By Angie Baldelomar
This year’s Latina Leadership Summit is approaching.
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City (HCC) will host the 2026 Latina Leadership Summit on Oct. 8 at The Abbott in Kansas City, Missouri.
Helen Ortiz-Turley, HCC interim president, said the summit is more than just an event.
“It’s about creating a platform where Latina women can see themselves, hear themselves and recognize the incredible possibilities that exist for them,” Ortiz-Turley said. “Latinas, we are entrepreneurs, business owners, professionals, executives, community leaders; and on top of that, we’re also moms and wives, … (so) we want to create an environment where women can connect with resources, develop their leadership skills, build relationships and open doors for one another.”
Although Latina is in the name of the summit, the event is open to anyone who “believes in Latino leadership and economic empowerment,” according to Ortiz-Turley.
“We especially welcome Latina entrepreneurs, but it doesn’t have to be Latinos only – business owners, professionals, executives, emerging leaders, students and women who are looking for the next opportunity to grow,” she said. “We also welcome corporations, community organizations – anyone who wants to support and connect with Latino leaders.”
For Diana Reyes-Raymer, HCC board member and event chair, the summit is all about creating a space for women to grow their careers.
“I’ve learned so much from the women who came before me, and I’m also constantly learning from the younger generation,” said Reyes-Raymer, an executive with Reyes Media Group, which publishes Dos Mundos. “There is something incredibly powerful about putting all of those generations in one room and giving them an opportunity to connect.”
Tickets to attend the summit are $100. The price for the all-day event includes breakfast and lunch. There also are sponsorship opportunities for organizations that want to invest in Latino leadership.
Ortiz-Turley encourages people to attend the summit.
“The strength of our community is, I believe, in our ability to come together, supporting one another, creating opportunities for the next generations,” she said. “Because when Latina women succeed, we don’t succeed alone. We bring families, businesses, employees, communities and future generations with us, so this is the spirit behind the summit. And at the Hispanic Chamber, we believe in building bridges, opening doors, creating opportunities for everyone. And we want this to be a place where women don’t just come to be inspired, they come to connect.”
For more information about the event or to buy tickets, visit https://kansascity.hispanicchamber.us/2026-latina-leadership-summer.
