Latinas Thriving in City of Albuquerque
By Gloria Romano-Barrera
Latinas are on the rise when it comes to owning businesses in the United States, particularly for businesses that invest back into their communities.
According to the most recent Census, Hispanics are approximately 48 percent of New Mexico’s population. In addition, 30.7 percent of businesses
in New Mexico are Hispanic-owned, while the national average is at 12 percent. Hispanics and Latinos contribute approximately $36 billion to New
Mexico’s economy. Meet eight Latinas in Albuquerque, NM, that are not only leading with determination and passion but are shining a light and impacting
the economy at large.
Cynthia Borrego
President
CABQ City Council
“Serving as the current City Council President,
and as an Albuquerque City Councilor are my
greatest achievements,” shares Native New
Mexican Cynthia Borrego, President, CABQ
City Council. “I am grateful every day for
having the profound opportunity to serve my
constituents, and the people of Albuquerque,
and New Mexico through my knowledge
of Planning, Financing, and respectfully
conducted Community Relations.”
Councilor Borrego works on public safety
and strategies to reduce crime, including
increasing the number of officers in the City
and expanding Community Policing programs.
In addition, she focuses on economic
development through the creation of jobs in
her local community.
In this role, she is proud to have initiated
several road infrastructure projects in her
District that will lead to the development of
new construction jobs. In addition, she has
sponsored City Council Bills to assist small
businesses with loans and grants offered
during the pandemic.
“I realize it has been a very difficult time
to keep our small businesses afloat during
COVID,” she shares. “I will continue to look for
opportunities to provide our small businesses
with much-needed financial assistance,
supplies, and opportunities especially during
this pandemic.”
Board Chair of the Rio Grande Credit
Union and the Board Chair of ABC Community
Klarissa Peña
City Councilor
City of Albuquerque
Born and raised in Albuquerque’s South
Valley, City Councilor Klarissa Peña represents
District 3, which encompasses the Southwest
Mesa and parts of the South Valley from
Central Ave south and west of the Rio Grande
in the incorporated area. A proud mother of
six children and grandmother of 11, Peña is
also a caregiver to her brother with special
needs. Today, she believes Latinas are blazing
the path for the next generation of business
start-ups. For Peña, it is through creativity that
they are setting the example for women and
mothers who must find ways to balance
parenthood and working in or outside
the home.
“The way we function as a society is
forever changed and post-pandemic; we will
see some of the most innovative ideas come
from Latina women, from working at home to
the boardroom,” she shares. “Today’s Census
shows that 20 percent of the U.S. population
is of Latino/a, Hispanic, Chicano or however
you self-identify, I will say La Raza and we
are a growing market that can no longer
be overlooked. This creates so much
opportunity for Latina or Raza entrepreneurs.
Councilor Peña’s community
involvement began over 29 years ago as a
concerned parent wanting the best for her
children. After joining her neighborhood
association, she began working with
community leaders and elected officials to
help revitalize the community.
Councilor Peña understands the
challenges we face as a community and is
committed to bringing much-needed business
and jobs to District 3.
“Me and my husband set out to try and
change what some people called the cycle of
poverty and some of the systemic issues
associated with it,” she shares. “We became
involved in the community to try and address
social and systemic injustice and improve
community conditions. This lifelong work has
led me to run for office. Holding this seat has
helped to further the grassroots work we set
out to do so many years ago.”
Councilor Peña’s most significant career
achievement is fighting racial, social, and
economic injustice. This past year, she
introduced and passed legislation ranging
from addressing equity on Boards and
Commissions to prioritizing funding capital
programs and projects in underserved
neighborhoods with the support of the
administration, creating budget objectives to
reduce admissions for low-income families to
the city’s Museums and Bio-Park and
supporting local artists who may not
otherwise have opportunities to showcase
their art, through a street banner project.
Schools, Borrego also serves on the Executive
Board of Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo
Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA), where she
sits on the Council of Governments Water
Board. Additionally, she is the President of the
UNM School of Public Administration Advisory
Alumni Board. She is the owner of Cyba &
Assoc., LLC, a planning, development, sales,
and consultation company. She is also the
owner of a small retail business showcasing
artisan jewelry and collectibles in Los Ranchos
de Albuquerque.
20 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle V ol. 27, No. 5, 2021
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