Apoka, FL – Hope Community Center celebra la elección de su director ejecutivo, Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, a la Cámara de Representantes de la Florida. Felipe ganó el Distrito 42 con el 62.4 % de los votos, según los resultados no oficiales de la noche electoral.
Con esta victoria, la Florida Central tendrá un campeón defensor de sus comunidades en Tallahassee, cuya trayectoria personal y décadas de activismo están estrechamente vinculadas a las comunidades a las que sirve Hope.
“Estamos inmensamente orgullosos de Felipe y muy emocionados por esta victoria”, expresó Meilyn Santana, Chief of Staff de Hope Community Center. “Este triunfo representa muchísimo para las comunidades inmigrantes, LGBTQ+ y otros sectores históricamente excluidos a los que servimos en todo el Centro de la Florida. La elección de Felipe envía un mensaje poderoso: tenemos un lugar en estos espacios, nuestras voces importan y es posible convertir nuestras esperanzas en realidad. Nos enorgullece verlo dar este próximo paso como un firme defensor de nuestras comunidades en Tallahassee, y esperamos que su trayectoria inspire a otras personas a asumir posiciones de liderazgo, hacer oír sus voces y generar cambios significativos”.
Nacido en Río de Janeiro, Brasil, Felipe emigró a la Florida a los 14 años. Sus experiencias como inmigrante y persona LGBTQ+ marcaron su compromiso con la igualdad, la educación y las oportunidades. En 2010, contribuyó a dar visibilidad a nivel nacional a los desafíos que enfrentan los jóvenes inmigrantes mediante Trail of Dreams, una caminata de 1,500 millas desde Miami hasta Washington, D. C. Durante casi dos décadas, ha ocupado puestos de liderazgo en organizaciones como United We Dream y GetEQUAL, y también trabajó en la Oficina de Asuntos Multiculturales de la Ciudad de Orlando.
Como director ejecutivo de Hope Community Center, Felipe dirige un equipo de más de 30 empleados y supervisa programas que atienden a comunidades inmigrantes y marginadas en toda la Florida Central.
Se espera que Felipe regrese a Hope Community Center durante la semana de Acción de Gracias, a partir del 23 de noviembre, antes de asumir sus nuevas responsabilidades en Tallahassee.
Hope Community Center Celebrates the Election of Its Executive Director, Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, to the Florida House of Representatives
Apopka, FL – Hope Community Center celebrates the election of its executive director, Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, to the Florida House of Representatives. Felipe won District 42 with 62.4% of the vote, according to unofficial election-night results.
With this victory, Central Florida will have a champion for its communities in Tallahassee—someone whose personal journey and decades of activism are deeply rooted in the very communities that Hope serves.
“We are immensely proud of Felipe and thrilled by this victory,” said Meilyn Santana, Chief of Staff at Hope Community Center. “This win means so much to the immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as other historically excluded groups that we serve throughout Central Florida. Felipe’s election sends a powerful message: we have a place in these spaces, our voices matter, and it is possible to turn our hopes into reality. We are proud to see him take this next step as a steadfast advocate for our communities in Tallahassee, and we hope his journey inspires others to step into leadership roles, make their voices heard, and drive meaningful change.”
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Felipe immigrated to Florida at the age of 14. His experiences as an immigrant and an LGBTQ+ individual shaped his commitment to equality, education, and opportunity. In 2010, he helped bring national attention to the challenges faced by immigrant youth through the “Trail of Dreams”—a 1,500-mile walk from Miami to Washington, D.C. Over the past two decades, he has held leadership positions in organizations such as United We Dream and GetEQUAL, and he also served in the City of Orlando’s Office of Multicultural Affairs. As executive director of Hope Community Center, Felipe leads a team of more than 30 employees and oversees programs that serve immigrant and marginalized communities throughout Central Florida.
Felipe is expected to return to Hope Community Center during the week of Thanksgiving, starting November 23, before taking on his new responsibilities in Tallahassee.