MassLive recently asked readers to identify people they consider Black leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference in politics, education, business, the arts or another area of interest.
Profiles of these leaders will be published leading up to the Juneteenth holiday on June 19. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.
Elizabeth CruzSebastian Restrepo
Elizabeth Cruz
Community: Worcester
Her story: Elizabeth Cruz is the president of the Latin American Business Association (LABO), the president and founder of Empowering Latina Leaders Affirmation (ELLA) and a Worcester-area realtor. She has over 20 years of experience in IT software development, project management and business consulting and over 30 years of experience as a realtor, according to Cruz and her Worcester Business Journal (WBJ) profile.
“My work is dedicated to advancing the Latinx community through economic and personal development,” she wrote.
Cruz’s journey to success wasn’t an easy one. While earning a degree in computer science from Central New England College — which closed in 1989, she was the only woman and Latina in her class. She found the lack of peers “challenging,” she wrote.
Soon, Cruz realized that there was a need for more minority role models and mentors. The experience ultimately led her to found ELLA in 2023 after 30 years of “meditating” about the concept, according to her WBJ profile.
ELLA works to empower Latina leaders through mentorship, leadership development and networking opportunities, according to Cruz. It also offers college scholarships to young Latina women who lack the financial means to pay for higher education on their own.
“We address challenges such as imposter syndrome and advocate for increased Latina representation in leadership roles,” she wrote.
LABO has a similar mission of helping Latinx-owned businesses grow and prosper, according to Cruz. The non-profit holds workshops and expos that serve as networking opportunities and offers a variety of professional training programs in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
“The challenges of starting and running a business can be significant, especially with language barriers or limited resources,” she wrote.
ELLA and LABO also offer awards to celebrate the success of the people they empower.
“Both organizations contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive community,” she wrote. “We drive economic growth, support entrepreneurship, and promote personal development, ensuring Latinx individuals have the opportunities and resources needed to thrive and succeed.”
Cruz’s commitment to lifting up the Latinx community and other women is longstanding. She previously served on the board of directors at the Central Massachusetts YWCA and was a vice president with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) of Central Massachusetts, according to her biography on LABO’s website.
Before entering the non-profit world, Cruz worked as a programmer for Tennessee-based Unum Insurance for 15 years, according to her LinkedIn profile. After leaving Unum, she spent over 15 years in project management roles at large companies such as Fidelity Investments and Dell EMC.
Today, Cruz owns and operates two businesses: Cruz Realty Group — a Shrewsbury-based Century 21 real estate group — and Cruz Control Property Management, which manages 26 units in Worcester County, according to her LABO biography. Over the years, she’s helped over 500 families buy, sell, invest and lease properties, she wrote.
Anyone looking to follow in Cruz’s footsteps should work to build relationships that will help further their career, be prepared for unexpected setbacks and use their unique perspective to drive meaningful change, she wrote.
“My journey in IT, real estate, and community leadership has taught me that success often comes from understanding and addressing the specific needs of your community,” she wrote.
Seeking out people whose success you aspire to emulate is also key, Cruz wrote, but being a mentor to others is just as important.
“Sharing your knowledge and experiences helps build a supportive network and promotes growth in others,” she wrote.
In her words: “My professional journey has been driven by a deep commitment to community development and empowerment.”
We’re always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If you’d like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
