About Us
In 2016, a group of Latinas in Kalamazoo County identified the need for creating a network of Latina leaders who can help advocate for cultural inclusiveness in our region, develop more opportunities for, and raise awareness around the Latine community. We formalized our group in 2018 with a mission to empower, enrich, and elevate Latina leaders and allies to become bridge builders and influential change agents in Southwest Michigan.
​
Empowering Latina Leaders & Advocates for Success (ELLAS) is unique because it couples professional development workshops with community-strengthening exercises through a Latine perspective. We lean into our strengths and hone them to elevate our leadership and advocacy within our broader community.
​
ELLAS is a sponsored project of Stara Collaborative, a community project support hub serving the Kalamazoo region.
​
​​
Core Values
-
CollaborationWe stay grounded in building bridges and solidarity with community toward the goal of liberation.
-
Cultural GroundingWe claim our strengths from our experiences, culture, and community that grounds us.
-
EvolvingWe continue to grow and improve as we gain or uncover knowledge to support our communities.
-
HealingWe commit to the lifetime process of healing, both individually and collectively.
-
LiberationWe believe liberation is a collective journey rooted in healing, joy, and radical love, we honor our whole selves, our culture, pleasure, rest, and power as essential to our freedom.
Our Vision
A liberated community where all Latines claim their power and thrive.
Our Mission
To strengthen and nurture Latine leaders through cultural grounding and professional development, and a commitment to anti-racism, igniting social change and fostering a resilient, unified community.