A New Era, Born in Dallas: Latinas Take the Lead at EmpowHER Latina Summit Centering Culture, Health, and Visibility
- Tyzza Macias
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
There’s a growing rhythm reverberating across the country, one powered by purpose, community, and cultural clarity. On July 26, 2025, that rhythm reached Dallas, Texas, where the inaugural EmpowHER Latina Summit boldly staked its claim.
Held at Buckner Preparatory, this one-day experience was more than an event. It was a declaration. A declaration that Latinas are no longer waiting to be invited into conversations of leadership, wellness, and innovation. They're leading them.
Promoted as “A Summit for the Whole Latina,” the summit delivered a uniquely Latina lens on empowerment, one grounded not in assimilation, but authenticity.
A Summit for the Whole Latina
In a city whose demographics reflect a deep well of Latina strength and talent, the summit served as both a mirror and a catalyst for change. From free health screenings and bilingual wellness resources to panels on leadership and professional growth, EmpowHER Latina Summit was carefully curated for the realities and aspirations of today’s Latina, especially women aged 25 to 55 who sit at the intersection of family, culture, and ambition.
Its timing is no coincidence. Latinas are the fastest-growing entrepreneurial and voting bloc in the United States. But representation in health equity, media, leadership roles, and clinical research remains sorely lacking.
That gap between potential and access is exactly what the EmpowHER Latina Summit set out to close.
Anchored in Voice, Grounded in Culture
What set this summit apart wasn’t just the programming. It was who took the stage.
Norma García, the Emmy-winning Telemundo 39 Latina anchor known for covering everything from international elections to local crises, moderated the Taking Control of Our Health panel sponsored by CISCRP. “I offer my body to science for the advancement of wellness,” she remarked, offering a vision for a future grounded in health, knowledge, and compassion.
Libertad Gracia, a Latina Baylor Community Health Worker and Clinical Research Coordinator, spoke candidly about the vital role of trust in clinical research. “Libertad oversees the planning, organizing, and coordinating of various programs and events. Assisting community members with gaining access to needed services and increasing health knowledge and self‑sufficiency,” her introduction noted, underscoring her commitment to community-centered care.
Then came Susan Hernandez and Vicki Martinez of M3 Wake Research, two Latinas with more than 25 years of experience in clinical trials who led a conversation focused on inclusion in medical research. “We are particularly interested in fostering inclusion, transparency, and trust between research teams and the communities they serve,” Martinez said.
Among other Latina leaders in Wellness, health, and media, these weren’t token voices; they were trailblazers boldly advancing representation in fields that have too often ignored the perspectives and needs of Latinas.
Not Just a Moment—A Movement
Perhaps what’s most compelling about the EmpowHER Latina Summit is that it didn’t rely on spectacle. No celebrity endorsements. No superficial brand partnerships. Just women of all backgrounds, professions, and identities showing up for each other.
They came to get their blood pressure checked. They came to meet small business owners. They came to hear from women who looked like them, leading with grace and grit.
They came because something told them: this is for you.
And they were right.
EmpowHER Latina Summit is an extension of The Latina Expo, a national initiative born in Chicago that has grown into a cultural force. But unlike larger, commercialized conferences, EmpowHER offers a hyperlocal, grassroots intimacy. It's scaled just right: enough to inspire, intimate enough to empower.
The move to Dallas, Texas, marks a clear intention to build a more connected, cross-regional sisterhood. “Texas Latinas, get ready!... we’re bringing the energy, empowerment, and pure Latina magic straight to YOU!” the team posted ahead of the summit.
They weren’t exaggerating.
And during the summit’s powerful closing moments, organizers made another bold announcement: The Latina Expo is officially coming to Dallas in 2026 as a FIFA World Cup Edition, promising to amplify Latina voices and businesses during one of the most globally visible events ever to hit Texas. It’s a strategic cultural move that merges celebration, visibility, and economic opportunity for Latinas across industries.
With Dallas preparing to welcome the world, Latinas will no longer be on the sidelines. They'll be center stage.
Why This Matters Now
There’s no shortage of summits promising empowerment. But when empowerment becomes a buzzword, it risks losing meaning.
EmpowHER Latina Summit didn’t make that mistake.
Instead, it demonstrated that real empowerment lies in infrastructure access to healthcare, leadership visibility, culturally relevant information, and safe spaces where identity isn’t a footnote; it’s the foundation.
That’s how movements start. Quietly. Intentionally. With stories shared, voices uplifted, and communities that don’t just gather—but grow together.
What Comes Next
If Dallas was the launchpad, what follows is a groundswell. The Latina Expo’s decision to pilot the EmpowHER Latina Summit in Texas speaks volumes. Texas is home to over 5.6 million Latinas a demographic rich in talent, culture, and untapped potential.
In the words of summit organizers, EmpowHER is about “celebrating who Latinas are and who they are becoming.” It’s not a one-day affair; it’s a call to action.
We need more of these spaces. Spaces that recognize Latina identity in its full complexity. That offers flu shots and voter registration forms in the same hallway. That feature bilingual signage not just for inclusivity but because it’s standard.
EmpowHER Latina Summit wasn’t just an empowering event. It was a blueprint.
A blueprint for what it looks like when Latinas create their own spaces, tell their own stories and build systems that serve not just study them.
And if Dallas was any indication, this isn’t just the start of a movement. It’s the return of something ancient and powerful: comunidad.
Latinas are no longer knocking on closed doors. They’re building new ones and inviting others in.
