About Us

The Hispanic Roundtable (HRT) is a nonprofit, totally volunteer community organization that works to ensure that the needs and perspectives of the Hispanic community are known and addressed.

HRT’s principal activity has been a community convention held every three years where the entirety of the Hispanic community is invited and involved. Every Hispanic organization is asked to identify its top agenda items. From that, a community agenda is developed and resolutions related thereto are passed. Between conventions, HRT assists in implementing the agenda, through its influence, advocacy, relationships, and leadership.

Our History

HRT was founded by a group of civic-minded Hispanic leaders (Jose Feliciano, Adrian Maldonado, and Judge José Villanueva). Its members include, and have involved, leaders from business, politics, including elected and appointed public officials, nonprofit organizations, and civic organizations. All are volunteers. That volunteer tradition continues today, where all activities and programs are created, led, and implemented by volunteers.

The methodology used to serve and empower the community includes forums, seminars, training sessions, community meetings, and community-wide conventions.

HRT’s principal activity has been a community convention held every three years where the entirety of the Hispanic community is invited and involved, including every Hispanic organization in the Greater Cleveland area. The entire Hispanic community is invited to suggest and identify issues. Every Hispanic organization is asked to identify its top agenda items. The agenda is developed, and resolutions related thereto are passed. Between conventions, HRT assists in implementing the agenda through its influence, advocacy, relationships, and leadership.

The Hispanic Roundtable was founded by a group of civic-minded Hispanic leaders, Jose Feliciano, Adrian Maldonado, and Judge Jose Villanueva, to advocate, empower and serve the Hispanic community.  The first community-wide forum was conducted by the Hispanic Forum, which was the predecessor entity to HRT, where it identified community concerns and passed resolutions related thereto. The earliest volunteers involved included Jose Pena, Sister Alicia Alvarado, Lorraine Vega, Ken Wiley, and Father Domingo of San Juan Bautista, who were advocates bringing visibility to the community and advocating for representation of community members in policy development and decision-making forums. 

Vision

The Hispanic Roundtable is a civic, volunteer organization of Hispanic leaders whose vision is to inspire the Hispanic community to become full partners in the economic, educational, political, civic, and social life of Greater Cleveland/NorthEast Ohio. 

Mission

Our mission is to act as a catalyst and advocate for the Hispanic community in E3: empowerment, education, and economic development. We do agenda setting and institution building. 

Our core value is to serve and empower the Hispanic community with integrity.

Our guiding principle is: If not you, then who? If not now, then when?

Meet Our Leadership Team »