Latinas con Fuerza - Presented by Brooks - Sold Out!
A huge thank you to our incredible vendors, speakers, and sponsors for helping make National Latina Day: Voces Poderosas y Creativas officially SOLD OUT! We’re especially grateful to all our sponsors and our Presenting Sponsor, Brooks, for helping make this celebration possible.
We can’t wait to see everyone on August 20th!
A Legacy of Advocacy & Impact
For over 40 years, the South Texas Business Partnership (formerly the South Texas Chamber of Commerce) has driven growth and opportunity in our region. Our mission is to:
- Ensure South Texas employers have access to a skilled, qualified workforce
- Champion infrastructure and development that fuels economic growth
- Promote a thriving, inclusive environment for residents and businesses in South San Antonio and beyond
Introducing Our Panelists!
Paulina Chávez - Actress
Special Guest
Paulina Chávez is making waves as one of the breakout stars of “Landman,” the hit Paramount+ series created by Taylor Sheridan’s 101 Studios. Starring alongside heavyweights like Billy Bob Thornton, Andy Garcia, and Demi Moore, Paulina shines as Ariana Medina. Her layered performance has earned praise for its emotional depth and authenticity, marking a powerful next chapter in the rise of this formidable young talent.
A proud Mexican-American born in El Paso and raised in San Antonio, Paulina began performing in local theater at just seven years old. She quickly moved from community stages to national screens, gaining early recognition in Netflix’s “The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia” where she made history as the first Latina lead in a multi-camera Netflix comedy. She later starred as fan-favorite ‘Flora’ in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” On the big screen, Paulina recently captivated audiences again in Disney+’s 2025 feature “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip” opposite Texas-native Eva Longoria and Cheech Marin.
Her feature film work includes the award-winning theatrical release of “The Long Game” (Mucho Mas Media) in 2023, starring native Texan Dennis Quaid, based on a Del Rio-based 1950s era true story. This critically acclaimed film’s production and festival success, premiering at SXSW, made a cultural and cinematic impact, with Paulina’s performance as Daniela Torres solidifying Chávez’s presence on the big screen. Her additional credits include voicing characters in “The Casagrandes Movie” (Nickelodeon) as well as appearances in short films and regional television.
Beyond the screen, Paulina Chávez was also a former mariachi member at the San Antonio Mariachi Academy, with deep musical roots inspired by artists like Juan Gabriel, Shakira, Selena Quintanilla and Shana Twain. She remains proudly connected to her heritage and hometown of San Antonio, often speaking about the role her South Texas upbringing has played in shaping her values and career. Off-camera, Paulina Chávez is a passionate advocate for the Latinx community. She currently serves as Board Member for Poderistas® a nonprofit organization built to celebrate Latina culture and harness our community. In addition, she founded the “Be Your Own Kind of Genius” scholarship to uplift and inspire graduating high school seniors from San Antonio and surrounding areas.
Laurie Ann Guerrero - Literary Artist
Poet, essayist, and visual artist, Laurie Ann Guerrero was born and raised in the Southside of San Antonio and is the author of REDWORK, winner of the 2025 Autumn House Poetry Award, forthcoming in October 2026. Poet Laureate of San Antonio (2014-16) and Texas (2016-2017), her award-winning collections, along with a volume of new & selected poems, include Babies under the Skin (Panhandler 2008), A Tongue in the Mouth of the Dying (University of Notre Dame Press 2013), A Crown for Gumecindo (Aztlan Libre Press 2015), and I Have Eaten the Rattlesnake: New & Selected Poems (TCU Press 2021). Guerrero holds degrees from Smith College and Drew University.
She is an Associate Professor and the Writer-in-Residence at Texas A&M University-San Antonio where she teaches writing, gender, and cultural studies and is currently at work on a novel.
Shelly Lares - Musician
Shelly Lares is a pioneering force in Tejano music, widely respected as a singer, songwriter, producer, and industry leader whose influence spans more than four decades. Known for her powerful vocals, artistic vision, and unwavering commitment to the culture, Shelly has helped shape the sound and direction of Tejano and Regional Mexican music while continuing to elevate the next generation of artists.
A 3-time Grammy and Latin Grammy nominee, Shelly has recorded and produced over 25 albums and earned numerous BMI-recognized hits throughout her career. Her work reflects a deep connection to her roots, blending tradition with innovation and delivering music that resonates across generations. As a performer, she has toured extensively across the United States, Mexico, Japan, Korea and Guam, building a loyal fan base and leaving a lasting impact on audiences everywhere she goes.
In 2022 Shelly retired after 40 years as a full time touring artist and is now the CEO and owner of ShellShock Records 3. A full-service recording studio and label dedicated to artist development and high-quality production. Through her company, she provides a wide range of services including songwriting, recording, mixing, mastering, radio distribution, marketing, and branding. Her mission is clear: “Legacy building one artist at a time.” Known for her hands-on approach, Shelly mentors emerging talent, helping artists find their voice and navigate the music industry with professionalism and purpose. She’s composing music for films and television and her remake of “These Boots Are Made for walkin” appeared in the film “Say a little prayer” staring Luis Fonsi. She was also featured on the series LEGUIZAMO DOES AMERICA with John Leguizamo in 2025 highlighting her career.
