Ellen Ochoa made history as the first Latina in space—but she didn’t stop there. Instead, she became the first Latinx director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where she transformed its company culture to welcome diverse voices like her own. Today, she uses her inspirational story to encourage younger women and Latinx people to make change and reach for the stars.
Watch Ellen speak about building curiosity on The Today Show.
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 everyone to speak out boldly for a better world.
Watch Isabel speak about the influence and future of Latinx literature at Google’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.
Gabby Rivera has spent her life telling stories that celebrate queer Latinx joy. She’s the first Latina ever to write for Marvel Comics, penning the solo series AMERICA about the superhero America Chavez: a queer Latina like herself. Through her wildly fun and dynamic stories, Gabby encourages us to lean into our unique experiences and tell our own stories of difference and joy.
Watch Gabby explain what “queer Latinx joy” means to her.
Jamil Zaki says we tend to think of empathy as an innate trait, but 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 shows how the Hispanic community can use empathy to build bridges and fight for true diversity.
Watch an exclusive Lavin interview with Jamil, where he explains three different kinds of empathy and how to use them.
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, beloved by the likes of Martha Stewart and featured in Fast Company and Forbes. She’s a half-Mexican powerhouse whose engaging talks inspire us to dream big and take action.
Watch Ellen tell her story of entrepreneurship on The Ellen Show.
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.
Watch Andrea speak about poverty and resilience on PBS.
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 we can make change by using art to shift the narratives we tell about marginalized communities, and how to use our innate creativity to find both joy and solidarity.
Watch Molly speak about the world-changing power of art.
