Passionate community researcher, advocate, spokesperson for the Latino community and publicist | Diurka Diaz | Latinas en New York
Ms. Diurka Diaz, M.A. is a passionate community researcher, advocate, spokesperson for the Latino community and publicist. With over 25 years of experience, Ms. Diaz combines a unique background in healthcare management, research experience, and event coordination. Ms. Diaz is a graduate of the City University of New York, City College and earned a master’s degree in Human Development from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Currently, Ms. Diaz is a Program Coordinator for the Mothers and Newborn Study (M&NS) at the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (CCCEH). In this role, Ms. Diaz supervises a staff of over 5 people, diligently works to maintain a retention rate of 95 % and collaborates with Principal Investigators in the design and implementation of new spin-off projects. As the head of the Center’s oldest and largest study, Ms. Diaz leads the CCCEH’s efforts to collect data and to empirically study environmental risk-factor that affect inner-city populations in the Upper Manhattan and South Bronx area. Ms. Diaz is both the first Dominican to serve as Program Coordinator for the M&NS and one of the highest-ranking Latinas within the CCCEH. Her cultural background added to her diverse experience has enabled her to work as an advocate for the families as well as a strategic planner within the Center. Prior to becoming a Senior Staff at the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health, Ms. Diaz’s was professionally affiliated to Metrocare Home Care Services as an Administrative Coordinator, to the Children’s Aid Society of New York as a Private Developmental Consultant and to the New York City Department of Health as an Assistant Project Coordinator. In 2004, Ms. Diaz was inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society for her excellence in academics and received, in 2005, a Certificate of Merit from the New York City Council for her outstanding work and involvement within the community. After being a spokeswoman for a community in scientific research at Columbia University and being a co-author for over 15 scientific publication and coordinating health events, conferences and translating research findings to the community gave her the inspiration to start her own publicity firm to be able to continue to translating findings in the fields of arts, math, and science. Also to foster new ways of sharing information and services. She worked as a freelance publicist for over 10 years and have worked with many celebrities in the Latino and non-Latino community She was the Editor In Chief of a Bilingual lifestyle magazine called Spanglish Magazine. In this role, she worked with many artists like Zoe Saldana, Manny Perez, Toby Love, Aventura, Jim Jones, Lumidee, Tony Sunshine and many others.This gave her the opportunity to coordinate fashion shows and photo shoots at various location of the city such as the Marriot Marquis Hotel, Penn Hotel and the Javits Center in NYC. Ms. Diaz’s ultimate goal is to effectively translate inquiry findings to foster the community’s knowledge regarding environmental risk-factors and to publish results to foster community empowerment. To this end, she has proactively complimented her work experience with relevant training, community activism, and coordination of events in the entertainment area as well as in the research community. In 2005 she completed the Environmental Health and Justice Leadership Training with the NIEHS Center for Environmental Health in Northern Manhattan. In 2009 and 2016 she completed a 35-hour Participatory Training Program for Frontline Health Workers sponsored by the Community Health Worker Network of NYC and Columbia University’s School of Public Health. Lastly, Ms. Diaz launched her own publicity firm to help individuals and businesses promote themselves and to establish means of communicating services being offered. Connect with Diurka Diaz Via FB & Instagram https://www.instagram.com –Diaz Publicist Thanks to Our sponsors & supporters: Makeup by: Jay Romero | Facebook: JayRomeroprofessional | Instagram: JayRomeroSalon Video and Photography by: Innovation Media New York – Ivan Morales- Rafael Sanchez | Project Director: Ruben Martis Image Consultant: Angie Reyn | Dress by CeniaNY Hair by: Andrea Vasquez | Instagram: @Fabhairex Editor and Social Media Consultant: Nicole Marie Lynch | Instagram: Nikki_m22 | kari del Rosario Hispano America News | Google
Dominican born TV host and actress Yaneli Sosa | Leading Latina 2017
