Latino Entrepreneurs Meet Jennifer Siebel Newsom on Latino Equal Pay Day

OAKLAND, California. – California First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom came to Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood Thursday to meet with local Latino entrepreneurs and nonprofits for “Latin Day for Equal Pay.”

The Latino Community Foundation and nonprofit Prospera joined eight Latino entrepreneurs for an hour-long discussion to share their stories of economic pay inequity and its impact on them and their families.

Claudia Arroyo, executive director of Prospera, said she was moved to hear a woman explain that she would work eight hours and earn the same amount as her Latino husband would earn in four hours.

Arroyo held up a dollar bill half colored blue to represent how much money Latino workers make compared to white men.

“Fifty-one cents of every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men,” Arroyo said.

Some say Latina women often have part-time jobs to care for their families or work in low-wage industries.

Another challenge lies in societal stereotypes of men being leaders and women being supportive roles.

Siebel Newsom told the group that she had just returned from the inauguration of Mexico’s first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, and was inspired by her commitment to promoting women, girls and female entrepreneurship.

“It inspires young girls and women about their potential and demonstrates to men and boys that this is okay, that women are innate leaders and deserve a seat at the highest table of power,” Siebel Newsom said. .

At times, the meeting became emotional as women, including an indigenous Latina artist, a Mexican-American entrepreneur and others, spoke about their upliftment and their work to uplift other Latina women.

Nancy Rosales said she came from a Mexican-American family in Watsonville and was the first in her family to become an entrepreneur when she decided to start her family paleta business, Pepito’s Paletas.

“I wanted to do something to support myself and not live paycheck to paycheck and control my own schedule, but then I realized it wasn’t about me or even the business, but of women’s empowerment,” Rosales said.

“We see the business as a transformative vehicle for them as women, for their families and for the community at large,” Arroyo said.

“It makes sense for Latinas to become entrepreneurs, because if they can’t get paid by someone else, why not start a business and pay themselves?” » said Siebel Newsom.

The Latina Community Foundation announced it is signing California’s Equal Pay Pledge, an effort launched by Siebel Newsom in 2019 to fight for equal pay for women. The pledge calls on participants to conduct annual reviews of salary scales and promote equality in hiring.

“The non-profit sector is predominantly made up of women, but the majority of leaders are men. So issues of diversity and gender equity apply to us. The idea of ​​signing this commitment is entirely consistent with our mission. said Sylvia Perez Cash, CIO of the Latino Community Foundation.

Jana Katsuyama is a reporter for KTVU. Email Jana at [email protected]. Call her at 510-326-5529. Or follow her on Twitter @JanaKTVU and read his other reports on his bio page.