LAUP director seeks to 'inspire, equip, empower' Latinos in Holland

HOLLAND — After several years of leadership transitions, Latin Americans United for Progress has a new executive director at the helm.

Johnny Rodriguez, a Holland native, began in the role in October after a career in human resources and talent management and acquisition at several local companies.

Rodriguez said LAUP has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and organizational changes and continues its work championing a better life for Latinos in the Holland area.

"We really have passionate people (on LAUP's board) that have had to be active, because there was no executive director, and very involved and passionate about the Holland community and the Latino community as well," Rodriguez said. "And for those reasons, LAUP was able to consistently be here and continue to have an impact on the community."

The board president, Rev. Benito Aguilera of BLVD Church, served as interim executive director pro bono for the last year until the LAUP board raised enough money to hire Rodriguez.

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The organization has long provided translation and interpretation services, U.S. citizenship classes and the career and college-readiness ?Adelante! and ?Mas Adelante! programs.

LAUP also organizes cultural events like the LAUP Fiesta, a celebration of Latino cultures, which is scheduled this year for July 9 at the Holland Civic Center Place.

LAUP's goals and programs have shifted with the evolving needs of the Latino community in Holland, which accounts for 24.3 percent of residents in the city of Holland and 27.7 percent of residents in Holland Charter Township.

"What's great about LAUP is we want a better community for all," Rodriguez said. "We were started as a Latino community to have a voice in the Holland community and advocate for Latinos here. And we still need to do that.

"What's different is it's a lot of systematic issues today. When you talk about the problems that existed before, like redlining and discrimination, and employment discrimination, and so forth, those things still exist today, they're just more sophisticated and also systematic."

This month, LAUP launches a financial literacy class as part of its adult programming, teaching concepts like budgeting, financing a home and planning for retirement.

"Going forward, we want to advocate for Latinos in the workforce to not just have an opportunity to gain employment at a company, but we want an opportunity for Latinos to have access and opportunities to grow within businesses and organizations in our community," Rodriguez said.

Under Rodriguez's tenure, LAUP has also hired a community outreach coordinator, Baruch de Carvalho, to strengthen LAUP's presence in the community. Venecia Rodriguez has replaced Yadah Ramirez as programs director.

Rodriguez, who said organizations like LAUP and the Boys & Girls Club of Holland helped him succeed growing up in Holland as the child of migrant workers, wants LAUP's work to "inspire, equip and empower" the next generation.

"I got to a point where I wanted to serve," Rodriguez said of his decision to seek the director position. "I wanted for my work to be something that means something to me, that was purposeful, that had an impact, that was giving back to people that look like me, other boys and girls that are experiencing what I had to experience."

— Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: LAUP director seeks to 'inspire, equip, empower' Latino community