Our members reflect a wide diversity in thought, experience and expertise – enriching each of us individually and strengthening us collectively.
Irma Márquez Trapero
Chief Executive Officer
Irma Márquez Trapero is the Executive Director of LatinoLEAD, a nonprofit organization of Latinx leaders across all sectors who join together to create innovative strategies to drive and define policies and perceptions that advance Latinx collective influence, success, and power. Irma is an immigrant from Culiacán, México. At the age of nine, her family emigrated to St. James, a small rural farm town in Southern Minnesota. She is a proud DREAMer and former Deferred Action (DACA) recipient. She’s passionate about the advancement of Latinx in the state of Minnesota and believes in the opportunity that Minnesota has to ensure this continues to be a great home for the Latinx community.
Irma has over 15 years of experience serving in the areas of community organizing, policy and political campaign work, immigration and employment law, nonprofit, and education. Irma holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Gustavus Adolphus College. She was also a 2015-2016 University of Minnesota's Humphrey Policy Fellow Alum and serves as a member of Make It. MSP Leadership Council, an initiative to have our region become a Top 10 metro at attracting and retaining talent, especially people of color. Most recently, she was accepted as a 2022 participant into Harvard Business School's Young American Leaders Program and was the winner of the 2023 Outstanding Community Builder Award recognized by the Minnesota Council of Latino Affairs and presented by Governor Tim Walz.
In her spare time, she enjoys musicals and live concerts, being with family, and exploring new places with friends. Her happy place is throwing down in the kitchen and you will likely find her exercising and biking outdoors in the summer.
Karen Velez Barron
Chief Operations Officer
Karen Velez is an accomplished organizer and immigration advocate whose passion for human rights earned her the distinction of being named “40 Under 40: Latinos in American Politics” by the Huffington Post. Before joining Women Winning, Karen has years of experience working in operations and has managed grassroots fundraising programs and organized successful donor events as Deputy Finance Director. Her own immigration story and frustrations with America’s broken immigration system helped drive her efforts as the face of DACA Sin Miedo, a Minnesota awareness campaign for DACA recipients, while she was still a high school student.
Karen grew up in the suburbs of Minnesota surrounded by a large and close-knit family and eventually moved to Washington D.C. While in D.C., she majored in Political Science at George Washington University and worked as a paralegal at the nationally renowned, full-service immigration law firm, Benach Collopy. Karen’s experience in D.C. helped her build well-rounded experience managing various teams and legal research. Despite her love for the nation’s capital, Minnesota is home. She returned to be closer to her beloved family and to help Minnesota maintain its status as the Midwest’s progressive firewall.
Outside of her busy work life, Karen loves trying new, locally-owned Twin Cities restaurants, listening to her favorite podcasts, and of course, you can always find her spending time with her close friends and family.
Melissa Vazquez
Communications & Community Engagement Manager
Melissa Gonzalez Vazquez is a dedicated advocate for human rights, driven by her personal connection and experiences with diverse immigrant communities. Her passion lies in empowering Latine leadership across a wide range of ages. Inspired by the transformative impact of Latine-focused nonprofits, Melissa is committed to enhancing community access, visibility, and success. She achieves this through strategic programming, impactful narratives, cross-sector partnerships, and cross-cultural coalition building.
With a deep belief in the power of collective action, Melissa envisions Minnesota as a leading hub for fostering Latine leadership infrastructure and strategies. Her experience with political and leadership campaigns across the United States, from Illinois and California to Florida and Texas, has equipped her to connect emerging leaders and highlight the assets of the Latine community.
Melissa's academic background in Political Science – International Relations from Carleton College provides a strong foundation for her work. Her professional career in nonprofit communications, including congressional campaign communications and the design of nationwide Latine leadership programs, has honed her skills in aligning Latine efforts and amplifying collective influence through narrative writing, digital marketing, and graphic design.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Melissa enjoys spending time with her cats, attending concerts, exploring nature trails, and immersing herself in fantasy literature. During the summer months, she can often be found enjoying a swim in one of Minnesota's many lakes.
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Brenda Sanchez
Director of Leadership Programs
Brenda Sanchez serves as the dynamic Director of Leadership Programs. Most recently, she worked at the University of Southern California (USC) Race & Equity Center, where she supported K-12 racial equity programming and played a crucial role in the development of the Compton College Faculty Prep Academy. Prior to her time at USC, Brenda served as the coordinator for Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan's Children's Cabinet at the Minnesota Department of Management & Budget. Brenda also served under former U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) in Washington D.C. Wanting to serve her Minnesota community, she also served U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. Through the City of Minneapolis Urban Scholars program, Brenda served in diverse roles, from working at Minneapolis Animal Control to contributing to youth and leadership development programming in Governor Dayton's Office. Through CHCI, Urban Scholars, and USC, she discovered her passion for pipeline programs, noting the potential they hold in shaping future leaders. With her extensive background in public sector roles, coupled with her participation in leadership programs for people of color, Brenda brings her expertise to LatinoLEAD.
Brenda holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology and Political Science from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
Sabrina Tapia
Advocacy Program Manager
Sabrina Tapia is a seasoned advocate and leader with over 12 years of experience advancing equity, leadership development, and community empowerment, particularly within Minnesota's immigrant, Latine, and multigenerational communities. With a strong background in grassroots organizing, public policy advocacy, and collective action, Sabrina has dedicated her career to addressing systemic inequities and creating people-centered solutions. Her work prioritizes uplifting diverse voices and advancing their influence across sectors through collaboration, coalition building, and leadership development.
Sabrina’s leadership has been instrumental in advocating for multilingual mental health services for women and youth in Greater Minnesota, facilitating restorative practices that promote healing and justice, and fostering stakeholder engagement to empower communities to drive change. Her experience spans policy advocacy, organizing legal clinics for immigrant families, and collaborating with union and education leaders to support immigrant, Latine, and multigenerational workers and families in achieving fair representation and equitable opportunities.
With a Master’s in Educational Leadership from St. Mary’s University and Doctoral Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership (Ed.S) from Concordia University, St. Paul, Sabrina combines academic expertise with practical experience in navigating Minnesota’s legislative process, multi-partisan political systems, and evidence-based practices focused on mental health and intergenerational healing. Her work emphasizes integrating data-driven approaches and organizational design to create sustainable, equitable solutions that address systemic barriers. Her ability to engage and mobilize diverse stakeholders has positioned her as a trusted voice in advancing policies and structures that prioritize the mental health needs of immigrant and Latine communities while fostering healing across generations and driving systemic change.
Reyna Lopez
Operations & Events Coordinator
Reyna Lopez is a Passionate community advocate devoted to empowering diverse youth and vulnerable populations, driving positive change and transforming lives through education, advocacy, and leadership, bringing over 10 years of experience as a teacher and school counselor, and over 6 year working for empowering the Latino community in Minnesota volunteering with various non-profits . Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Reyna holds a Law degree and a master’s in Education, both earned in Mexico, which have shaped her dedication to education and community development.
Currently serving as the Board Chair for the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN), Reyna is a passionate cyclist and advocate for education, she believes that learning is the foundation for growth, whether in the classroom or on a bike. She has developed impactful programs like “Bicis y Becas,” a fundraising initiative supporting the Latino Scholarship Fund, she works everyday to promote safer and more inclusive cycling communities.
Reyna values empathy, storytelling, and community connection, striving to inspire others to embrace outdoor activities as a way to feel freedom, joy, and belonging. At LatinoLEAD, she looks forward to advancing operations and events that uplift the Latino community and foster meaningful change.