CELEBRATING LATINA LEADERS INTERVIEWS – March 2025
Lucy Richardson, Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County
To celebrate Latina leaders this month, we reached out to Latina business owners and nonprofit leaders to ask about challenges, inspirations, and their perspective on what is ahead.
Lucy Richardson came to the United States in 1998 and has been the Executive Director of Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County since 2011. Before this role, Lucy held several positions in manufacturing and became the Hispanic liaison for Hiawatha Valley Adult Basic Education, further solidifying her commitment to community service.
What has been your biggest challenge in being an Executive Director? How have you overcome this?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as an Executive Director is balancing the community’s growing needs with limited resources. The demand for services is always increasing, yet securing sustainable funding to expand our impact is an ongoing struggle. I’ve worked to overcome this by strengthening relationships with funders, advocating for the importance of our work, and seeking innovative partnerships that help us do more with what we have. Additionally, surrounding myself with a dedicated team and community mentors has been crucial in ensuring we continue serving and empowering the community.
Who/what inspires you?
I am inspired daily by the resilience of our Hispanic community. Despite challenges, families continue to push forward, work hard, and strive for a better future. I see this in the students in our Youth & Family Program, the parents who show up for workshops and advocacy efforts, and the leaders who step up to support their neighbors. Their strength fuels my passion to continue this work.
What excites you most about the work your organization is doing?
What excites me most is seeing the impact of our work in strengthening social connections and empowering our community through programs like Meet.Learn.Share (MLS) and our Youth & Family Program. We are not only providing essential resources but also creating spaces where Hispanic families feel seen, valued, and supported. Watching students gain confidence, parents become more engaged, and community partnerships grow is incredible. I genuinely believe that we are making lasting change by fostering these connections.this month, we reached out to Latina
