Ellen Ochoa
Ellen Ochoa made history as the first Latina in space—but she didn’t stop there. Instead, she became the first Hispanic director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where she transformed its company culture to welcome diverse voices like her own. Today, she uses her story to encourage young women and Latinx people to make change and reach for the stars.
Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende is a feminist icon and the world’s most widely read Spanish-language author. Her books, including The House of the Spirits and Eva Luna, have sold over 70 million copies in more than 40 languages. Her talks and advocacy work are a testament to her powerful story, through which she inspires young people to follow their passion and speak out for a better world.
Jamil Zaki
We tend to think of empathy as an innate trait, but Jamil Zaki says it’s actually a skill that can be learned—and when we practice it, we become not only kinder, but also more creative and successful. As Director of the Stanford Neuroscience Lab, Jamil draws on his research to show how the Hispanic community can use empathy to build bridges and fight for true diversity.
Ellen Bennett
Ellen Bennett was a 24-year-old line cook when she took her savings and started her own apron brand—which became the largest gourmet apron manufacturer in the world. Now a multi-million dollar brand, it’s beloved by the likes of Martha Stewart and has been featured in Forbes. This half-Mexican powerhouse inspires young Hispanic people to dream big.
Gabby Rivera
Gabby Rivera has spent her life telling stories that celebrate queer Latinx joy. She’s the first Latina ever to write for Marvel Comics. She penned the solo series AMERICA about the superhero America Chavez: a queer Latina like herself. Through her wildly fun and dynamic projects, Gabby encourages us all to embrace our differences and tell our own unique, joyful stories.
Andrea Elliott
Andrea Elliott is the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Invisible Child, her decade-in-the-making masterpiece on inequality in America. Drawing on her book, a sweeping saga that follows a girl named Dasani growing up in a Brooklyn homeless shelter, Andrea reveals how we can work together to build a kinder and more just world for every child.
Molly Crabapple
Molly Crabapple fights injustice with beauty. She uses her Emmy-nominated, award-winning artwork to illuminate the issues we face today, and the hopeful future we can have if we take action. She shows us how to make change by using art to shift the narratives we tell about marginalized communities, and how to use our creativity to find both joy and solidarity.
