Since 1982, the nonprofit Chicago-based Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) has implemented its mission of giving Latinx professionals the support, access, and resources to forge highly successful careers and strong, positive leaders in their communities. Within the nonprofit, there are programs such as Mujeres de HACE that focus on women's leadership.
CHICAGO, April 29, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Since 1982, the nonprofit Chicago-based Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) has implemented its mission of giving Latinx professionals the support, access, and resources to forge highly successful careers and strong, positive leaders in their communities. Within the nonprofit, there are programs such as Mujeres de HACE that focus on women's leadership.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, HACE's President and CEO Patricia Mota wanted to highlight 40 Latina alumnae of all ages from the Mujeres de HACE program and their inspirational stories in a new book called "Legacy: The Women of HACE and 40 Stories of Impact." The stories encapsulate the challenges these women experienced such as finding a better way of managing a work and life balance, negotiating pay and salary, and getting promotions. All of the book's proceeds will go back to support HACE in developing programming and scholarship opportunities.
Starting in 2008, the goal of the Mujeres de HACE program, Mota explained, is to empower Latinas to their highest potential professionally and personally. Currently, there are over 2,000 alumnae. Mota and her team had their work cut out in selecting 40 stories for the book.
"We wanted to shine a light on those alumnae who have continued to make strides in their careers," said Mota, a 2010 Mujeres de HACE graduate who also oversaw the program. "Additionally, part of our mission is to pay it forward and to give back whether it's mentoring others or doing speaking engagements. In the end, we wanted to showcase 40 alumnae with their stories of how they built their careers, gave back to their communities, and how HACE has helped them."
Over the years, HACE has grown to pivot and innovate to reach more Latinx professionals. One recent example is using an e-learning platform that greatly helps to scale the nonprofit's programs and to engage with a global audience with participants and alumni from Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil.
This engagement has also opened the door to a greater discussion about challenges and pay in the workplace. Citing statistics from a SHRM.org article and a report from Latino Corporate Directors Association, Mota explained that "for example, you look at Latino representation and leadership roles in corporate America, and you see that only 4% are in executive roles, and out of the 4% you only have 1% percent, Latina. There's a lot of need to change those numbers. The other reason that HACE exists is that we want Latinas to build wealth, get equal pay, and even more."
She is also concerned about the widening pay gap for Latinas. Citing information from http://www.equalpayday.org, Mota mentioned that on Latina Equal Pay Day—Dec. 8, 2022—it would "take a Latina almost an entire year later to get paid compared to her white counterpart received in 2021. That's money left on the table and, in turn, hurts our economy, her family, and our community. I also see Mujeres de HACE helping to close the gap in so many ways. Latinas are making 70 to 80% of the decisions of the economic power that this community holds."
Mota hopes that women who read this book will be inspired to start their dreams and achieve goals.
"I think of the young girls and women who have so much going on in the world and their lives," she said. "I think women carry a heavy burden, especially mothers and caretakers for elderly parents. They are trying to maintain their work but also have dreams. When they read these stories, they're not going to feel alone. I hope that those Latinas who receive this book are empowered to push for their dreams, to know that she's not the only one with struggles, and to know that they have a family with HACE and can have this network of mentors and advisors to support them along the way."
For more information about HACE, visit https://www.haceonline.org/about-hace/. To purchase the book, text HACEMAS to 44321 or visit this link.
About HACE:
The Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) is a national non-profit dedicated to the employment, development, and advancement of current and aspiring Latino professionals. Since 1982, HACE has served as a resource for Latinos in the workplace and is a subject matter expert for corporations seeking to access diverse talent. Through professional development, resources, and networks, and by facilitating access to meaningful career opportunities, HACE helps Latinos succeed in every phase of their career. With a network of over 85,000 members across the country, HACE works with employers to remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic economy by helping them attract, develop and retain Latino and diverse professionals. For information, visit https://www.haceonline.org/about-hace/.
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SOURCE Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement
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