Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Celebration

Moira's research lies at the intersection of Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Science, and Complexity. Her projects examine how specific policy, technological and behavioral factors influence the emergence and impacts of a range of complex socio-ecological systems problems, where interaction effects make responsibilities, burdens, and future pathways unclear. She also develops participatory complex systems modeling tools and approaches to work with stakeholders and decision-makers on collaborative policy exploration, social learning, and system-wide transformation.

Flor Amaya - PT-DPT, MPH – is the Director of Public Health for the City of Chelsea. Recognizing the intersection of social, economic, and environmental structures on one’s health, she employs an ecological model to guide public health interventions.  She coordinates efforts across local and state agencies to improve response, communication, and resource allocation to help prevent and mitigate adverse health outcomes for Chelsea residents.

Having spent her childhood in rural El Salvador surrounded by nature, she is a firm believer of its healing power and is a strong advocate for practices that create natural habitats and promote biodiversity in urban areas.  

In her free time, she seeks the comfort of nature in company of her two dogs.

Mariangelí is a climate resilience practitioner born and raised on the beaches and barrios of Puerto Rico, where she fell in love with people's warmth and nature. As a Climate Resilience Manager for Mystic River Watershed Association, she believes in the power of collaboration to achieve happy and healthy communities in a climate change context. She became passionate about working with communities in the Greater Boston Area when she served as a community-engaged research coordinator at the Boston University School of Public Health. In this position, she engaged with primarily Hispanic construction workers and their families to provide health education and resources to prevent lead poisoning. Mariangelí holds a B.Sc. in Biology and Environmental Sociology from the University of Puerto Rico. In addition, she earned a Masters in Public Health focused on community health from Boston University. 

Professor and researcher at Boston University School of Public Health and the BU Institute for Global Sustainability. Interested in health disparities, sustainability, climate and health. Founded the Sustainable Built Environment Lab which researches interventions in the built environment, with a focus on actionable and community engaged research. She learned about industrial pollution and extreme heat growing up in northern Mexico, and studied industrial and environmental engineering before finding her way to environmental health. In her free time she likes to cook dishes from different cultures and traveling with her family.

Maria Belen Power grew up in Nicaragua in the aftermath of the revolution. She currently serves as the inaugural Undersecretary of Environmental Justice and Equity at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs with the Healey-Driscoll Administration. She previously co-founded and served as the Associate Executive Director of GreenRoots, an organization dedicated to community organizing and environmental justice. She was appointed by President Biden to serve on the newly established White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. She holds an undergraduate degree in sociology from Augsburg University, a Master of Public Policy from Tufts University, and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management and Leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. Power sits on the board of the ACLU Massachusetts. She lives in Chelsea, MA with her husband Fidel and two daughters, Maya Gabriela who is 10 years old and Ana Victoria who is 7 years old.

Ignacio Fuentes Ribas is the Executive Director of the MIT Jameel Clinic, the epicentre of artificial intelligence (AI) and healthcare. Fuentes Ribas leads the MIT Jameel Clinic in its aims to use AI technologies to change the landscape of healthcare and to develop a community committed to producing excellent research work in the fields of machine learning, biology, chemistry, and clinical sciences.

Edward “Ed” Levy, MD, MPH is a pediatrician at MIT Health joining MIT Jameel Clinic this year as a clinical collaborator to assist with MIT Health’s deployment of MIRAI, a clinical AI model built by MIT researchers that can predict 5-year breast cancer risk from a mammogram. His clinical interests include neurology, asthma, environmental risks, nutrition, and systems thinking.

Kimberly Villalobos Carballo received her PhD in Operations Research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She currently teaches "Machine Learning under a Modern Optimization Lens" at MIT, and in January 2025 she will begin as an assistant professor at the School of Engineering in New York University. Her research integrates optimization and deep learning to develop machine learning algorithms that address practical challenges, such as working with small datasets, enhancing robustness, and meeting computational requirements. She is passionate about improving the quality of services and operations in healthcare institutions, and a large part of her research has been inspired by collaborations with Brigham and Women's Hospital, Hartford HealthCare, and UMass Memorial Health.

Aziz Ayed is a PhD student at MIT. He is investigating various subjects, including: donor-receiver matching in organ transplant based on genetic and clinical features, early cancer detection and prediction, and statistical methods for model deployment. He also works with hospitals and governments towards the implementation and regulation of AI tools in clinical practice.

Everyone has a story. Celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month with inspiring and entertaining true-personal stories shared by local storytellers from Boston. This program is hosted by Stellar Story Company, a Boston-based business that helps people and institutions deliver extraordinary stories and unforgettable events that lead to meaningful change.

