Latino Power Players

Council Member Oswald Feliz is a lifelong resident of the Bronx who proudly graduated from public schools including P.S.46, M.S.45, Walton High School, Bronx Community College, Lehman College and the CUNY School of Law. As a tenant lawyer, Oswald successfully defended Bronx residents. Oswald represented a tenant association and negotiated a settlement where tenants received approximately $100,000. Oswald served as an adjunct professor at Hostos Community College, where he taught disadvantaged students in the Bronx.

Nathalia Fernandez is a trailblazing New York state senator representing the 34th District, covering parts of the Bronx and Westchester. As the first Latina in this role, she brings a unique and passionate voice to the State Senate. Serving as chair of the Senate Alcoholism & Substance Use Disorders Committee, she is a leading advocate in the fight against the opioid crisis.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Believe in yourself. Trust that you belong in every room you step into. Apply yourself and don’t be afraid to take up space, even if you’re younger or less experienced than others around you. Your voice and perspective matter.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
My heritage has always made me feel unique. There have been times when I’m the only Colombian or Latino in the room, and that’s shaped my values. It reminds me to uplift my community, champion diversity, and bring those experiences into everything I do.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
Being elected to the Senate was a huge milestone, but I’m especially proud of successfully advocating for the restoration of $11.4 million to the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). That victory felt personal and important for my community.

Julissa Ferreras-Copeland is a partner at Hollis Public Affairs. Previously, she was a New York City council member (2009-2017) and the first woman, person of color, and youngest chair of the Committee on Finance. She has two decades of experience in billion-dollar land-use negotiations, public-private partnerships, crisis management, community benefits agreements, city and state legislation writing, and organizing issues-based campaigns. Ferreras-Copeland also served as vice president of NALEO.

Vanessa Figueroa joined Bolton-St. Johns as a vice president in 2023. She advises clients in the health care, affordable housing, transportation, technology, energy, economic development, consumer, corporate, nonprofit and education sectors on their public affairs initiatives along with providing strategic communications counsel. In 2024, Vanessa was ranked one of the top 25 communication professionals in City & State’s “Political PR Power 75” and PoliticsNY & amNYMetro’s “Power Players in PR & Lobbying List.” 

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Dream big! Persistence and determination is a foundation for every part of your life.  If you can make it in Chicago, you can make it anywhere.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
I am greatly appreciative for all of my blessings. My heritage and parents shaped the professional I am today. Without the sacrifices my parents made along the way for me, I wouldn’t have found success in my industry both in Chicago and New York City.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I launched Figueroa Strategic Communications, a Chicago-based public affairs consulting firm, in 2014, working with high-profile nonprofit organizations, Chicago Teacher’s Union, SEIU Healthcare Illinois/Indiana/Missouri/Kansas, WTTW/PBS, Gun Violence Prevention Political Action Committee and elected officials. I am proud to have worked with her first client and first-ever run-off challenger in Chicago mayoral history in 2015, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who is now a U.S. Congressman for Illinois’ fourth district.

President and CEO David Garza joined Henry Street Settlement in 2001. A graduate of Harvard and the Institute for Not-for-Profit Management at Columbia Business School, David serves on the board of NYCETC, the external advisory board of the Dalio Center for Health Justice of New York-Presbyterian, the boards of the Betances Health Center and Citizens Committee for Children; and is a member of NYC REDC and of the Trinity Church Wall Street Neighborhood Council.

A deep commitment to justice and fairness drives Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez as he leads one of the nation’s largest, most diverse, and innovative prosecutors’ offices. A Brooklyn native and career prosecutor, DA Gonzalez made history in 2017 when he became New York’s first Latino district attorney. He was re-elected in 2021. Under his leadership, the DA’s office has enacted sweeping reforms while engaging communities to maintain the trust of Brooklyn’s 2.6 million residents.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
It would be to listen and think hard before making up and voicing my opinion – while having the confidence and courage to jump into the fray and express it whenever I believe that I should. I have been following that credo during my time as prosecutor and, even more so, as the elected district attorney. I would also emphasize the importance of education – advice I heeded as a young man.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
I was raised by a single mother who came here from Puerto Rico and worked very hard to support me. And I grew up in a tough, under-resourced and often over-policed neighborhood. I learned that people in my community want safety, and also want to be treated fairly. That drove me to become a prosecutor and this upbringing taught me how important it is to engage with and listen to the communities we serve.  

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I was proud to become the first elected Latino DA in New York State. Representation and having a seat at the table is crucial for my community because it allows our lived experiences to inform policy decisions. I am also proud of our groundbreaking work on reinvestigating wrongful convictions. Brooklyn has the most active Conviction Review Unit in the country because I believe we have an obligation to correct and learn from past mistakes.

