Join us for a panel discussion about LAUP’s history and achievements, its present mission, and its future with current and past LAUP change makers: Yadah V. Ramirez, LAUP Programs Director; Rev. Benito Aguilera, LAUP Interim Director; Martin Veliz, LAUP Board Vice President; and Alfredo Gonzales, LAUP founding member.

Watch the recorded program now!

This program was live on Thursday, August 26
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Free, virtual, adult program; donations encouraged.
Registration is required on Eventbrite. A Zoom link will be emailed to you to join the program.

This is a United for Progress: The LAUP Story Exhibition Program
and Holland Museum Cultural Lens program

More information about LAUP. Follow LAUP on Facebook.

Speaker Biographies

Yadah V. Ramirez | LAUP Programs Director

Yadah V. Ramirez (she/her) is the Programs Director for Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP) where she is primarily responsible for the curriculum development and supervision of adult and youth education programs. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN). Yadah’s dedication and appreciation for nonprofits stems from her experience as a former participant in LAUP’s youth programs and former youth representative for the Alliance of Cultural and Ethnic Harmony (ACEH) and Destination Education. She additionally serves on the Board of ACEH and the Community Rotaract Club of Holland/Zeeland.

Rev. Benito Aguilera | LAUP Interim Director

Rev. Benito Aguilera (he/him), a California native, earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern College in Iowa and then moved to West Michigan to earn his master’s degree from Western Theological Seminary. In 2017 he planted The Boulevard (BLVD) Church on the south side of Holland on 15th Street where he serves as Lead Pastor. He joined the board of directors at LAUP in December 2018 and has been instrumental in helping the organization execute its mission to empower Latinos in our community. Ben is very passionate about raising up the next generation of Latino leaders and he is committed to working with LAUP to create opportunities that allow youth in our community to thrive.

Martin Veliz | LAUP Board Vice President

Born in Mission, Texas, Martin Veliz (he/him) was raised in an environment that instilled perseverance and dedication with his family traveling north each year to work on farms in West Michigan. He attended Holland Public Schools through 12th grade, graduating from Holland High, where he met his high school sweetheart, Megan.  After graduation he attended South Texas Community College. Martin has spent most of his career in banking where he has excelled in the retail division as a personal banker, assistant branch manager and ultimately branch manager.  He now works for Huntington Bank as a Business Banking Client Manager where he partners with various relationship managers throughout West Michigan to serve the financial needs of local businesses with annual sales of $2-20MM. He has served on the Junior Achievement Associate Leadership board since 2016 where he volunteers his time and resources to educate youth from grades 2 through 12 on the importance of financial literacy.  He joined LAUP’s board in 2018 where he currently serves on the executive committee as Treasurer and Chair of the Events committee.

Alfredo Gonzales | LAUP Founding Member

Alfredo Gonzales (he/him) retired from Hope College in 2016 as Associate Provost and Dean for International and Multicultural Education. He was instrumental in advising the college’s Black Student Union and in establishing the Latino Student Organization. He is a past chair of the City of Holland’s International Relations Commission, the Michigan Commission for Spanish Speaking Affairs and Latin Americans United for Progress, and a founding member of the Tulipanes Latino Art and Film Festival. The Great Lakes Colleges Association honored him in 2009 as a founding member of its Committee on Institutional Commitment to Educational Equity. In 1998, he received the “Michigan Outstanding Hispanic of the Year” “Honorable Mention” award from the Michigan Educational Opportunity Fund, Inc.

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