grateful to all its sponsors for their commitment to championing the Latina entrepreneur community. Supporters include Chase, a title sponsor for the third consecutive year, Barbie®, LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Telemundo 52, Kia, Dream Team Hierarchy, AARP, Estrella Jalisco, the Hispanic Coalition of Small Businesses, Red Bull, MVA Academy, The Thirsty Horse, BoHo Paradise Events, Mexican American Vintners Association and Gouda Charcuterie Boards.

LATINAFest® also thanks its community partners and ambassadors, including: Tree Yoga Cooperative, School on Wheels, Celebration Nation, Fernanda Kelly, host of K-LOVE morning show, Brenda Gonzalez, host of Tamarindo podcast, Carolina Trejos, host of LATV’s PINKafe, Darlene Rodriguez, producer of KOST 103.5, actress Julie Carmen, Patricia Perez, Owner of VPE Communications and Oralia Michel, Founder and owner of Omágen Inc.

Next year’s 6th annual LATINAFest® is scheduled in 2024 to coincide with Women’s History Month. For more information about LATINAFest® and 2024 event updates visit: www.latinafest.net

Follow LATINAFest® on social media at:
Facebook: @LATINAFest
Instagram: @LATINAFest
Twitter: @LATINAFest
Official hashtags: #latinafest2023 #SuperLatinas

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Tags: #latinafest2023, #SuperLatinas, Bel Hernandez, chase, Dolores Huerta, Elva Saray, Happenings, JPMorgan Chase, LATINAFest®, Naibe Reynoso, Telemundo, Women's History Month

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.