Senator Kristen Gonzalez was born and raised in Elmhurst Queens by a single mother from Puerto Rico. She is the youngest woman ever elected to the NYS Senate and chair of the Internet and Technology Committee. This year, she passed the FAIR Act, protecting New Yorkers from election deepfakes. She believes every New Yorker deserves to live a dignified life, which is why she champions workers’ rights, a Green New York, and deeply affordable housing.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
To be more confident! When I began organizing, I had a lot of trouble voicing my own opinions simply because I didn’t feel like I was an “expert” in any given area. What I later came to realize, and what I share with young people today, is that we are experts in our lived experiences. Growing up in a working-class and immigrant community gave me a lot of perspective on how our society fails working people. We need young voices and lived experiences to inform our policies and our politics. So to my younger self and anyone who’s ever been marginalized…speak on it!  

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
I am proud to be a Latina, and it’s a big part of my identity. I was raised by my mother who is from a very small town in Puerto Rico (Juncos), and who brought her small-town value of building a tight-knit community to this big city. Growing up, I had neighbors, tias/tios, and family friends who would show up and support us in the hardest times. I think that’s why I believe so strongly in the power of organized communities and have made it my mission to build up the diverse communities of Senate District 59.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
The proudest moment of my career so far has been working to pass the LOADinG Act, which, if signed by the Governor, will be the first law in the nation to require human oversight of high-risk AI systems used by government agencies and protect government workers from automation. We’ve brought together an incredible coalition, led by the AFL-CIO and PEF, to fight for this legislation every step of the way.

Teresa brings her expertise on stakeholder and community engagement, land use matters and city lobbying to nonprofit, real estate, and corporate clients. As a co-founder of DalyGonzalez, a M/WBE boutique lobbying firm, she helps public and private institutions build and increase capacity, establish meaningful partnerships, and navigate complex government and community issues. She is also co-founder of Evolution Strategies, a Latina-owned and operated strategic advising, stakeholder engagement and campaign services firm based in New York.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Do not apologize for being your authentic self. And as a good friend once said to me, “no” is a full sentence.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
Puerto Ricans value community and service to others and I carry that throughout my personal and professional life.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
Every day that I show up to spaces where we’ve not been historically represented, which is often, I am proud.

New York State Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas represents the 34th Assembly District, which includes the diverse communities of Astoria, Corona, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside in Queens county. She has dedicated her life to fighting for immigrant rights, racial justice, LGBTQ liberation, health care access, labor power, and gender equity while forging connections between various working-class movements. Jessica is a progressive champion and brings her advocacy and organizing expertise to her work.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self to be confident in marching to the beat of my own drum. My deeply held beliefs, values and passions make me special and equip me with the tools to be the best advocate for others. Following the crowd doesn’t create the meaningful change that I seek in the world. As Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.”

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
I am a proud Latina, and a daughter of an immigrant father from Paraguay and a Puerto Rican mother. I represent a diverse district that includes so many people from the Latin American and Caribbean diaspora. My background and upbringing as a Latina make me a fierce advocate for immigrant justice, racial justice and health equity for my community.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
As a long-time reproductive justice advocate, I am proud that my Reproductive Freedom And Equity Fund bill was included in the state budget. This funding solidifies access to the full range of reproductive health care and provides much-needed resources to our providers and clinics. Our fight for reproductive justice is urgent, and the more we do to reinforce New York as a safe haven, the more we do to protect birthing people around the country.

Ligia Guallpa, executive director of the Worker’s Justice Project, leads transformative efforts for 62,000 NYC app-based delivery workers and sets a national example. She was pivotal in building Los Deliveristas Unidos, securing a landmark policy for a minimum wage of $19.56 per hour for delivery workers. Ligia is also driving initiatives with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and NYC Mayor Eric Adams to launch Deliveristas Hubs, providing essential public charging stations for frontline workers.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Stay fearless and steadfast in your commitment to justice and worker empowerment. Uphold your values, knowing that real change takes time, patience, and persistence. Embrace bold actions and confidently challenge the status quo. Lead with courage, empathy, and a strong belief in collective action. Though your work may be challenging, it will make a significant impact. Remain resilient, as organizing is key to building a better future for all.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
My heritage has influenced my work in social justice and workers’ rights. Growing up as an immigrant and indigenous woman from Ecuador in the South Bronx, I experienced the challenges faced by my family and community firsthand. My Ecuadorian roots have instilled in me a deep sense of solidarity, community, and resilience, along with a deep commitment to justice. These values inspired me to co-found the Workers Justice Project with Yadira Sanchez and Gustavo Ajche.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
One of my proudest achievements is advancing the Workers’ Justice Project’s organizing power alongside dedicated leaders and colleagues. Under my leadership, WJP secured a major policy win for NYC’s app-based delivery workers, mandating a minimum pay of $19.56 per hour, excluding tips. This achievement, led with Los Deliveristas Unidos (LDU), includes developing Deliveristas Hubs and e-bike charging stations, promoting safe micromobility and addressing delivery workers’ needs while reclaiming public space.