Milwaukee Latina

07/31/2026

Wisconsin has its own Little Mexico, and it's been there since the 1920s.

Mexican workers recruited into Milwaukee's tanneries built Walker's Point into what is now the largest concentration of Spanish speakers in the entire state.

Share this with anyone who thinks the Midwest has no Mexican history.

Follow .mexico.eterno for the cities nobody talks about.

Did you know Wisconsin had a Little Mexico?

06/07/2026

Wepa!

Leia Rios Makes History as Miss Wisconsin Teen USA 2026 will participate in Fiesta Puerto Rico Parade

Leia Rios, a student at Brookfield East High School, made history on May 30, 2026, by becoming the first Latina ever to be crowned Miss Wisconsin Teen USA. She will represent her state this August at the national Miss Teen USA competition in Miami, Florida.
Beyond the crown, Rios is a powerhouse youth advocate with an incredible list of achievements:
• Community Service: Completed over 4,000 hours of community service.
• Leadership: Serves as the Executive Director of Generations Against Bullying and is the founder of Journey2Confidence-I, an initiative promoting self-worth and inclusion.
• Award-Winning Impact: In 2021, she became the youngest-ever recipient of the Inspiring Youth Award at the Positively Milwaukee Awards.
• Future Goals: An aspiring immigration attorney passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As a proud representative of her heritage, Rios will also be bringing her historic title to the community as a featured participant in the upcoming Puerto Rican Parade, celebrating her roots and inspiring the next generation of underrepresented youth to lead with confidence.
“I hope to inspire others to believe in themselves, celebrate what makes them unique, and use their voices to create positive change,” said Rios.

05/14/2026

Congratulations to every Latina graduate stepping into her next chapter. You belong in every room your education is helping you enter. 🤎

05/06/2026

I’ve been thinking about how much leadership gets practiced at the kitchen table.

The oldest daughter coordinating everything.

The granddaughter translating what was said — and what was not.

The tía reading the room before anyone says a word.

The woman who remembers the appointments, the stories, the hard conversations, and who needs to be checked on.

No title.
No announcement.
Just showing up.

Before it was called leadership, it was called helping out.

And honestly, maybe that’s why it matters so much.

Leadership is not always a title. Sometimes it is the bridge.

05/02/2026

As commencement season begins, I keep thinking about all of the Latinas walking across stages this month — receiving diplomas, degrees, certificates, and the quiet proof of everything it took to get there.

The late nights.
The family responsibilities.
The self-doubt.
The pride.
The pressure.
The possibility.

And I keep thinking about what comes next.

Because that walk across the stage is not just an ending. It is a beginning.

A beginning of new rooms, new decisions, new leadership, new confidence, and new ways of being seen.

This month, I want to be more intentional about celebrating Latina leadership in Milwaukee — the leadership that shows up in classrooms, workplaces, community spaces, families, and every place where someone is building a path forward.

Some leadership is already visible.

Some is still becoming.

All of it deserves to be named.

To every Latina graduating this season: may you feel proud of what you have already done, and brave enough for what comes next. 🤎