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Vivian Huelgo
President and CEO
Esperanza United · St. Paul, MN
Vivian Huelgo has been promoted to President and CEO of Esperanza United, an organization that mobilizes Latinas and Latin@ communities to end gender-based violence. A first-generation Columbian American, Huelgo has worked as an attorney at the intersection of law and gender-based violence for over 20 years.
Most recently, Huelgo served as Chief Programs Officer of Esperanza United. In 2022, she joined the Esperanza staff after serving on its Policy Advisory Council as part of her work at the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence. At the ABA, she worked intensively on human rights, domestic and sexual violence, and human trafficking initiatives for more than a decade.
Esperanza United was established in 1982 by a group of Latina activists who recognized the need for emergency shelter services for Latin@s experiencing domestic violence to address the barriers to access posed by mainstream domestic violence organizations. Its work continues to be grounded in community strengths and wisdom, as it serves Latin@s locally and nationwide. The organization’s programming leads to greater safety, enhanced community connectedness, and increased advocacy for Latin@ communities. In 2011, it became the federally designated resource center for preventing gender-based violence in Latin@ communities and now works nationwide as well as locally to help ensure Latin@ survivors get well-resourced, culturally-responsive, and trauma-informed services.