Introducing… La Esquinita

Association Latinos’ Writers Corner

Every movement starts with a voice. And for too long, Latino professionals—especially in the association industry—have had limited platforms to share their insights, ideas, and leadership expertise.

At Association Latinos, we know firsthand that our community is rich with knowledge, strategy, and cultural wisdom that could benefit not just Latino professionals, but the broader association world. Yet, when we look at executive leadership teams, boardrooms, and even professional publications, Latino voices are often missing. Not because we lack expertise, but because there haven’t been enough spaces to amplify it.

That’s why we’re launching La Esquinita—a dedicated Writer’s Corner where Latino association professionals can publish, be seen, and influence the industry. This is more than just a platform; it’s a movement to elevate Latino thought leadership and close the representation gap in executive leadership and professional publishing.

Stephania Taladrid wrote in the New Yorker in 2021 that “the power of the [Latino] community is incommensurate to its role in society.” This is also true for Latinos professionally. The Latino Leadership Institute (The Latino Executive Leadership Gap | Latino Leadership Institute, 2023) estimates that there is a 450% gap between Latino representation in the workforce and our representation in executive leadership positions. Moreover, the study (prior to the current political climate!) predicted that gap to grow to 600% by 2050. There simply aren’t many Latinos in executive leadership positions.

But we aren’t just filling an executive void; we are creating a new foundation for all Latino professionals to shape the conversations that define our industries. Whether it’s through leadership insights, industry analysis, or cultural perspectives that influence how we work, La Esquinita is a space where Latino voices lead.

La Esquinita is yours

Starting today, we invite you to join us—not just as readers, but as contributors. Because your voice, your experience, and your leadership deserve to be heard. We are launching this space by calling for submissions of written works in two very broad categories: The Profession and The Culture. As we review, edit and publish works that fit into one of these categories over the next six to twelve months, Association Latinos’ editors will revisit the submission categories and create a structure that aligns with where our authors’ thought leadership takes us. This Writer’s Corner is responsive to the authors who participate in it; we’re excited to see where the community takes this.

References:

Taladrid, S. (2021, September). The Exclusion of Latinos from American Media and History Books. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/the-exclusion-of-latinos-from-american-media-and-history-books

The Latino Executive Leadership Gap | Latino Leadership Institute. (2023, May). https://latinoslead.org/the-latino-executive-leadership-gap/