Rosa is a Community Navigator at Hispanic Access Foundation serving the Florida region. As a Community Navigator, she will be building relationships with Latino-led, Latino-serving, and tribal community-based organizations. Providing them with the necessary guidance throughout the grant submission process to the U.S. Forest Service.

As a first-generation Mexican American, Rosa grew up in Central Florida seeing many disparities in the information and resources available to her community. Her passion for social justice and wanting to create more equitable and inclusive spaces led her to pursue her master’s degree in social work from the University of Central Florida.

Rosa has spent the last decade empowering, advocating, and providing direct services to marginalized communities in the nonprofit and education sectors. She has led community engagement efforts by providing workshops/trainings on mental health, immigration policy, and creating a safe learning environment for all students. She is passionate about serving underrepresented communities and bridging the gap in accessibility to resources.

Why she works for Hispanic Access…

"It’s clear to me that Hispanic Access Foundation leads with their values and their commitment to the Latino community at the forefront of their mission. Throughout my personal and professional career, I have also centered the upliftment and empowerment of my community. It has driven and shaped my work.

I initially came across Hispanic Access in 2022 and during the Latino Conservation Week I hosted a hike in Central Florida. Seeing the impact of Hispanic Access Foundation in the outdoor space made it clear that this is an organization that I want to be a part of and want to be a part of the impact Hispanic Access is making in my community!"

In her spare time…

“In my spare time, you can find me leading hikes in and for my community, kayaking the beautiful Florida springs, or spending time with my family and friends doing what we enjoy most. Eating and exploring new places to eat at!”

Her favorite book…

“Lately, I’ve been more into podcasts, and I’ll usually listen to 1-2 episodes a day from different shows. My go to podcast are Se Regalan Dudas and Café con Pam. I really enjoy listening to genuine conversations they have topics that interest me. They also invite Latino/a specialists, local leaders, and innovators on their shows to share their stories and how their work is making an impact in the Latino community.

I’ll also share a book that shifted my perspective early on in my career and that I still refer to this day is “Woman Who Glows in The Dark” by Elena Avila.”

A person she finds inspirational…

“I feel that I’ve met so many people throughout my life that have inspired me or left a lasting impression on me. From the resiliency and perseverance, I witnessed in my mother to the people within my community that have overcome adversities. Each one of these encounters has inspired me and continue to shape my life.”