Our Imperative
"Latinas don't need charity; they need opportunity!"
-Liz Gutierrez
As the state's most important entrepreneurs, workforce contributors, and educators of the next generation, Latinas require the resources to increase their earning and buying potential.
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They need access to education, markets, and capital to turn their talents, skills, and ingenuity into economic opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities.
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The disparity in wages and wealth isn't just bad for Latinas-it harms women, the economy, and the communities in which they live. We know what works to move women out of poverty and empower them to become the economic drivers they have the potential to be.
Our Founder, Liz Gutierrez
Enterprising Latinas is the brainchild of Liz Gutierrez, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic who moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts as a child.
The immigrant experience profoundly shaped her life's path, with her mother as her strongest influence. Growing up, Liz watched as her mother's home became a shelter for families in need, their car the community vehicle, and her mother the unpaid social worker for neighbors facing hardship.
These early experiences instilled in Liz a deep sense of responsibility to serve her community, grounded in the values of compassion and generosity.
​ In the 1980s, while Liz was still in high school, her family struggled to navigate life in Tampa. Her parents, particularly her mother, along with other women they knew—talented, educated, and hardworking—lacked the language skills, social connections, and guidance they needed to thrive.
Despite their potential, life seemed to take a downward trajectory for these women. Witnessing this, Liz was inspired to create an organization that would provide women with the resources, support, and opportunities they needed to envision and achieve their economic goals. This vision became Enterprising Latinas, a platform dedicated to empowering women to break through barriers and pursue prosperity.
Our Proudest Moments
