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Ramonita Vargas, Grand MarshalRamonita Vargas serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Spanish American Committee, Ohio’s first and largest Hispanic social service agency. Ramonita started working for the Spanish American Committee over 30 years ago and has dedicated her entire career to serving here. She served as the agency’s Fiscal Manager for 26 years before being
selected as the Chief Executive Officer in 2010. Since, Ramonita has led the agency to being the force it is today and being the beacon of hope for newly settled and current residents of the Cleveland Latino/Hispanic community. |
Ms. Vargas earned the trust and respect of the Spanish American Committee Board of Trustees because of her strong character and flawless record in her fiscal management practices. Her knowledge of the agency’s internal operations as well as her passion and dedication to the organization’s mission of “To act and serve as a gateway to socioeconomic success for individuals and families in Northeast Ohio while maintaining and celebrating a Latino perspective and focus to all.” made her a perfect candidate for the Executive Officer position.
Ms. Vargas embodies the agency’s purpose of moving individuals within the community to grow professionally and to support our community as leaders. Ramonita has always believed that everything in life is possible if you work hard to achieve them. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Management from Devry University in 2014. She has worked to uplift the Spanish American Committee to being a revenue generation organization that serves over 5,000
individuals and families annually with an over 1.1 million dollar budget.
Ramonita Vargas is the oldest of seven children and her parents are both from Puerto Rico. She is a lifelong resident of Cleveland’s near west-side community where she serves to this day. Her compassion, dedication, hard work and loyalty have converted her as one of the more important Hispanic Leaders in Cleveland.
Ms. Vargas embodies the agency’s purpose of moving individuals within the community to grow professionally and to support our community as leaders. Ramonita has always believed that everything in life is possible if you work hard to achieve them. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Management from Devry University in 2014. She has worked to uplift the Spanish American Committee to being a revenue generation organization that serves over 5,000
individuals and families annually with an over 1.1 million dollar budget.
Ramonita Vargas is the oldest of seven children and her parents are both from Puerto Rico. She is a lifelong resident of Cleveland’s near west-side community where she serves to this day. Her compassion, dedication, hard work and loyalty have converted her as one of the more important Hispanic Leaders in Cleveland.
Victor Ruiz, PadrinoVictor A. Ruiz is a courageous leader and advocate with a body of work that spans over twenty years. He is an Executive Director, Coach, Consultant, and active member of his community. Victor has a broad network and because of his work, has been recognized as a Crain’s Cleveland Power 150, one of the 500 most influential people by Cleveland Magazine, and a Forty under Forty.
As Executive Director, Victor leads an organization that advocates for the educational needs of Cleveland’s Latinx community. As a result of their efforts, Cleveland’s Latinx high school graduation rate has grown from 30% in 2010, to over 84% in 2021. Under his leadership, the organization has raised millions of dollars for college scholarships and support services. In 2015, the organization was named a Brightspot in Education by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. |
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Victor also serves in several leadership roles in the community, including past chair of the Cuyahoga Community College, one of the country’s largest community colleges. Victor also serves on the Executive Committee of the United Way of Greater Cleveland. As an Executive Coach, Victor provides support to institutional and organizational leaders around leadership, organizational development, culture change, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion. Victor has a bachelor’s degree in English from Baldwin Wallace College, and a master’s degree in Education from Cleveland State University. He is a Certified Professional Diversity Coach (CPDC) through the Coach Diversity Institute.
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Keisha González, MadrinaKeisha González joined the Cleveland Foundation in June 2018 as the Program Officer for Community Revitalization and Engagement. In her current role, Keisha is responsible for supporting the foundation's Social Impact Investing initiatives through the management of both current and future investment opportunities that will lead to equitable economic growth. She works in collaboration with colleagues to position the foundation’s strategy for community development innovation, supporting efforts to strengthen the sector’s capacity and appetite for innovative risk.
Prior to joining the foundation, Keisha served as the Managing Director for Metro West Community Development Organization. In this capacity, she implemented the organization’s strategic plan, management of programs and operations, and cultivated productive relationships in the public, private and civic sector. During her career at Metro West, Keisha also held the positions of Community Organizer (2014) and Director of Economic Development (2016). In these capacities, she focused on community-building initiatives designed to improve conditions in the neighborhood through the involvement of residents, businesses and community institutions. |
Keisha earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Cleveland State University and went on to earn her Master of Arts in Historic Preservation from the University of Delaware. During her time at the University of Delaware she worked for the Mid-Atlantic Historic Buildings and Landscape Survey at the Centre for Historic Architecture and Design documenting at-risk historic dwellings, infrastructure and landscapes for local and state governments.
Committed to the equitable placemaking, Keisha has worked on many key projects in the cities where she has lived. Locally, Keisha was a part of the executive steering committee that launched La Placita and has elevated the La Villa Hispana as a priority placemaking initiative for the Clark-Fulton neighborhood. On the east coast, she worked on the Delaware City Oral History Project, a campaign designed to digitally document local recollections pertaining specifically to the history of the natural areas surrounding Delaware City, Delaware
Committed to the equitable placemaking, Keisha has worked on many key projects in the cities where she has lived. Locally, Keisha was a part of the executive steering committee that launched La Placita and has elevated the La Villa Hispana as a priority placemaking initiative for the Clark-Fulton neighborhood. On the east coast, she worked on the Delaware City Oral History Project, a campaign designed to digitally document local recollections pertaining specifically to the history of the natural areas surrounding Delaware City, Delaware
Zaria Ivelisse Ortiz,Miss Teen Puerto Rico 2022
Zaria Ivelisse Ortiz was part of the Miss Latina Image Program where she learned about social etiquette, self-esteem, diction, and leadership. She is a graduate of New Technology West School. Her parents are Noemi Guzman and Victor Ortiz. Zaria's family is originally from the town of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. During her free time, she does volunteer work and loves to dance. Zaria is very proud of her Puerto Rican roots "We have our own culture, dances, music, gastronomy, our strength and resilience. Puerto Rican culture is a mixture of Taino, Spanish and African cultures and I feel proud to be a mixture of all three." For Zaria, it is an honor to be the queen of the Puerto Rican Parade and our community. |
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