She has since received several lifetime achievement awards and most recently the Legacy Award from the Human Rights Campaign for her work and representation in her LGBTQ+ community. Creative Arts Award from WIFT the Women in film and television, inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame as well as the nationally recognized Corazon de Oro Award 2025 from SAAHJ. San Antonio Association of Hispanic journalists.
Shelly also serves as the first Artist in Residence at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) School of Music, where she leads “Sonido Tejano,” the university’s first official Tejano Ensemble. Through her vision of this groundbreaking program, she brings Tejano music into an academic setting, preserving its cultural significance while inspiring students through live performance and education.
In addition to her work in music and education, Shelly is deeply committed to her community. As a Music Activity Coordinator for Harmony Hospice Care, she uses the healing power of music to bring comfort, joy, and connection to patients and their families—demonstrating her belief that music is not only an art form, but a source of hope and healing.
Whether in the studio, on stage, in the classroom, or serving her community, Shelly Lares continues to lead with passion, faith, and purpose—leaving a legacy that goes far beyond music.
She dedicates her life to GOD, FAMILY and INTEGRITY.
Olivia Ortiz - Visual Artist
Olivia Ortiz (b. 1984, San Antonio, TX) is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice includes painting, installation, sculpture, and community0based projects. Her work explores the body as both subject and landscape, drawing on themes of identity, memory, gender, labor, and transformation. Through layered surfaces and organic forms, she considers the ways personal histories become embedded in our bodies and the places we inhabit.
Before becoming a full-time artist, Ortiz taught English and Special Education for nearly a decade. The classroom profoundly shaped her approach to making art, reinforcing the belief that creativity is rooted in observation, inquiry and dialogue. Education remains central to help practice, informing, the ways she developes exhibitions, collaborates with artists, and creates spaces that invite participation rather than passive viewing.
Raised in San Antonio. Ortiz credits her grandmother’s creativity, resilience, and leadership as the earliest influence on her life and work. She continures to draw inspiration from South Texas, wehre the region’s layered histories, cultures, and landscapes inform both her artisitc practice and her commitment to community.
Ortiz works alongside her husband and longtime collaborator, Cruz Ortiz, on projects that bridge contemporary art, design, publishing, and public engagement. Together they have developed creative initiatices that support artists while contributing to San Antonio’s cultural landscape.
In 2025, the couple founded Casa Pink, an artist-led third space that brings together Casa Pink, La Pinky Gallery, and Studio Coffee. Conceived as a place where art meets coffee and conversation, Casa Pink blurs the boundaries between artist led gallery, artist studios, and a neighborhood gathering place. The project reflects Ortiz’s belief that art should be woven into everyday life and that creative spaces thrive when they are welcoming, accessible, and rooted in community.
For Ortiz, building spaces for artists is inseperable from making art itself. Whether through exhibitions, mentorship, or community partnerships, she approaches cultural work as an opportunity to create lasting relationships between artists and the public.
Ortiz lives and works in San Antonio, Texas.
Bernadette Peña - Photographer
Bernadette Peña is an artist, cultural worker, and creative entrepreneur from San Antonio, Texas. Her passion for visual arts and storytelling is reflected in her unique ability to capture the essence of culture, stories, and people through her artworks and educational programming. Peña is the Owner and Creative Director of Miella Media, dedicated to promoting cultural identity and literacy through its media properties, the Nuestra Gente: A Tribute to Hispanic Innovators and Dreamers™, Brava: A Celebration of Women™, cultural arts festival Vivan Los Niños™, and cultural arts education program, Nuestra Gente: Mi Futuro™. Peña’s works are exhibited at colleges, universities, primary and secondary schools, corporations, and youth organizations, and are featured in various publications.
Before beginning her career as an artist and cultural place maker, Peña worked in the banking and finance industry for over 18 years as a Vice President of Investment Services for Frost Bank’s Brokerage Services department. There, she managed operations and compliance for federal and state broker-dealer regulations. Peña then ventured into the national production arena as an event producer with Unico Communications. In this role, she co-produced premier Latino events alongside influential leaders and well-known figures, which showcased her natural leadership and planning skills.
A community leader and advocate, Peña creatively collaborates with cultural arts organizations, youth organizations, disability organizations, and civic organizations focused on equitable programming for underserved and underinvested communities. Peña serves as a board member for the Mayor’s Commission on Voting, City of San Antonio Mission TIRZ, Hispanas Unidas, and KLRN Television. She is a member of NALAC, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas. She has served on the executive board of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber and was Co-Chair for the SAHCC Census Committee and COSA appointee. She was also a board member for Eva’s Heroes, the Epilepsy Foundation of
Central and South Texas, and is a member of the 45th class of the Leadership San Antonio program.
In recognition of her contributions to cultural arts and community, Peña is a 2026 inductee of the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame, recipient of the Corazón de Cultura by the San Antonio Area Association for Bilingual Education of Texas, nominee for the Latina Style Entrepreneur of the Year, and honored with the Estrella de Tejas Award by the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas. Currently, her installation of San Antonio Stories is on display as a part of Centro San Antonio’s Art Everywhere Program. Additionally, she has permanent exhibitions located at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, Roosevelt Elementary, and STAAMP Allergy medical center.
Peña empowers voices across communities, inviting all to embrace and celebrate the story that lives within.
