Saint Paul, MN — Irma Márquez Trapero is on a mission to redefine leadership in Latine communities by placing mental health and healing at the forefront. Drawing from her own experiences as a queer Latina woman and a formerly undocumented immigrant, she advocates for compassionate and inclusive spaces that honor cultural heritage. In 2019, she co-founded LatinoLEAD, a leadership network working to shape policy and perceptions that advance collective influence, success and power within the Latinx community. With her Bush Fellowship, she will deepen her understanding of nonprofit management, culturally specific leadership development and mental health practices. She will also focus on her own healing journey to bring empathy, authenticity and joy to her leadership.
What has informed your approach to leading change in your community?
Lack of representation or lack of opportunities is what informs my leadership. I am influenced by community members that have come before me.
My family and personal experiences also inspire me. (My hometown is Saint James, MN!) I ask myself, ‘Who am I accountable to? ‘How am I engaging and receiving feedback?’ and ‘How am I listening to elders and community members to give back?’ Leadership isn’t about the self, but about the community input and community voice.
If you could have one superhuman power (the ability to do anything without limitation) what would it be?
If I had a superpower, I’d love to be a polyglot, or multilingual, to be able to speak to any person in the world and at any time, including sign language, so I could connect with anyone from any part of the world.
What is your favorite quote or expression?
“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world,” by Dolores Huerta.
