#NBCLATINO20

She’s created characters who look and talk like us — through her fiction, the award-winning author and former slam poet has created endearing and relatable Latinx teens that reflect so many young Americans’ bicultural lives.

The noted Texan author and journalist was a national voice for his city of El Paso after the mass shooter targeted Parker’s fellow Latino residents, or as he called them, his “people.”

One of Broadway’s hottest performers, the “Moulin Rouge” star has broken barriers by starring in a non-Latina role —and already has a Tony award under her belt.

The key to generational progress is building Latino wealth and opportunity, and the Hispanics in Philanthropy president is transforming giving into tangible empowerment.

The award-winning author, educator and public historian has focused her research on the history of anti-Mexican and anti-Hispanic violence, shedding much-needed perspective to the roots of racial injustice.

This young Chicana is empowering our nation’s youth by heading a national network giving groups the tools to mobilize and build the political power of young voters.

Climate change and sea level rises are impacting our communities, and Hernandez Hammer uses research and advocacy as a strong voice for action.

She provides legal help for the most vulnerable — as director of the American Bar Association’s Immigration Justice Project (IJP) in San Diego, Mason is at the helm of providing free legal representation to immigrants in need, including asylum seekers.

When his community needed it the most, he opened the doors. The pastor of St. Anne Catholic Church in Carthage, Mississippi turned his church into a much-needed hub for families seeking resources and answers following one of the nation’s largest workplace immigration stings.

When Perez saw the growth of Latino families in her city of Long Island, New York, the community advocate created a network of services, from transportation to bilingual hotlines, that have helped lift and empower her neighbors.

Latino progress and accessible and affordable higher education go hand in hand, and this has been the mission of the recently named Chancellor of The City University of New York (CUNY), the nation’s largest urban public university system.

Latino families can’t thrive without affordable housing. As CEO of the Florida Community Loan Fund, Esteban helps finance housing development projects with the aim of keeping them within the reach of lower-income families.

He credits his upbringing in a large Mexican-American family in California for his ability to connect people. At the helm of one of the world’s largest airlines, the United Airlines CEO has introduced inclusive policies that celebrate diversity.

This Philadelphia Mexican restaurant owner is a James Beard award-nominated chef who’s been featured in Netflix’s “Chef’s Table” —but she’s also a voice for immigrants like her who cook and run so many of our country’s restaurants.

She’s modeled for Prada and Chanel and is one of modeling’s elite stars, yet this fashion icon proudly wears her Afro and reflects our rich Afro-Caribbean heritage.

The right to vote, be counted and not be discriminated is fought in the courts, including the Supreme Court, and the president of the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) has been a crucial legal voice for Latinos.

Facts matter, and the work of this Princeton-trained economist, who heads demographic research for Pew Research Center is the gold standard for information on U.S. Hispanics.

Latino representation matters, and this young actress’s portrayal of a fiercely intelligent Latina techie is a powerful and entertaining role model.

He’s an international celebrity who used his fame to help spearhead the largest (yet peaceful) protest in Puerto Rico’s modern history and is a fierce advocate for LGBTQ and children’s rights.

The scientist, educator and current dean at Florida International University has dedicated his career to an ongoing public health issue — lead exposure and its effects on children’s health and learning.