LORAIN, Ohio — Hundreds of Ohioans are stopping by the annual Hispanic Leadership Conference. 

This year, event organizers said they’re carrying out a new theme: “abriendo puertas,” or “opening doors,” for the community.

What You Need To Know

  • The Hispanic and Latino community is gathering at Lorain Community College to share their stories and shine a light on the challenges they face

  • The Coalition for Hispanic/Latino Issues and Progress is leading discussion about disparities in health, education and immigration

  • Organizers said they’re hoping to expand their efforts, to create opportunities and drive change

Carmen Leibas and Alisha Pardon are co-directors for the 2025 conference. The coalition is inviting advocacy groups, city and state government officials and community members for a day of networking, workshops and sharing resources. Hispanic and Latino leaders will also receive recognition at the end of the night, at the coalition’s evening gala.

By sparking new connections, the group is hoping to bridge gaps in the community, Leibas said.

“We bring issues for their awareness. We bring information so they can learn of what those issues are,” Leibas said.

The conference also provides an opportunity for Hispanic and Latinos to voice the community’s concerns, which Leibas said, are oftentimes regarded as taboo.

“We have sex trafficking or labor trafficking and we have immigration. Those are issues that are very important to our community, to our Latino community, so we bring speakers in that can address those issues,” she said.

Still, Pardon said, the conference is only the first step to initiating progress.

“We just hope that there's one thing that someone can take from this conference and make a difference,” Pardon said. “Whether it's in their school community, their individual home life, community, their church community.”

Joel Arredondo, former president of the coalition, said the event’s doors are open to all, despite their focus on the needs of the Hispanic and Latino community.