Our Mission & Vision
The mission of Hola Carolina is to build bridges between cultures, embrace diversity, and create more economically vibrant communities. Our vision is for immigrant communities and people of color to live in a just, multiracial society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which they can thrive with power and purpose. We are an immigrant led organization that operates by and for the Latinx community.
Many Voices Build A Stronger Community
Hola Carolina explores and gives a critical voice to the diversity of our community. Our mission is to build bridges between cultures, embrace diversity and create more economically vibrant communities.
Hola Carolina believes that every culture has a history and tradition to honor. This common thread allows us to communicate across cultures in a universal language and understand one another in a different way.
By bringing diverse groups of people together, Hola Carolina nurtures shared learning and understanding – of both the value of individuals and the power of community.
As we look toward the future, it’s imperative that we recognize that each American demographic faces different and unique challenges, it is important that we acknowledge our diverse perspectives and craft solutions emerging from an inclusive and thoughtful local discourse. Closing the gaps today will make us more competitive and stronger in the future.
"We want to unite communities across borders and forge lifelong partnerships."
- Adriana Chavela - Founder
Hola Carolina believes that every culture has a history and tradition to honor. This common thread allows us to communicate across cultures in a universal language and understand one another in a different way.
By bringing diverse groups of people together, Hola Carolina nurtures shared learning and understanding – of both the value of individuals and the power of community.
As we look toward the future, it’s imperative that we recognize that each American demographic faces different and unique challenges, it is important that we acknowledge our diverse perspectives and craft solutions emerging from an inclusive and thoughtful local discourse. Closing the gaps today will make us more competitive and stronger in the future.
"We want to unite communities across borders and forge lifelong partnerships."
- Adriana Chavela - Founder
Accolades
2019 Governor Roy Cooper appoints Adriana Chavela to serve on the Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs.
2019 North Carolina First Lady, Kristin Cooper recognizes Hola Carolina for our collaboration with the NC Department of Cultural Resources and the NC Arts Council celebrating the NC Year of Music.
2018 EMMY® Winner - Community/Public Service (PSA) Category
2018 North Carolina Mountain Climber Award
Presented by the Carolina Small Business Development Fund in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
2017 Logro Award (Lifetime Achievement Award) - 17th Annual Hispanic Market Advantage Conference.
2017 WomanUP Celebration - Woman Entrepreneur, Best in Business
2017 Blue Ridge Literacy Council - Guest “Star” Celebrity
2017 Asheville Holiday Parade - Judges Award
2016 Best New Media Business - Minority Enterprise Development Committee
2019 North Carolina First Lady, Kristin Cooper recognizes Hola Carolina for our collaboration with the NC Department of Cultural Resources and the NC Arts Council celebrating the NC Year of Music.
2018 EMMY® Winner - Community/Public Service (PSA) Category
2018 North Carolina Mountain Climber Award
Presented by the Carolina Small Business Development Fund in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
2017 Logro Award (Lifetime Achievement Award) - 17th Annual Hispanic Market Advantage Conference.
2017 WomanUP Celebration - Woman Entrepreneur, Best in Business
2017 Blue Ridge Literacy Council - Guest “Star” Celebrity
2017 Asheville Holiday Parade - Judges Award
2016 Best New Media Business - Minority Enterprise Development Committee
Hola Carolina Code of Ethics
Hola Carolina’s journalists and media makers will operate in a way that supports the organization’s mission – by investigating and reporting untold and underreported stories, and presenting diverse points of view.
Our sincere gratitude to Maria Hinojosa for your words of wisdom and encouragement! As a reporter who was the first Latina in many newsrooms, Hinojosa’s nearly 30-year career as an award-winning journalist includes reporting for PBS, CBS, WNBC, CNN, NPR, and anchoring the Emmy Award winning talk show Maria Hinojosa: One-on-One.
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Thank you to North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper for welcoming Hola Carolina into your home. We are honored to help celebrate 2019 "The Year of Music" and to recognize North Carolina’s influence on America’s most important musical genres and to celebrate, support and sustain the state’s strong music heritage.
