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Immigrating from Mexico to Chicago at 13-years-old, Sarit Rodriguez possesses a determination and drive that has laid the foundation for her successes. Her inspiration comes from her mother. A woman who is the eldest of 14 kids and the mother of three daughters, Sarit’s mom has made countless sacrifices in order to see her girls succeed. Her strength not only went unnoticed, but Sarit has embodied the power of the matriarch within herself along her journey.

While Sarit received her B.S. in Human Health and Physical Therapy it was a long road to get there. As an immigrant in the United States, Sarit remembers how she had to pay three times the amount as other students to receive her education. Working multiple jobs to afford to go to school, she eventually finished her degree and went on to receive a certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and a license in Orthopedic Manual Therapy from Illinois. She worked for over a decade in the sports medicine industry all the while developing her own bodywork technique called SapTherapy TMS™. It’s an effective way to relieve chronic pain and body stiffness. She is now the managing partner at SapTherapy Physical Rehab & Wellness.

An active member in the community advocating for the workforce, Sairt wants others to know that you create your own success from within. With her background in sports medicine, she promotes the idea of functional body health wherever she goes. She preaches that when we nurture a healthy body our mind clears to access an infinite amount of opportunities for success.

Born in Mississippi but raised in Decatur, IL, Rishawn Boone is on a mission to give all of his clients more than they expect. Passionate about community and helping others, Rishawn is a Real Estate Broker who finds his greatest career fulfillments from helping his clients achieve their goals.

He seeks those who aren’t looking for a “regular realtor” because he strives to deliver the unexpected. Rishawn’s success isn’t only measured by the growth of his referral base but he’s also won numerous awards such as “Top 10 Reasl Estate Agent Award” by the American Institute of Real Estate Professionals and the “Best of Zillow Award”, among others.

Outside of work, Rishawn and his wife are fiercely passionate about children. He donates a percentage of every commission check he receives to a scholarship fund that is given away every October to financially stricken college students. Knowing first hand what it’s like to be faced with burdens and obstacles in life, Rishawn wants to teach the younger generation that a rose can grow through concrete. It just takes perseverance and patience.

A South Side native, Diana Gutiérrez is a familiar face to most Chicagoans. As the current morning news reporter and anchor for Chicago’s WCIU ‘The Jam’, Diana welcomes her viewers each weekday morning with a friendly smile and a passion for storytelling. She’s a first generation Mexican-American and college graduate who has achieved so much in the journalism industry, at a young age. Within only two years in the industry, Diana made the jump to the number three market.

Beyond the newsroom, Diana is focused on shedding light on stories that help Latinos and people of color, as well as helping other aspiring journalists through her own experiences. She sets aside time daily to answer questions from viewers in her community. Diana is the Vice-President of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists- Chicago Chapter and an Executive Board member of the Daisie Foundation focusing on children and mothers in impoverished neighborhoods in Chicago. Her journey thus far has been far from easy, but once her dad told her “pudes tirar la toalla o secarte el sudor con ella” (you can either throw in the towel or wipe your sweat with it), she never looked back. More than anything, she wants to teach others that no dream is too big. In fact, she advises people think about their goals and dreams and dare yourself to dream bigger.

Making his home in Chicago by way of Oklahoma and California, Emmanuel Lopez is the current Mid-West Regional Manager for BetterWorld Technology. Through his work, he has been helping businesses and nonprofits nationwide connect and collaborate securely with Voice, Data, and IT solutions. Emmanuel utilizes his passion for networking to create positive outcomes for all the organizations he works with.

His incredibly supportive family had a huge impact on him growing up and helped lay the foundation of the man Emmanuel has grown to become. A stage-four cancer survivor, he gives back his time serving on the Associate Board of the Gateway for Cancer Research helping bring revolutionary medicine to those in stages one and two of various types of cancer. He promotes positivity and kindness wherever he goes because he knows full well how a bright perspective can be a game changer.