The Women Behind Latinicida: Zedekiah Maldonado and Amanda Coger
Latinicida was founded by two incredibly talented Latinas, Katarina Wabrek and Andrea Moreno, Esq with the mission of advancing Latinas through academic assistance, leadership development, and civic engagement. From the start, they had a vision of building a non-profit made by Latinas for Latinas, which is exactly what they did with a team of women of Latina descent. The national organization provides mentorship, networking opportunities, and even scholarships to assist those who do not have access to resources. Keep reading more below to learn about the Director of Operations, Zedekiah Maldonado, and Treasurer, Amanda Coger.
Amanda Coger
Amanda joined Latinicida in 202
0 when now co-found, Andrea, approached her regarding a non-profit she and her college best friend Kat had started. “Andrea and I met and connected a few years before doing volunteer work in our own respective fields,” Amanda noted before they started the Latinicida adventure together. When Andrea came to Amanda with the opportunity to help be a part of starting LTN, it was hard to resist.
Amanda noted that as a young Latina in the Financial Industry, specifically in leadership or management roles, “women who look like me are very few and far between,” and continued to state that “I was lucky enough to find mentors along my journey who saw my potential and believed in me.” Although many of them looked nothing like her and had very different backgrounds, it was still guidance that others may not have had adequate access to. Amanda’s situation was unique from most, as she became a teen mom at 16 and was able to finish high school and move on to college. With very few role models in her positions, it was hard to imagine succeeding. That in itself was scary.
“My two daughters are a constant reminder to me of how far I have come and how important seeing women who look like us, being independent and successful is. Representation absolutely matters.”
- Amanda Coger
Zedekiah Maldonado
Zedekiah is the daughter of first-generation Puerto Rican parents and was raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. Zedekiah earned her Bachelor of Science in International Business with a concentration in Global Supply Chain Management from Bryant University and is currently pursuing her MBA.
As Director of Operations, she got involved with Latinicida because Latin women, specifically, need more initiatives that support making a difference in their lives. She believes that this support includes “educational forums, guidance, and empowerment.” Zedekiah states that she, “found out about Latinicida through my mentor. When she saw a position to join the team, she encouraged me to apply.” Support like Zedekiah and Amanda both received on their journeys to Latinicida is one of the main motivators behind LTN.
“I feel like Latinas are often sold short of their potential. We have a strong emphasis on the role women play solely as mothers and caretakers in our culture. We let them forget that there is much more out there for them than just that. But they have to be exposed to it and ultimately, that is my goal for LTN.”
- Zedekiah Maldonado
