Hanna graduated from Pine Lake Preparatory in May with a GPA of 3.8 and is currently a freshman majoring in Biology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

She aspires to become a veterinary surgeon specializing in small and medium-sized animals.

Hanna is particularly fascinated by various branches of veterinary science, including anatomy, physiology, and exotic species.

She believes her love for animals, patience, enthusiasm, dedication, and familiarity with domestic animal behavior make her well-suited for this profession.

Originally from Nicaragua, Hanna began learning English at the age of 8. She is an experienced swimmer, enjoys playing volleyball, and has a passion for art.

Pilar is the YMCA Association Director of Family Engagement. Pilar has dedicated 17 years to the YMCA, with 12 of those years in leadership positions within Community Impact work. She is a national trainer on multicultural and inclusiveness topics and oversees a home visiting program called Parents as Teachers, which serves 200 families in Mecklenburg County.

Pilar holds a degree in bilingual education and spent 20 years as an elementary school teacher before joining the YMCA.

As a certified Local Pastor for the United Methodist Church in the Western North Carolina Conference, Pilar is appointed part-time to Commonwealth UMC in Charlotte. She is actively involved in Anti-Racism work within the WNCC, as part of the National Hispanic/Latino Caucus MARCHA and the Conference Hispanic/Latino Committee. Pilar has led a women’s community prayer group for the past two years, bringing together faithful women twice a month to pray and share the Word of God as part of their spirituality.

She serves on the board of directors of Learning Help Centers of Charlotte, an organization that give academic support to immigrant children.

Pilar is a proud Puerto Rican who represents her culture and traditions everywhere she goes. She has three children and five grandchildren. Her husband, Candido Albino, is the Latino Ministry Assistant Pastor at Hickory Grove United Methodist Church in Charlotte. Pilar has three dreams: to go on a cruise, complete her Theological Studies, and own a beach house in Puerto Rico.

Melissa graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Social Work degree and holds a Master of Health Administration degree from Ohio University. She has 30 years of experience in healthcare, with a focus on oncology and health equity.

Melissa is the Director of the Disparities & Outreach Team at Atrium Health Levine Cancer, a department dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer in communities with inadequate access to vital resources. Her team provides cancer prevention education, screening, and navigation for early detection of disease, with a primary focus on delivering comprehensive, compassionate care.

In 2016, Melissa co-authored a grant proposal that led to the launch of the nation’s first mobile lung cancer screening bus as part of the Lung B.A.S.E.S. 4 Life program. This initiative received the Association for Community Cancer Centers Innovation Award in 2017. In 2018, the Disparities & Outreach team was honored with the Innovation in Health Equity Award from the National Business Group on Health. Additionally, in 2019, Melissa received Atrium Health’s Pinnacle Award for her contributions to the healthcare system and the communities it serves.

Melissa is committed to ensuring that every person everywhere has access to the best care, commitment, and compassion.

Licelot hails from the Dominican Republic, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in Senior Management and Administration.

In 2011, she relocated to the United States, where she met her current partner, Fernando Roa, who introduced her to the food distribution business. She is now the CEO and sole owner of two companies: El Ideal and El Ideal Beer and Wine, a thriving enterprise with annual revenues exceeding $10 million, providing employment to 25 people.

El Ideal is a well-established brand that has gradually won over the hearts of Latino American and international communities by sourcing top-quality agricultural products from Asia, Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Licelot reflects on her journey: “Taking the company to where it is today has been very stressful and difficult. Thank God it was possible. Now I have a family business, and we can continue to work hard and fight for a better future for all of us in the family and our employees.”

José has spent the past twenty-four years dedicated to the economic empowerment sector. He currently serves as the Vice President for Prospera North Carolina, where he provides business advice to Latino entrepreneurs, helping them integrate into the American system and achieve economic independence through entrepreneurship.

Over his 15-year tenure at Prospera North Carolina, José has made a significant impact by providing one-on-one business consulting to over 1,300 individuals, training more than 2,800 business seminar attendees, and facilitating $4.5 million in capital. His efforts have contributed to the creation and retention of 1,825 jobs. In the first four years of operations in North Carolina, the organization’s total economic output reached $126.7 million.