In the wake of a charged election season, LuzSelenia Loeb, President of the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women (NACOPRW) Greater Philadelphia Chapter, is calling for a shift toward unity and community-building.
Loeb emphasized that, regardless of how individuals voted, it’s time to “refocus our energy and efforts on unity, healing, and working together for the common goals we do share, such as building better lives for our families and communities.”
Addressing the impact of the election on women and minorities, Loeb encouraged women, especially women of color, to remain steadfast in their pursuit of leadership roles. She noted that the results should “motivate us to work harder,” given the significant work still needed.
She highlighted the efforts made to increase voter participation and urged communities to maintain this momentum year-round. “All the work we’ve been doing to get the vote out… we need to do that every day, 365 days a year, strategically and purposefully,” she stated.
Loeb also pointed to the importance of organizing within minority communities with a focus on collective impact rather than personal agendas. “We need to build up a movement that cannot be stopped, like a tsunami wave that comes in unexpectedly and wipes the slate clean,” she said.
To achieve this, Loeb stressed the necessity of empowering women and young people through groups that foster leadership and engagement, emphasizing that true leadership involves “opening up doors and blazing a trail for others.”
She added that organizing strategically for leadership roles among women and minorities at the “highest tables” and within local communities is crucial. Loeb emphasized the need for cross-generational communication among Latino and minority communities at all levels—local, national, and global.
“Often, that starts with something as simple as having a conversation about who you are and what your interests are to coordinate efforts with like-minded people,” she explained. “This is a free and simple approach that is so effective, and yet so overlooked in today’s technology-driven, virtually-connected society.”
She closed by urging continuous collaboration among leaders and organizations beyond election cycles. She called for shared resources, mentorship, and leadership pipelines to drive lasting change. “We must organize strategically to ensure that women and minority leaders are in daily positions of influence,” she asserted, promoting connections across generations and cultural groups.
Loeb concluded with a reminder about the importance of hope, citing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” She underscored that working together for the “greater good” is essential, rallying the community with the message, “Unidos somos más fuertes!”
