On June 5, the Latina Leadership Institute of Rhode Island (LLI) will host its Latinas Leading the Way fundraiser at the Alma Center in Providence. But well before the doors open, a strong contingent of Community College of Rhode Island alumni and students has been putting in the work behind the scenes to make the night a success.

Now officially operating as a non-profit, LLI runs a 10-month program dedicated to empowering local Latina women. The current cohort meets one Saturday a month to tackle a wide range of topics, from wealth management and public speaking to mental wellness and mindfulness. Through panels featuring political figures and young business owners, the women learn how to navigate local initiatives and advocate for themselves.

The June fundraiser serves as a hands-on capstone project for the group. Participants were split into specialized teams – such as marketing, finance, and logistics -- tasked with canvassing the community for donations and securing sponsorships.

CCRI is well-represented in this year's cohort, bringing a shared background that has fostered tight-knit collaboration. Roxana Mercado Rojo, who’ll graduate from CCRI this summer before transferring to Rhode Island College to pursue computer science, is currently heading up the event's logistics team. For her, LLI has been a game-changer, especially when it comes to connecting with other women who share her educational and cultural background.

“It feels comforting; it feels like I have common ground with others,” Mercado Rojo said of working alongside the other CCRI alumni and students. “I was in a room with women that understood my path because of their own experiences. I did not find myself having to explain why life happened the way it did; they just understood.”

That shared understanding has created strong teamwork within the cohort. Gabie Garzaro, who graduated from CCRI in 2022 with degrees in general studies and fine arts, applied to LLI on her birthday last July after a gentle nudge from her mother. She noted that she had never seen a program solely dedicated to Latina women, and quickly saw the benefits of working with peers who also studied at CCRI.

“It has been wonderful working with CCRI alumni and students,” said Garzaro, who transferred to UMass Dartmouth after graduating from CCRI. “I see a lot of collaboration and dedication in putting together the LLI legacy fundraiser.”

The upcoming event will draw a crowd of local leaders, including Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos and Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera. Getting to this point required the cohort to step out of their comfort zones, pitch local businesses, and build a localized network from the ground up.

“As minorities, we tend to hide behind the shadows of others because we were never taught to market ourselves, but the truth is that the community will only benefit from your work if they know you exist,” Mercado Rojo said. “I learned that when you care about a mission, 'selling' the mission is not difficult; if you believe in it, others will too.”

Garzaro echoed that sentiment, noting that the lessons she and her fellow alumni are learning at LLI perfectly complement the foundation they built during their college years.

“At CCRI and within the LLI program, I learned I won't get far alone,” Garzaro said. “Throughout my education, I practiced advocating for myself and even began advocating for others. Advocacy is an important skill I will surely sharpen.”

The LLI fundraiser takes place Wednesday, June 5, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Alma Center in Providence. You can learn more about the event, including how to get tickets, by visiting the organization’s website.