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What an amazingly inspiring night! Hola Carolina was honored with the distinguished EMMY® Award by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Community Public Service. Let’s all cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens our community.
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Our thanks and appreciation to Tarana Burke, a social activist, community organizer and founder of the #MeToo movement. For more than 25 years, Tarana has worked at the intersection of racial justice and sexual violence.
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Adriana sharing insights and reflections at Western Carolina University as part of Women Entrepreneurship Week. It's always a pleasure to talk about Empowering Multicultural Communities.
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A very special heartfelt thank you to WLOS News 13 for creating a more diverse and inclusive newsroom, breaking barriers and telling stories that are often left untold.
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Hola Carolina was thrilled to be guests on Speaking of Travel with Marilyn Ball. Be sure to check it out on 570 WWNC and the iHeart Radio App. No Passport Required!
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Honored to receive the Logro Award for lifetime achievement. This award recognizes and celebrates contributions to the Hispanic community.
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Exciting day making the media rounds promoting the “Hola Asheville Celebration.” Thank you WSPA Channel 7 Christine Scarpelli
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Privileged to be a guest speaker at the Western Women's Business Conference. All with the goal of building a diverse, sustainable, and innovation entrepreneurial community in Western North Carolina.
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The Community Foundation of Henderson County helps make dreams a reality. Hola Carolina established a fund for the Future Cultural Arts Center to be professionally managed by the Community Foundation.
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LatinX Connect is a facilitated conversation among Latino leaders and organizations around the region designed to engage with the Carolina’s fastest-growing community.
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Our Board of Directors
Hola Carolina is a registered nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3).
Adriana Chavela
Executive Director For more than a decade, Adriana Chavela has served as diversity consultant to business leaders. Her consulting assignments focus on entrepreneurship, Latinos in America, career advancement, and marketing diversity management. She has appeared on television and radio as a commentator and expert on Latino community and culture.
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Gloria Villanueva
Board Chair Gloria is the founder of Ussyale Uniforms, an International company based in La Paz, B.C.S. Mexico. She was founder and president of the Lions Club of La Paz-Kalimeji and member of Lions Club International since 1998. District head of the B9 Mexico district in 1999. Head of region in 2002, Governance of district B9 in 2014-2015 and currently counselor of the district.
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Cynthia Espinoza
International Programs Director Cynthia is a Tourism and Hospitality Specialist with 15 years of experience in hotel sales and public relations. During her career she has conducted educational and professional development workshops and served on panels and committees for arts organizations. She believes that travel enriches the soul and is passionate about traveling the world and learning about other cultures and traditions
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Irma Gonzalez
Education Director Irma is an expert life coach, human resource specialist, and spearheads curriculum development and new training programs at Hola Community Arts. A graduate of Universidad del Valle de Mexico, she is fluent in three languages - English, Italian and Spanish.
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Melchor Gamez
Community Engagement Director Mel is originally from Morelia Michoacán, Mexico. His unique International studies have led him around the globe. Mel is responsible for ensuring a vibrant and on-going community engagement strategy and activity with all Hola Community Arts stakeholders.
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Sujeil Bergman
Performing Arts Director Sujeil brings a breadth of experience to performing arts management. She specializes in project management, booking, producing and consulting for U.S. and Latin American performing arts and arts organizations. A fluent Spanish speaker, she has worked extensively with Latino artists and communities in the U.S. as well as in Mexico with Mexican contemporary performing artists.
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Micky Salsero
Cultural Arts Director Micky is a choreographer, dance scholar and a performing arts presenter of contemporary and culturally-specific movement language. His vision of social equity, cultural identity and quality arts education for all drives Hola Community Arts programs.
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Vanessa Garcia
Youth Leadership Director Vanessa is the principal liaison to area K-12 schools promoting arts in education and youth activities. Her fresh perspective and vision raises awareness about Hola Community Arts events, programs, and the importance of the arts in the community.
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