The “New Event Spotlight” is a feature the Business Record will use to share about new events and initiatives that aim to address issues affecting the business community. Business Publications Corp. President and CEO Suzanna de Baca attended the Iowa Latinx Project’s inaugural Media Ambassador Program as a moderator and organizer for Iowa Latinx Project.

What? Twenty-eight statewide Latino leaders gathered on July 14 for the Iowa Latinx Project’s inaugural Media Ambassador Program, a half-day event held at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, designed to enhance communications and media skills and to amplify the findings of the Latinx Project Nuestro Iowa Report.

Who attended? Participants from across the state were selected through an application process based on their leadership and civic accomplishments and interests.

What is the Iowa Latinx Project? The Iowa Latinx Project was formed by members of the Latinx community to create a welcoming state where everyone thrives. The mission of the project is to accelerate Latinx collective impact by advancing representation, nurturing community development, and fostering intercultural understanding through research and collaborations.

What did the participants learn? At this special half-day training held at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Latinx Project Business Committee provided an overview of the Nuestro Iowa report, a project that captured data on the status of Latinos in Iowa. Participants were introduced to members of local media outlets and other Latino leaders. Media and communications training was presented by Amy Lorentzen McCoy, assistant professor of strategic political communication and public relations at Drake University; Joe Henry, state political director for LULAC Iowa; and Rob Baron, executive director of the Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact. A panel of media leaders was moderated by Suzanna de Baca, CEO of Business Publications Corp., and featured Tar Macias, president of Hola America Media Group; Samantha Mesa, an anchor at Local 5 News We Are Iowa; Brian Sather, president and general manager at KCCI-TV; and Matt Sieren, digital/IT manager at Iowa Public Radio.

Who were the organizers and sponsors? Iowa Latinx Project business committee organizers included Juan Pablo Sanchez, director of inclusive business strategies at the Greater Des Moines Partnership; Alejandro Hernandez, dean of the Zimpleman College of Business at Drake University; Joe Henry, state political director for LULAC Iowa; Claudia Schabel, CEO of Schabel Solutions; and Suzanna de Baca of Business Publications Corp. The program was sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Partnership, BPC, Shabel Solutions, Joe Henry and Al Exito.

Learn more about the Iowa Latinx Project at https://www.iowalatinxproject.org/.