The Latin American Coalition (LAC) announced that Federico Ríos, the civic and philanthropic leader with a long track record of more than two decades in the Charlotte region, is the new interim executive director of the organization, which is approaching its 35th anniversary.
Ríos will temporarily occupy the position left by José Hernández París, who unexpectedly announced in May that he would leave the leadership of the organization he had led for more than 10 years.
“It is an honor to help stabilize the organization during this transition and keep its work going without interruption. My goal is clear: to ensure that the people who depend on the Coalition continue to feel its presence every day, and to help pave the way for the next permanent leader to succeed,” Ríos said.
His extensive career in the Queen City
Ríos, of Puerto Rican-Colombian origin, was the first deputy director of the Office of Equity, Mobility and Integration of Immigrants of the City of Charlottewhere he led his work on economic mobility and community security.
Ríos recently served as vice president at the Carolinas Foundation, where he advised philanthropic boards.
In her early days in the Queen City, she founded and directed the “Newcomers Services Program,” a program of Communities In School Charlotte-Mecklenburg, providing support to immigrant and refugee students, as well as their families.
He currently serves as co-chair of North Carolina Governor's Advisory Council on Latino Affairs.
“Federico brings together a unique combination: a deep connection to the community, operational experience, and a genuine understanding of the families we serve,” said Jamilah Espinosa, Chair of the LAC Board of Directors.
Looking for a permanent director
Simultaneously, the Board also announced that it has begun the search for the organization's next permanent chief executive officer, and has hired Armstrong McGuire, a North Carolina-based firm specializing in executive searches for nonprofit organizations, to lead the process.
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LAC is approaching its 35th anniversary
This transition comes as LAC approaches its 35th anniversary. Founded in 1990 by a small group of volunteers who responded to a community that Charlotte's institutions had yet to learn how to serve.
The organization has become the main point of reference for Latino and immigrant families in the region.
Today, LAC's work encompasses legal services, job and economic development, programs for youth and families, and cultural and civic engagement. In April He inaugurated the Family Welfare CenterThus giving a new focus on comprehensive health resources to the former Immigrant Welcome Center.
LAC has provided more than 29,000 services, supported more than 3,000 people through its job development center, and helped recover more than one million dollars in unpaid wages for workers throughout the region.
Visit the LAC website to learn more about their work and programs.
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A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
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