Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia and the Latin Business Network marked Hispanic Heritage Month with an Oct. 6 gathering focused on women in business, community leadership and participation in the electoral process
Women business owners and community leaders gathered at Miami-Dade Elections Headquarters in Doral on Oct. 6 for “Women Leading Miami,” a Hispanic Heritage Month program organized by Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia and the Latin Business Network.
The two-hour event brought together conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership and community service while also focusing attention on voter education ahead of the Nov. 3 General Election. Garcia participated alongside Latin Business Network President Ysabel Borden and other community leaders.
The program reflected the broad role Hispanic women play throughout Miami-Dade, where entrepreneurship, professional leadership, community service and civic participation frequently intersect. Participants shared experiences related to building businesses and initiatives, navigating challenges and serving their communities.
A portion of the program, titled “Inspiring Hispanic Women to Vote,” focused specifically on the electoral process and provided an opportunity to discuss participation in the upcoming General Election.
Hispanic Heritage Month Conversation Highlighted Women in Leadership
Women Leading Miami placed women's experiences at the center of a broader Hispanic Heritage Month conversation about leadership in South Florida.
Rather than focusing on a single profession or industry, the event brought business ownership, community involvement and civic engagement into the same discussion. That approach reflected the different ways women contribute to Miami-Dade's economic and community life, from establishing businesses and organizations to taking leadership roles in public and civic spaces.
Garcia and Borden helped lead the program, which was designed to give participating women an opportunity to discuss how they developed their businesses and initiatives, the challenges they encountered and the role community involvement has played in their work.
“We want to create a space where women business owners and community leaders can share their stories, connect with one another, and access useful information about civic participation,” Borden said in announcing the event. She also thanked Garcia for welcoming the group to Elections Headquarters.
Holding the gathering at Miami-Dade Elections Headquarters connected the leadership discussions with another component of the program: helping residents better understand how to participate in the electoral process.
That connection was particularly timely during Hispanic Heritage Month, when events throughout South Florida recognize the contributions of Hispanic residents while also creating opportunities to discuss the future of their communities.
For women who operate businesses, lead organizations or serve their neighborhoods, civic participation can be another way of remaining engaged with decisions that affect transportation, public services, economic development, education and other aspects of everyday life.
Voter Education Became Part of the Leadership Conversation
The “Inspiring Hispanic Women to Vote” discussion brought the upcoming Nov. 3 General Election directly into the program.
The conversation was intended to give attendees information about the voting process and an opportunity to have election-related questions answered. By incorporating voter education into a gathering centered on women's leadership, organizers connected community involvement with practical information residents can use when participating in an election.
“We need every eligible voter to be informed and know how to participate in the November 3 General Election,” Garcia said ahead of the gathering. “I thank Ysabel Borden and Latin Business Network for partnering with us to bring this important conversation to our community.”
The discussion also came as Miami-Dade voters moved further into the General Election calendar. For residents planning to vote, understanding available voting methods and applicable deadlines can help prevent last-minute confusion.
The Oct. 6 event ultimately brought together two subjects with particular relevance during Hispanic Heritage Month: recognizing the experiences and contributions of Hispanic women and providing residents with information about civic participation.
For Miami-Dade's diverse communities, those conversations can extend beyond a single commemorative month. Women continue to play significant roles as entrepreneurs, professionals, organizers and community leaders throughout South Florida, while informed participation in elections remains one of the most direct ways eligible residents can take part in the civic process.
Women Leading Miami provided a setting where those roles could be discussed together, connecting personal experiences in leadership with the broader responsibility of staying informed about decisions affecting the community.
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