The Veronica Robles Cultural Center (VROCC) is a Latina women-led non-profit organization providing high-quality, culturally affirming, bilingual, and community- based arts and culture programming that foster stronger communities, economic growth and cross cultural connections

Utopia Dance Company celebrates and preserves Latino cultural dances, offering dynamic instruction in salsa, bachata, merengue, and folkloric styles, including acrobatics. We welcome dancers of all ages, fostering a positive, inclusive community for all.

Founded and directed by Reynaliz Herrera, IDEAS, NOT THEORIES is a theatrical percussion company for unconventional instruments that offers several programs featuring Reynaliz Herrera's original musical compositions for BICYCLES, water, tap & body percussion and more.

Chilean singer-songwriter from Patagonia. South American folk rock and Americana, with soulful and evocative Spanish lyrics. Winner of the World Act of the Year NEMA 2023, and Club Passim 2023 Iguana Fund recipients.

We are an authentic Mexican mariachi band in New England, offering a unique representation of our Mexican heritage through a mixed-gender ensemble and diverse vocalists, delivering the authentic traditional sounds of Mexico.

The Veronica Robles Cultural Center (VROCC) is a Latina women-led non-profit  organization providing high-quality, culturally affirming, bilingual, and community- based arts and culture programming that foster stronger communities, economic  growth and cross cultural connections

The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers is an organization dedicated to the empowerment of the Hispanic community in Boston and Boston University through STEM access, awareness, support, and development.

Amplify LatinX launched in 2018 as a non-partisan, collaborative non-profit with the mission of advancing Latine prosperity and leadership representation in Massachusetts.  The impact of our work goes beyond building wealth for individuals or elevating the profile of a select few: We’re shifting mindsets and equipping the Latino community with confidence and knowledge to take increased responsibility for our collective success.

AFAB uplifts women through individual and collective capacities. Then, they are equipped to enact positive changes in their lives, families, and communities. AFAB focuses on domestic violence prevention, affordable housing, adult education, and community organizing.

We save lives by teaching people how to recognize early warning signs of cancer and activate healthcare.

Love Your Magic centers, supports and uplifts the positive identity development of Black and Brown girls.

Rooted in our culturally affirming, intergenerational, and asset based framework, we support chicas* on a lifelong journey of community and self discovery to build collective power.  We are working towards a world where women, girls, and all people experiencing oppression at the intersection of race, ethnicity, and gender have the opportunity to rise to their full potential.

The Innovators Society is the Museum of Science’s group for young professional supporters ages 21-40. Innovators are the next generation of STEM and community leaders, passionate about inspiring a lifelong love of science of everyone!

MathWorks is the leading developer of mathematical computing software for engineers and scientists.

The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Boston Professional Chapter is a vibrant community of Hispanic professionals dedicated to empowering Hispanic leadership and development in STEM fields.

Comunidades Enraizadas is a community land trust founded by Latina immigrants in Chelsea seeking to end displacement. We acquire land, organize Chelsea residents, and create opportunities for permanently affordable housing and other community uses.

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Soldier Center is fully focused on providing the Army with innovative science and technology solutions to empower America’s Soldiers today and in the future.

Casa Esperanza is a bicultural behavioral health center that empowers individuals and families to recover from addiction, trauma, mental illness and chronic medical conditions; overcome homelessness; and achieve health and wellness through comprehensive, integrated care.

An organization that advocates for immigrants and refugees rights in MA.

ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America) was the first national Latino professional association in the United States, established in Los Angeles in 1972. Throughout our 52-year history we have experienced steady growth and demonstrated consistent value. ALPFA continues to build upon its proud legacy with a mission: To empower and develop Latino men and women as leaders of character for the nation, in every sector of the global economy.

The Jameel Clinic is a research center at MIT driving the creation and adoption of high-precision, affordable, and scalable machine learning technologies, and solutions across clinical AI and drug discovery to transform health outcomes.

Providing services for Peruvian Nationals and information about Peru.

At Aprende y Prospera, we are empowering Latinx emerging talent through education, professional development, and entrepreneurial support. As a nonprofit, we offer scholarships and cutting-edge training in high-demand fields like Project Management, Instructional Design, E-Commerce, and Entrepreneurship. Our programs equip participants with the competencies and soft skills needed for job security.

The Foundry unites creatives in underrepresented communities by building an accessible and dynamic environment where everyone can connect, access, and discover across the arts, entrepreneurship, technology, and education.

Learn about cancer education and prevention.

La Alianza Hispana is a non profit organization located in Boston, Ma. We provide support to low income families starting from first time mothers to the elders. Our programs are free of charge and if interested you can contact us at (627) 427-7175 for further assistance.

The Department of Mental Health, as the State Mental Health Authority, assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages; enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities.