The National Dominican Women's Caucus (NDWC) invites you to attend our third Latina Leaders' Summit in New York City during the 2025 Women's History Month.

Join us to hear the words spoken by trailblazing women from the United States and Latin America; spend your time at this unique event learning from these powerful women about topics such as: reproductive, biological and mental health, education, and housing.

The Rosalba Polanco Award
Dominican Women Making an Impact on Our Community
- 2025 Honorees -

Katharine Pichardo-Erskine is a trailblazer who
has melded political organizing expertise and
executive leadership to become a widely
recognized change-maker in the governmental,
political, and civic arena. As president and CEO of
Latino Victory, she takes charge of a mission
perfectly suited to her 25 years of experience as a
successful leader and passionate advocate:
building political power within the Latino
community and ensuring that Latino voices are
included in the nation’s policy and fiscal agenda.

Empowering Latinos, and all underrepresented communities, have always been at
the center of Katharine’s adult life and career. From her start as a civic education
organizer at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
(NALEO) Educational Fund, to her time as chief of staff and other senior-level
positions in government, Katharine has been at the forefront of advancing our
communities. She has fought publicly for common-sense immigration reform,
universal access to healthcare, a good quality education for all children, economic
policies that create upward mobility for all, and fair and equal representation at all
levels of government.

Most recently, Katharine served as Executive Director of Latino Victory. Previous to
that, she served as Senior Vice President at the MirRam Group, a top-tier New
York-based strategic consulting firm where she has managed some of the firm’s
most prominent portfolios. Specifically, lobbying, government and community
relations on behalf of corporate, labor and non-profit clients. Between 2018 and 2022,
Katharine also led the firm’s political arm, as President of the Hamilton Campaign
Network (HCN). In this role, Katharine worked with stakeholders around the country
to engage Latinos in the political process, provide a roadmap for voter participation
efforts during the 2020 Presidential campaign, and support down-ballot races in 10
strategically important states.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Katharine is a proud product of New York City
public schools and Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY).
Perhaps there is no greater demonstration of her executive leadership and political
acumen than her role in various successful high-profile and history-making
campaigns, including the election of Adriano Espaillat as the first
Dominican-American in Congress. She also helped to elect Letitia James, the first
woman and person of color to be elected Attorney General of New York, and Eric
Gonzalez, the first Latino District Attorney in the Northeast.

Today, Katharine is a sought-after strategist. She has appeared on various “power
lists,” including City and State New York’s top political consultants list. She is also a
regular political commentator on Telemundo as well as other media outlets in
English and Spanish.

Nathalie Tejada is a visionary leader, connector, and changemaker dedicated to building sustainable institutions that drive meaningful impact. As the founder and President of Generating Results LLC, she has played a pivotal role in helping nonprofits in underinvested communities secure the resources needed to thrive. With over 15 years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit development, she has successfully secured millions in funding through corporate partnerships, foundation grants, individual donors, and government support. Nathalie has held leadership positions at esteemed institutions such as Albert Einstein College of Medicine & Montefiore Health System, Astor Services for Children & Families, The City College of New York, the Dominican Women’s Development Center, and the National Kidney Foundation.

Beyond philanthropy, Nathalie is the founder and Co-Executive Director of NYC Celebrates Women, a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying the businesses of women of color entrepreneurs to close the generational wealth gap. Under her leadership, the organization has hosted five successful conferences and events, equipping women with the tools, resources, and networks to grow their businesses. Her passion for community building was inspired by her grandmother, Genoveva Mejia—the first philanthropist and entrepreneur she knew—who uplifted others in the Dominican Republic and helped create opportunities for her family in the United States.

Nathalie’s influence extends beyond fundraising; she has served on various boards and advisory committees committed to advancing social equity, including the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation and the John Jay University Alumni Association. She is also part of the host committee for the Sadie Nash Leadership Project. Nathalie holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Latin American Studies and a master’s degree in Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. As a dynamic leader and bridge-builder, she remains committed to fostering innovation, equity, and lasting change in communities that need it most.

Claudia Mendoza is the founder of the Mami Chula Social Club, an intergenerational community organization based in New York City. Established in 2018, the club aims to provide women with tools to live joyfully, confidently, and purposefully at every stage of their lives.

Growing up in Washington Heights, New York, Claudia observed that local social clubs were predominantly male-oriented. This observation inspired her to create a space exclusively for women from her community, leading to the inception of the Mami Chula Social Club.

Within a year of its founding, the club attracted over 1,500 members, known as "Chulas." The organization offers a variety of events, including networking mixers, expert panels, personal development workshops, social impact initiatives, volunteer opportunities, financial literacy sessions, fitness and wellness classes, and curated trips. The Club has proudly spearheaded impactful fundraising initiatives, raising over $50,000 to support a diverse range of causes dedicated to uplifting women and girls of color in New York City and beyond. Through strategic partnerships, community-driven events, and advocacy efforts, Claudia and the Mami Chula Social Club continue to create lasting change, empowering women with resources, opportunities, and a strong support network

Claudia's efforts have been recognized in prominent media outlets, such as The New York Times, CBS, Refinery29, among others. Additionally, the club collaborated on an international Dove campaign in 2020 titled #ShowUs which aimed to create a more inclusive representation of beauty in media and advertising. The Club also participated in Getty Images' Nosotros Project, working with photographer Evelyn Martinez to create a new collection of images representative of all Latinos.

Through the Mami Chula Social Club, Claudia Mendoza continues to foster a vibrant community that bridges generational gaps and empowers women from diverse backgrounds.

Claudia is a proud CUNY alumna, having earned her degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a double major in Political Science and Latin American Studies.

Angela “Angy” Abreu is executive director of the Dominican Writers Association (DWA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying and promoting the works of Dominican authors in the United States. As executive director of DWA, Angy is committed to supporting emerging writers who aspire to publish their work, whether through traditional or independent means, by providing tools, resources, and opportunities for the continuous development of their craft. Her vision is to integrate these writers into the Dominican literary canon, enriching the narrative, visibility, and representation of the Dominican diaspora within the global literary landscape.