Since emigrating from Cuba almost 40 years ago, Regla Gonzalez has been committed to the education and advancement of the Hispanic community in Boston.  For her significant contributions to the empowerment of Latinos, whose influence extends beyond the city’s boundaries, the Citywide Boston Hispanic Center applauds her.

Growing up in a country where expressing one’s self was discouraged, Regla has been steadfast in her efforts to help the Latino community find a voice in this country.  She has been particularly active in the issues of education and political engagement.  She is currently serving her second term as the League of United Latin American Citizens’ (LULAC) National Vice President for Women.  LULAC members are the driving force behind significant advancements and improvements in the quality of life for Hispanics across the country, focusing on such areas of educational attainment, political influence, economic conditions, healthcare, and civil rights.

In her role as LULAC Vice President, she has worked to bring together a diverse group of people with Hispanic origin, who in some instances are united only by a common language.  She created powerful partnerships with several corporations throughout the Commonwealth, raising funds for scholarships to benefit Latino youth.  And she recently organized the first LULAC National Conference for Women in Boston, attracting over 1500 attendees from across the country.  The purpose of the conference was to raise awareness of the issues facing Latinos in the United States, while training and empowering women to be leaders in their own communities through workshops on domestic violence prevention, mental health, financial empowerment, politics, and immigration law.

Says Jenny Cintron, Director of the Citywide Boston Hispanic Center, “It is impossible to quantify the effect of Regla’s activism over the past four decades.  Her dedication and commitment to advancing the causes affecting Latinos has had a tremendous impact on city residents of all nationalities.”