Executive Director / Age 33
Casa ALBA Melanie Hispanic Resource Center
Amanda Garcia says her journey “has been shaped by my parents’ sacrifices and the responsibility I felt as a first-generation Latina to bridge two worlds.” That included translating documents for her family as a child, advocating for immigrant rights as a young adult and stepping into leadership roles in the nonprofit sector, she says.
“One major milestone was realizing that my lived experience wasn’t just a personal story; it was an asset that gave me a unique voice in rooms where change happens,” says Garcia, who has been in her role for three years and is now pursuing a doctorate of education at UW-Green Bay. “I am still often the only Latina in the room and one of the few Latina executive directors in the state of Wisconsin.”
That can feel isolating at times, Garcia says, so another challenge is avoiding burnout. It’s helped to trust her team and remind herself that the work is a collective effort and requires more than just leaders to make a difference.
Garcia takes a community-centered approach to her work as those “who are directly impacted by the problem are often the best equipped to offer sustainable and lasting solutions,” she says.
Be sure to visit Insight’s Portraits of Success: 40 Under 40 at The Art Garage in Green Bay from May 30–June 1 to see each honoree’s official 40 Under 40 portrait!
