CLARIBEL BOCANEGRA; 2022 Top Lideres Awards; SW Florida

What is your Hispanic Heritage:Puerto Rico

What area of Florida do you live in:

Fort Myers, FL

What is your profession: 

Dental Office Manager/Community Leader

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it

Claribel: I am an office manager in Ft Myers Florida with a passion to empower young women.

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it

Claribel: I am an office manager in Ft Myers Florida with a passion to empower young women.

Latin Times Magazine: In your industry, what would you say separates you from your competition

Claribel:  Compassionate care and Transformational Leadership.

Latin Times Magazine:  Why do you feel you were nominated

Claribel:  I am humbled by the nomination.

Latin Times Magazine:  During Covid-19, tell us about your Biggest Challenge/obstacle and how you overcame it/or are overcoming it

Claribel:  As a community leader and the founder of LEAD like a Girl, trying to keep our young women that participate in the program engaged. We were not able to hold in person meeting so we had to re design our program to be held via Zoom. We successfully had over 100 young ladies attend our virtual summit during COVID!

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about your biggest achievement, and how you achieved it

Claribel:  Raise 4 AMAZING children

Latin Times Magazine:  What is next for you? What can people expect to see from you?

Claribel:  To continue to inspire, empower and create safe spaces where we can help young women dream and grow! To support my community through service.

Latin Times Magazine:  What does being a U.S. Citizen mean to you?

Claribel:  It’s an inspiration to continue to fight for equality and the ability to lead by being my brother’s and sister’s keepers. I t means freedom to pursue whatever religion I wish, freedom to exist and thrive regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. It means FREEDOM to exist just as I was created to be.

Latin Times Magazine:  What is your opinion of the state of affairs in our nation? And what role do you see Hispanics/Latinos playing in the future of our nation.

Claribel:  We must continue to raise our voices and fight for equality for all so that everyone has an opportunity to live freely and pursue their dreams. We must vote for policies that create opportunity for all and bring representation to the spaces where decisions are being made.

Latin Times Magazine: What words of encouragement can you offer?

Claribel:  Words are powerful, use them wisely.

Latin Times Magazine:  What is YOUR comida Latina favorita?

Claribel:  El arroz con pollo de mi esposa!