Yaneli Sosa is an actress, model, and TV host who has always had a passion for television. Being chosen to speak at cultural events at an early age ignited her interest in the television medium. Upon getting an education and graduating from college, Ms. Sosa remained consistently focused on her path towards a career in media. She achieved stellar performances in modeling, television, and hosted many festivals throughout the Dominican Republic including, most recently, in the United States. In 2012, Yaneli made the biggest decision of her life by moving to New York and leaving a lasting impression in American Media. After establishing herself in the capital of the world, Ms. Sosa instantly became co-host for the New York-based television show “Aqui tv Show,” which was transmitted throughout the Super Canal Caribe channel. Yaneli participated in many Mundo Fox shows, including Univision’s morning television show “Despierta America,” in addition to hosting festivals throughout NJ and NY. Ms. Sosa owns a non-profit organization which serves to help children from the Dominican Republic by carrying out their educational activities and the delivery of toys. She’s also participated in the international “Miss Dominican Republic Earth” 2006 contest where she became the third finalist. Aside from having extensive experience in the modeling field, Sosa had the opportunity to conduct and manage a live show called, “Live your Sexuality.” Sosa has become part of many TV shows in the Dominican Republic like, “Leila Controversial,” an online educational TV show sponsored by the D.R. government. In 2010, Sosa performed in “Who Killed the Passion?” at the Dominican National Theatre. Upon arriving in the United States, Sosa took part in several television talk shows such as “El Cafecito” and “La Hora” transmitted by Mundofox (recently changed to MundoMax). After quickly achieving her “American Dream,” she discovered a passion for inspiring and supporting Latinas by encouraging them to believe in themselves. “Si se puede,” (yes, it can be done) is Yaneli Sosa’s motto. I am confident that all Latinas have that capability and I am willing to make it a mission to empower them to achieve their dreams the way that I have achieved mine, said Yaneli. Yaneli Sosa currently co-hosts “A Otro Nivel” with Edward Laventure, – an entertainment program transmitted by Telemundo 47. Co-host Radio “La Hora Del Conductor Mega 97.9 and TV host Al Ritmo De LA Noche -TeleMicro International and is a radio announcer for “Busqueda 13” by Rumba FM. In 2015, Yaneli Received “La Prensa NY” award for her outstanding work. Connect with Yaneli Sosa Via FB and Instagram https://www.instagram.com Thanks to Our sponsors & supporters: Makeup by: Jay Romero | Facebook: JayRomeroprofessional | Instagram: JayRomeroSalon Video and Photography by: Innovation Media New York – Ivan Morales- Rafael Sanchez | Project Director: Ruben Martis Image Consultant: Angie Reyn | Dress by CeniaNY Hair by: Andrea Vasquez | Instagram: @Fabhairex Editor and Social Media Consultant: Nicole Marie Lynch | Instagram: Nikki_m22 | kari del Rosario Hispano America News | Google
Meryland Cuevas is NO ordinary woman. She is an award winning Latina Influencer, Content Creator, Certified Life Coach and much more | Leading Latina 2017
Meryland Cuevas-Canela Award Winning Latina Influencer, Content Creator, Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author & Social Activist. Meet Meryland Cuevas, The Fear Crusher and BS Slayer, is an International Motivational Speaker, Certified Life and Assertiveness Coach, award-winning Latina content creator, Social Media Influencer and advocate for Equality, who has been creating positive and life-changing impact in the lives of thousands of people who follow her daily interactions in Social Media, on her workshops and teleseminars as well as through her Life Coaching programs. Meryland is passionate about helping others transform their lives and become the best version of themselves. She likes to call herself, The Fear Crusher, as she believes fear is one of our biggest setbacks and conquering it is key to move our lives forward. She is a passionate storyteller who uses her own life experiences of overcoming low self-esteem, depression, co-dependency, financial struggles, and her successful transformation to help, inspire and motivate others to keep moving forward. Meryland seeks to encourage others to believe and follow their dreams, regain the control of their own lives, love themselves, face their fears and own their word. Through her candid, honest and even humorous style, she is able to connect with the audience deeply and meaningfully. She believes we can all become a better version of ourselves. When we start believing in ourselves and taking action, we can move forward from “feeling stuck,” to where we want and deserve to be in life. She is the CEO and Founder at Meryland Cuevas International and the blog Otros $20 Pesos. Meryland speaks English and Spanish fluently lives in New Jersey and is a mom to 12 yr. old Joe. Meryland is often featured on national and international media, sharing her expertise about how to embrace one’s true greatness, motivation, advocacy, and empowerment. Find more and connect with Meryland Cuevas: coachmeryland Otros 20 Pesos Instagram: @otros20pesos Twitter: otros20pesos A big thank-you to our team who supported us behind the scenes | Leading Latinas 2017! Makeup by: Jay Romero | Facebook: JayRomeroprofessional | Instagram: JayRomeroSalon Video and Photography by: Innovation Media New York – Ivan Morales- Rafael Sanchez | Project Director: Ruben Martis Image Consultant: Angie Reyn | Instagram: angienewlook Hair by: Andrea Vasquez | Instagram: @Fabhairex Editor and Social Media Consultant: Nicole Marie Lynch | Instagram: Nikki_m22