The LinkingLeaders Partnership is a coalition strengthening solidarity for racial justice and equity through a cross-racial, cross-cultural partnership in the Twin Cities. Bringing together more than 5,500 leaders in the region’s Black, Asian, Latine, and Indigenous communities, LinkingLeaders seeks to identify strategies and best practice models to create connections and strengthen ties amongst leaders of color.
Made up of the Tiwahe Foundation, African American Leadership Forum, Coalition of Asian-American Leaders, and LatinoLEAD, the network approaches the practice of solidarity through a lens of leadership development, movement building, and network weaving. The Mortenson Family Foundation has supported this initiative since 2022.
To get a better understanding of how these groups approach solidarity, we spoke with LatinoLEAD’s Irma Márquez Trapero and Brenda Sanchez. Márquez Trapero is the organization’s CEO and Sanchez is the Director of Leadership Programs.
This partner story is part of a four-part series featuring the LinkingLeaders Partnership. This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.
When a crisis hits—whether that’s political, social, environmental, or something else—what does solidarity look like in practice? Can you share moments where you’ve had to show up for others, or when others have shown up for you?
Márquez Trapero & Sanchez: The ability to listen with open arms and an open heart is the beginning of understanding. Thus, when a crisis hits, being able to listen to what nuestra familia (our family) is experiencing is the first step.
Solidarity means showing up beyond statements—it means mobilizing resources, creating culturally responsive spaces for healing and organizing, and using our platforms to amplify voices that are often silenced. Whether that’s marching for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives, supporting Black entrepreneurs, or advocating for undocumented communities during moments of political attack, we show up rooted in shared liberation.
Looking back on the work you’ve done together, what are some key lessons or realizations you’ve had? How has this journey shaped the way you think about collaboration, community, or even yourselves?
Márquez Trapero & Sanchez: One of our biggest realizations is that collaboration grounded in cultural values—like familia, respeto, and compromiso—is transformational. We’ve learned that collaboration isn’t just about projects or partnerships, it’s about building trust over time, embracing vulnerability, and recognizing that leadership looks different across communities. This journey has taught us to move at the speed of trust. It reminded us that we don’t need to have all the answers, but we do need to be present, accountable, and willing to grow together. After all, we are modeling this to our communities.
How do you show up for each other, not just as individuals but in support of the different communities or movements you’re each connected to? What does mutual support look like across different identities, geographies, or struggles?
Márquez Trapero & Sanchez: Showing up means embracing our interconnectedness and intersectionalities. While we center Latine leadership, we are part of a larger ecosystem of justice. Mutual support means understanding that the liberation of one community is tied to the liberation of all. We collaborate with Black, Indigenous, AAPI, and immigrant-led movements—sharing resources, holding space, and celebrating each other’s wins. Across identities and geographies, support looks like co-creating space, uplifting each other’s stories, and holding institutions accountable together. It also means checking in, not just during a crisis, but consistently, because care is a political act.
What’s been the most challenging part of this work so far—and what’s been the most energizing or exciting? Are there any moments that stand out as turning points, victories, or big learning curves?
Márquez Trapero & Sanchez: One of the most challenging aspects of this work is navigating systems that weren’t built for us and how the same systems impact us similarly, but also in different ways. Whether it’s accessing equitable funding, disrupting tokenism, or addressing anti-Blackness and colorism within our own communities, the work requires courage and continuous reflection.
Yet, the most energizing moments come when we witness the power of our people stepping into leadership unapologetically. A turning point for us was realizing that we don’t need to ask for permission to lead—we lead from where we are, rooted in our cultura and in comunidad. That’s where our strength lies.
