Leadership in Community with Vivian Huelgo and Linda Xóchitl Tortolero

12 March 2026

At Esperanza United, we know no single organization or person is going to end gender-based violence alone – it will take communities, working together. That’s why Latina leadership and community-based solutions are two of our organizational values. 

To advance this strengths-based approach, Esperanza United President and CEO Vivian Huelgo, J.D. is interviewing leaders across the fields of gender-based violence prevention and Latin@ empowerment and beyond. Read on to learn leadership lessons, celebrate the people doing the work, and share in our gratitude for our vibrant community. 

In this conversation, Vivian speaks with Linda Xóchitl Tortolero, President and CEO of the Latino Policy Forum and a leading advocate for equity in Latino communities. Through her work advancing data-informed policies that expand access to education, affordable housing, and civic leadership, Linda has helped shape a vision of stronger, more inclusive communities. With a background in law and a long history of leadership in national Latina organizations, she brings a powerful perspective on advocacy, community leadership, and the collective work required to create lasting change. Pues, vamos:  

Vivian: One of our organizational values is Latina Leadership, what does (Latina) leadership mean to you?

Linda: As a Latina leader, I strive to be grounded in humility and love for culture and community, I serve to support the next generation of leaders in their endeavors and speak up for others who may not be able to do so. 

Vivian: Who inspired your leadership journey, and how did they shape you?

Linda: I am privileged to have been supported by many individuals – family members, Latina mentors, teachers, and immigrant and survivor leaders. They taught me about using power and the vital importance of hard work, commitment, and joy. I am fortunate to have learned that I can be the change I want to see in the world.

Vivian: How do you mentor or support the next generation of Latina leaders?

Linda: I greatly value opportunities to provide advice, open doors, and coach the next generation of Latina leaders. At the same time, I enjoy and am thankful for what they teach me – their ideas and knowledge, and their courage to share their stories.

Vivian: How do you stay innovative and motivated in your work?

Linda: I hope to be a perpetual student always. Reading, taking classes, listening to podcasts, watching documentaries, and asking questions are ways I keep learning.

Vivian: What is a lesson you learned recently that surprised you?

 

Linda: Not feeling guilty about saying no. It gets easier with time.

Vivian: Gratitude is so important: Tell me about something you are grateful for?

Linda: My partner, my family, and the amazing nonprofit coworkers who I have been blessed to work alongside. I am also extremely grateful that I live in a fantastic city and state, Chicago, Illinois surrounded by the community I love and that has given me so much.

More about Linda Xóchitl Tortolero

Linda Xóchitl Tortolero, is a fierce advocate for Illinois’ Latino community, especially in her newest role as the president and CEO of the Latino Policy Forum, which works to achieve equity for Illinois Latinos by advocating for data-informed policies that improve education outcomes, such as access to early childhood education, supports for English Learners and their families, and increasing college enrollment and persistence. The Forum also advocates for affordable housing and just immigration policies and works to strengthen Latino civic power and leadership. She previously led Mujeres Latinas en Acción, the longest-standing Latina organization in the country, playing a pivotal role in its transformative expansion and strategic positioning. A lawyer and strategist, Linda holds a B.A. from Brown University and J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and serves on the Illinois Accountability Commission, Women’s Advisory Council of the Mayor’s Office for the City of Chicago and on the Board of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. Linda is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants.