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Jolt Announces Departure of Interim Executive Director Diana Maldonado

AUSTIN – Jolt, the leading Latino voter registration organization in Texas, today announced the departure of Diana Maldonado, who has served as Interim Executive Director for the past two years. Maldonado’s tenure has been marked by steadfast leadership, strategic organizational restructuring, and remarkable growth in voter registration efforts. Her last day with the organization will be November 30th.

Maldonado initially stepped into the role in an interim capacity, and with her deep seeded  influence in politics  and relationships across the state, set the stage to elevate Jolt’s impact. With her extended tenure, she expanded its network of supporters and funders and had a profound influence. Under her leadership, Jolt successfully negotiated its first Collective Bargaining Agreement and unionized its workforce, enhancing the organization’s commitment to its values of equity and justice. She provided deposition testimony for SB1(77R) on voter suppression, a group plaintiff represented by MALDEF.  With Latinos now making up over 40% of the majority ethnic group in the state, Jolt  has steadily increased its outreach to eligible young Latino voters by facilitating access to  new voters.  

“Being part of Jolt’s legacy project—empowering Latino voices and emphasizing the importance of informed voting—has been a privilege and honor in paying it forward to the next generation,” said Maldonado. “I have enjoyed the opportunities and challenges that are part of democracy and have cherished every moment spent with such a talented team. I am filled with excitement about the new opportunities that lie ahead for my professional endeavors and Jolt. I leave knowing Jolt is stronger and more prepared for the future than ever.”

The Board of Directors will lead the search for a permanent Executive Director, ensuring continuity as Jolt approaches the new year. In the interim, Jolt remains committed to its mission of empowering Latinos across Texas, setting records in voter registration and leading grassroots initiatives for political engagement.

“Diana has been an invaluable leader during her time at Jolt,” said Anthony Elmo, Jolt Initiative’s Board Chair. “Her leadership has strengthened the organization and built a lasting foundation that will continue to grow and empower Texas Latinos. 

For more information, please contact media@jolttx.com, 512-200-2878.

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ABOUT JOLT INITIATIVE

Jolt Initiative is a non-profit organization that increases the civic participation of Latinos in Texas to build a stronger democracy and ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.  Learn more at joltinitiative.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, October 16. 2024

CONTACT: Bloom Communications, media@jolttx.org, (512) 200-2878

Jolt Initiative to hold statewide Latina Leadership virtual event

Young Latina leadership virtual training across the state Sat. July 29


Austin, TX – Jolt Initiative gears up for the nonprofit organization’s Arriba Las Mujeres
Leadership Program to offer free virtual training events for participating young Latinas on
Saturday, July 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and wraps up with an in-person Networking
Session in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio on Saturday, August 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Jolt
offices. Jolt Initiative invests in empowering women to harness their creativity and
motivational skills to become powerful leaders in their communities.
“In one year, Texas’ Latino population will not only be the largest underrepresented group
by numbers, but also in its ability to influence jobs sectors in the largest metropolitan
communities,” said Diana Maldonado, Interim Executive Director at Jolt Initiative. “And
Latina women are at the forefront of that change with more of them graduating with
associate degrees from community colleges and baccalaureate degrees in high-demand
fields such as manufacturing, technology, nursing, and biosciences. At our events, we want
our young Latinas to network with each other and build the confidence needed to be
prepared for negotiating job salaries and take on board and leadership roles that will
shape the future of our state.”
The virtual professional development and leadership program is open to young Latina
women and people who self-identify as women, preferably between 16-26 years old, in our
major Texas cities. The goal for Arriba Las Mujeres is to give young women the opportunity
to engage with the five core issues of Jolt Initiative’s advocacy: Democracy for all,
immigration, jobs/economy, healthcare, and climate issues.
“At the end of the program, all participants will have the opportunity to meet and network
with influential Latina leaders across the state that are working directly on issues
impacting the Latino community,” said Maria Tolentino, Director of Programs at Jolt
Initiative.
Interested young Latina adults can sign up for each of the free training events online
before July 27 at joltinitiative.org/arriba-las-mujeres/. Sessions will be held virtually.

To arrange an interview about this event, contact the Communications Team at
antonio@jolttx.org.

Jolt Initiative receives grant from Latina Giving Circle

Hispanic 100 Latina Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation distributes grants to North Texas nonprofits

DALLAS, November 30, 2021 – The Hispanic 100 (H100) Latina Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation awarded a record $150,000 in grants to 29 North Texas area nonprofits serving the needs of Latina women and girls in low- and moderate-income communities. Jolt Initiative has received a $3,000 grant from the H100 Latina Giving Circle.  

The H100 Latina Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation was established in 2019 by the Hispanic 100 Network to further engage Latinas in philanthropy, and to expand resources for local organizations whose mission is to empower, educate and support Latinas across North Texas.

“It is an honor to be awarded this grant alongside other organizations that are doing the work of empowering Latinas,” said Jolt Initiative Executive Director Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia. “We are very thankful to the Latina Giving Circle for recognizing everything Jolt has been able to accomplish. This grant will help us continue to engage young Latinas with our democratic process and give the next generation of Latina leaders the opportunity to become advocates for their communities.” 

Silvana Rosero, H100 President said, “The grants recipients’ tenacity and hard work will have a long lasting impact. Their success stories continue to inspire not just H100 members, but the Hispanic community at large. They have shown resilience, creativity and compassion for their fellow women. Hispanic 100 members and leadership remain committed to supporting addressing social issues and making a difference.”

Cris Zertuche Wong, H100 Latina Giving Circle Co-Chair, added, “We are grateful to our donors whose generosity made it possible to award these grants that will be used to provide programs and services to Latinas and families during such a trying time. Today, 41% of the population in Dallas-Fort Worth is Hispanic, and the needs have grown.* These nonprofit organizations are on the frontlines of helping the most vulnerable, and we want to support their efforts to make life better for them.”

Roslyn Dawson Thompson, Texas Women’s Foundation president and CEO, said, “We applaud the H100 Latina Giving Circle for setting a high fundraising goal and achieving it in order to support these outstanding nonprofits that are meeting the needs of Latinas in North Texas.”

Jolt Initiative is accepting donations to fund future grassroots efforts, leadership programs, and build a stronger democracy for all Latinos. For more information about Jolt Initiative or how you can support its community efforts, please visit JoltInitiative.org.

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About Jolt Initiative:

Founded in 2016, Jolt Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that increases the civic participation of Latinos to build a stronger democracy and ensure that everyone’s voice is heard. Jolt knows that our democracy works best when everyone gets a seat at the table. That’s why Jolt builds the leadership capacity of young Latinos to increase their civic participation and mobilize their peers to action. To learn more, visit joltinitiative.org.

About Texas Women’s Foundation:

Texas Women’s Foundation is Transforming Texas for Women and Girls, empowering them to build stronger, more equitable communities. One of the world’s largest women’s foundations, the Foundation raises funding from a broad base of donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations. These resources support more than $10 million in investments that advance economic security and leadership for Texas women and girls through groundbreaking research, advocacy, grants and programs. Since inception in 1985, the Foundation has invested $67 million in women and girls, including $53 million since 2011. The Foundation’s statewide research on issues affecting women and girls provides decision-makers and lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs in the state. Its advocacy, grantmaking and innovative programs support solutions that help Texas women and girls thrive. In addition, Texas Women’s Foundation is an acknowledged leader and advocate in the gender lens investing movement and has deployed 100 percent of its assets – endowments, operating investments and donor-advised funds – in a gendered impact portfolio that yields strong financial returns and social benefits to women and girls.

About Hispanic 100:

Founded in 1996, the Hispanic 100 Network is an organization of trailblazing Latina leaders in North Texas whose contributions have shaped, influenced and transformed how Latinas are viewed in business, education, arts, health, public service and community leadership. The Hispanic 100 is a highly diverse network of Latinas with a 25-year history whose value proposition as a collective group is the strength of their experiences, their reach and their capacity to influence change. For more information, visit www.dfwhispanic100.org. 

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