NEWS

Waleska Lugo-DeJesus participated in the "Rising Strong: Navigating Adversity with Resilience" panel, a crucial conversation on how women can rebound from personal challenges and thrive professionally.

Andrea Gedeon, Title V HSI Grant Financial Literacy Coordinator, moderated the panel discussion with Vice President of Family Services for Square One Melissa Blissett and Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, CEO of Inclusive Strategies, LLC,

This year's Grand Marshal, Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, marched with family and friends and employee of her business Inclusive Strategies. The float was inspired by El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico and the island's indigenous people, the Taíno, an Arawak tribe. "I'm extremely emotional and very happy. The way the community has come together to celebrate culture and our heritage makes me really joyful," she said. She said the success of the parade is a combination of marchers and spectators and the local business community coming together and collaborating to represent Latino culture. While honored to be chosen this year's Grand Marshal, Lugo-DeJesus said her responsibility is to also honor all of the honorees that came before her in the past 33 years. "Not only the person, but what they embody, it's all of their contributions to community," she said. "So businesses, economic development, education, our non-profits, our entrepreneurs, our youth. I see that unfolding today and I know that this day is not only for me, but it's shared." Read the full story .

2023 Springfield Puerto Rican Parade committee members posed for a photo with 2023 PR Parade Grand Marshall Waleska Lugo DeJesus at the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade (Never Forget Your Roots) Celebration and Reveal of the Ambassador Honorees at the White Lion Brewing Co. taproom in Tower Square on Main St. in Springfield on June 29th.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined with Ward 1 City Councilor Maria Perez for the Women on the Vanguard’s first annual Latina Women’s Day Breakfast at the La Quinta Hotel, in observance of the International Women’s Day. Mayor Sarno brought greetings and presented a proclamation recognizing this inaugural event. Mayor Sarno thanked Councilor Perez for her unyielding work on behalf of our community and acknowledge all of the women of the Vanguard for their efforts in advocating for our community, especially for being strong role models for our young women. City Councilor Kateri Walsh, New North Citizens Council Executive Director Maria Ligus, retired Springfield Assistant Superintendent Lydia Martinez-Alvarez, and Waleska Lugo-DeJesus were also in attendance. Read the Full Story .

Springfield’s annual citywide Dr. King Day Celebration is hosted by Martin Luther King Jr Family Services, Community Music School of Springfield, Inclusive Strategies LLC, Springfield College and Focus Springfield, Legacy Sounds, Springfield Cultural Partnership, Focus Springfield, Urban League of Springfield, and Springfield Public Schools.

The Creative Strategy Agency, Inc. is partnering with Inclusive Strategies, LLC. to offer Creative Inclusive Strategies, a virtual program aimed to help businesses make intentional choices taking into consideration the moral and financial benefit of diversity in their recruitment, retention, marketing, and messaging.

Black Brew Dialogues Episode One: White Lion Brewing Co. A conversation with Collin Knight, a Roslindale resident and craft beer lover, as he tours breweries to hear their start-up stories, meets with owners and brewers, and has candid conversations over beers about breweries' diversity and inclusion efforts.