On October 10, the DFW Hispanic 100, a
network of Dallas/Ft. Worth area Hispanic
women leaders working to increase
business and leadership opportunities for Latinas
honored LATINA Style’s Executive Vice President and
President and Founder of Parents Step Ahead, Lupita
Colmenero with the 2019 Latina Living
Legend (LLL) Award and Rebecca Acuña with the
inaugural Emerging Latina Leader (ELLA) Award.
The LLL award recognizes the lifetime
commitment of a DFW area Latina who has
distinguished herself through her profession, active
community and civic participation, volunteerism,
and/or philanthropic endeavors.
(L-R) Alice Rodriguez, Patricia Rodriguez
Christian, Lucinda Rocha, Lupita Colmenero,
Maryanne Piña Frodsham and Linda Valdez
Thompson.
“Lupita has dedicated a lifetime to helping
change the narrative of the Hispanic community
through mass media," shares Lucinda Rocha,
President of the DFW Hispanic 100. "She celebrated
our culture before doing so was popular, and used
her publications to create positive role models for
our families. In helping Latino owned businesses and
publications thrive, Lupita has helped our families to
thrive. She has touched the lives of not only those
close to her, but also countless others who have
been moved by her words."
Colmenero is the Founder and Publisher of El
Hispano News, the oldest Spanish language
newspaper in North Texas, as well as the Executive
Vice President of LATINA Style, Inc., the first national
magazine dedicated to the needs of Latina
professionals. A nationally respected expert on
parenting and educational issues, Colmenero serves
as the President and Founder of Parents Step Ahead,
Hispanic 100 Members.
Rebecca Acuña (L) and Lupita Colmenero (R). Lupita Colmenero, LLL Honoree and
a Dallas-based nonprofit which engages parents in
their children's educational development and has
served more than 50,000 families to date. She has
served on numerous nonprofit boards, including
the Cuban National Council and the National
Association on Corporate Responsibility. In 2005 she
was the first woman elected President of the
National Association of Hispanic Publications Inc.,
where she championed the cause of minority-owned
businesses and prioritized training and mentoring
Hispanic publications.
The ELLA award recognizes a Latina
professional making an impact on women and girls
through her engagement and leadership in her
community and profession.
Rebecca Acuña is a Director of Government
Affairs for PepsiCo where she represents the global
portfolio of food and beverage brands before public
policy makers and opinion leaders in seven states.
Prior to joining PepsiCo, she was the Executive
Director of the Latino Center for Leadership
Development. Acuña has also served in
Lucinda Rocha, Hispanic 100 President.
leadership roles in political campaigns and federal
and state government in Washington, D.C. and
Texas. A veteran of the Texas State Capitol, Acuña
has served as a Chief of Staff and Communications
Director for three members of the Texas House of
Representatives and one Member of Congress. She
was the first Latina tapped as statewide Press
Secretary for a major-party gubernatorial campaign
in Texas. In January, she received the Ellis Island
Honors Society's Beacon Award which recognizes
young Americans, who are considered influencers,
and demonstrate that immigrants are important
contributors to the United States. Acuña serves on
the Board of Directors for the Workforce
Solutions of Greater Dallas, The ChildCareGroup of
Dallas, IGNITE Texas State Council, and the League
of Women Voters of Greater Dallas where she is also
a Co-Chair of the Susan B. Anthony Luncheon. LS
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30 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol. 25, No. 5, 2019
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