OUR VALUES

EQUALITY
We believe that everyone has the power to make a difference in their community. We work to empower Latinos and others to participate in civic life, to advocate for their rights, and to build a better future for themselves and their families.

EDUCATION
We believe that education is the key to opportunity. We provide educational opportunities for Latinos of all ages, and our community from early childhood education to job training and professional development.

LIVING BALANCED LIVES
We believe that our progress is based on balancing professional, economical, social and personal dimensions of our lives.

how we work

● Promoting civic engagement programs that help Latinos get involved in their communities, learn about the political process, and hold elected officials accountable

● Generating scholarship funds to support Latinos interested in apprenticeships and 2- or 4-year educational programs

● Facilitating alliances between businesses and Latino entrepreneurs to support their economic development

● Providing guidance to help Latinos access the workforce

● Supporting cultural programs that promote Latino culture and heritage

LUCI works through a variety of programs and initiatives, including:

our impact

LUCI members have made a significant impact on Latino communities across the state. By founding LUCI, their efforts will be channeled and focused to multiply their achievements, among which we can include: providing educational workshops to more than 35 families, awarding scholarships to more than 25 young Latinos, providing STEM workshops and health clinics along The Corridor, mentoring students and parents, and organizing and promoting 12 Latino Festivals to promote cultural understanding and appreciation among Latinos and non-Latinos alike.

our comMitment

Latinos Unidos for Community Inclusion, LUCI, is committed to the empowerment of Latino communities. We believe that everyone deserves to have a voice, and that everyone should have access to the resources they need to succeed. We are committed to making that a reality. We will work through a variety of programs and initiatives to achieve our goals. We have already made a significant impact on our communities across the state of Iowa And we are committed to continuing our work. We believe that, in partnership with political and business leaders, we will make a difference in the lives of Latinos everywhere.

our history

The idea for LUCI began over a decade ago, when a group of Latino leaders in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, saw the need for a organization that would coordinate their idividual initiatives and advocate for the Latino community to help them succeed.

Many of these members have lived in Iowa for more than 25 years and, all this time, they have contributed to their communities by organizing health and wellness programs, professional development workshops, disaster response efforts, food drives, social responsibility drives and, in general, advocacy for Latino rights and issues.

In early 2023, this group of Latino leaders understood that, by incorporating LUCI as a non-profit organization, they could consolidate their individual efforts to multiply their results. Moreover, they could provide continuity and consistency for their programs and initiatives.

That is why they finally made their dream a reality and established LUCI with the overarching mission of "enhancing the lives of Latino families in Iowa by providing advocacy, educational services, development and social responsibility awareness."

Our dream is a reality now. Help us keep it moving forward!

OUR TEAM

  • Monica Vallejo

    President

    Education, Financial Education, Communications, Finance Member

    Birthplace: Quito, Ecuador

    Time in Iowa: 34 years

    Current job: Family Support Worker for HACAP

    Other community involvement: Founder and former President of the Cedar Rapids Chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), President of the West Dale Area Neighborhood Association, Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission Member, Statutes Review Commission Member, Citizen Review Board Member

  • David Suarez

    Vice President

    Financial Education Lead, Finance Member

    Birthplace: Ecuador

    Time in Iowa: 18 years

    Current job: Community engagement champion working with Community 1st Credit Union since 2015.

    Other community involvement: Specialist in Public Relations, External Communication, and Community Involvement Strategies.

  • Clint Diehl

    Secretary

    Financial Education Lead, Finance Member

    Birthplace: Waterloo, IA

    Time in Iowa: 18 years.

    Current employer: Veridian Credit Union

    Other community involvement: Financial Literacy Programs, Junior Achievement, Salvation Army, Cedar Rapids Latino Festival, United Way, ARC of East Central Iowa

  • Jennyfer Suarez

    Treasurer

    Finance Committee Lead

    Birthplace: Puerto Rico

    Time in Iowa: 8 years from Florida

    Current job: Licensed Insurance Agent at GreenState Credit Union

    Other community involvement: Chains Interrupt, volunteer for Bowl for Kids Sake, Boy & Girls Club, No Foot Too Small.

  • Tak Kumoto

    Education & Communication Committee Member

    Birthplace: Mexico City

    Time in Iowa: 13 years.

    Current job: Director of Software Engineering Collins Aerospace.

    Other community involvement: Financial Literacy for Young Families - In partnership with YPN. STEM Promoter for K-12, ERG Communications lead for RTX HOLA

  • Jairo Muñoz

    Education Committee Member, Scholarships Lead

    Birthplace: Colombia.

    Time in Iowa: 28 years.

    Current job: VP at Balanced Investment Company. Retired from Collins Aerospace (2020).

    Other community involvement: Financial Literacy for Young Families - In partnership with YPN. STEM Promoter for K-12.

  • Miguel Burgos

    Education Committee Member

    Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico

    Time in Iowa: 27 years

    Current job: Currently employed at Great America, and CEO at 319 Integral Premier Services LLC

    Other community involvement: Volunteer Soccer coach for AYSO United, Jail Ministry, FC de CR Board Member, Hispanic Ministry and Prayer Group Coordinator ICC, Founding Committee Member Cedar Rapids Festival Latino

  • Amy Doerrfeld

    Board Member

    Birthplace: Iowa

    Current job: Certified Prevention Specialist, Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC)

    Other community involvement: Planning committee for the Cedar Rapids Festival Latino and a board member with CRUSH of Iowa – Recovery Community Center

  • Rosa Salazar

    Education Committee Member

    Birthplace: Honduras

    Time in Iowa: 10 years

    Current job: Bilingual Marriage and Family Therapist at the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Dubuque

    Other community involvement: Juntos For Better Education Educator, Waypoint Services

  • Gilbert Nunez

    Education Committee Member

    Birthplace: Juarez, Mexico

    Time in Iowa: 30 years

    Current job: Founder and Director of Business Development and Operations, Iowa Corridor Construction LLC

    Other community involvement: Board Member of Wisconsin Clean Cities, YPN and commissioner for the Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs

  • Guillermo Quillo

    Communications Committee Lead

    Birthplace: Queretaro, Mexico

    Time in Iowa: 2 years

    Current job: Commercial Avionics Systems Engineer at Collins Aerospace

    Other community involvement: Co-Chair of the Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Advancement at RTX, Collins Aerospace, Volunteer English Tutor at the Catherine McAuley Center, Cedar Rapids

  • Waldemar Rodriguez

    Board Member

    Birthplace: Puerto Rico

    Time in Iowa: 7 years

    Current job: Senior Civil Rights Investigator at Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission

    Other community involvement: Board Member of The Arc of East Central Iowa