Blog
Fuerza Latina: Ashly Estevez
As part of our Fuerza Latina series, Latinas Represent is proud to showcase the powerful stories of Latinas who are making a difference in public service. These stories highlight the impactful work being done at all levels of public service by Latina leaders across the country. We believe storytelling is essential to inspiring action and fostering change. Each month, we’ll share a new story to amplify the voices of those shaping the future of our communities. It’s time to tell our stories and make our presence known.
Ashly Estevez
Founder of Movimiento Tricolor
Ashly Estevez is the founder of Movimiento Tricolor (MTC), a nonprofit dedicated to engaging and empowering Dominican and at-large communities in civic life through culture, education, economic development and civic engagement.
As an undocumented immigrant who has worked in Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration, Ashly brings a unique perspective on how power, policy, and institutions shape communities. She is passionate about creating pathways for youth and first-generation Latinos to step into leadership roles, navigate systems, and amplify their voices.
Through MTC, she develops programs that meet communities where they are leveraging both formal institutions and informal spaces while using culture as the entry point to civic engagement. Ashly’s work bridges lived experience with strategic impact, inspiring young people to engage in public service, understand systemic barriers, and transform their communities from the inside out.
What inspired you to pursue a career in public service, and what has been the most rewarding part of your journey so far?
Growing up undocumented in Camden, New Jersey, I became aware at a very young age that access to education, safety, and opportunity, was not accidental. It was decided. My early experiences were shaped by institutions and decision-makers determining what my family and community were allowed to have-often without our voices at the table. That reality sparked a deep curiosity that still guides my leadership today.
My first instinct was always to ask why something worked the way it did. The second question quickly followed: who decides this? And eventually, the most important question became: how do I intervene and help close that gap?
Those questions led me to public service. I began volunteering independently with local organizations and entrepreneurs who were committed to giving back, learning how community-based solutions could exist alongside-yet often in spite of- formal institutions. That work expanded into leadership roles in student government and later into serving on boards and committees where real decisions were being made.
The most rewarding part of my journey has been moving from observing systems to actively shaping them. Whether through founding Movimiento Tricolor or serving in Congress and in the Biden-Harris Administration, I have witnessed the impact of placing lived experience at the center of leadership.
Where does your fuerza (strength) come from? As a Latina, are there specific cultural values, family influences, or personal experiences that have shaped your leadership approach?
My strength comes from my foundation: my family. I grew up in a home where community was not defined by material wealth or connections, but by who shows up when it matters most. I watched my parents and relatives step in to help neighbors, support friends, and care for extended family-even when life threw challenges their way.
From an early age, I learned that achieving your goals is not just for yourself, it’s about lifting others along the way. My family also taught me that no dream is too small, even when others don’t fully understand it. That unconditional support instilled a sense of self-worth that is independent of approval or credentials-a groundedness that I carry into every room, even when I feel uncertain or out of place.
This fuerza shapes how I lead: I approach public service with empathy, prioritize collective progress, and stay grounded in the belief that true leadership is about creating space for others to rise alongside you.
What advice would you give to another Latina who is considering a career in public service?
When you start asking yourself whether doors are closed or opportunities are harder to access because you are a woman-or specifically because you are a Latina- you may feel discouraged. I want you to know the answer is often neither of those things. The barriers we perceive are often reflections of how others see themselves, their insecurities, and the structures they’ve accepted as “normal.”
My advice is to stop measuring yourself in someone else’s mirror. Trust that your experiences, your voice, and your perspective are not just valid-they are necessary. Public service needs leaders who understand lived realities, who can hold empathy alongside strategy, and who are willing to challenge systems that were not built for everyone.
How do you stay connected to the communities you serve, and what advice would you give to others about fostering meaningful connections?
At Movimiento Tricolor, we approach engagement through culture as the entry point, using music, storytelling, and shared community traditions to connect with people where they are. It’s a deliberate method to make leadership and civic participation accessible, relevant, and meaningful, particularly for those who have historically been excluded from decision-making spaces. We guide communities to engage both within formal and informal spaces, leveraging grassroots networks to amplify impact, and ensure our programming is available in both English and Spanish to maximize accessibility.
This approach reflects a core principle of my leadership philosophy: communities already possess the knowledge, creativity, and tools to succeed; we just need to create spaces that amplify their voices. By meeting communities where they are and intentionally building pathways for influence, we help people move from feeling invisible to actively shaping the policies and institutions that impact their lives.
For aspiring leaders, my advice is to approach engagement with strategy, intentionality, and humility. Build trust, center lived experience as expertise, and design spaces where others can lead alongside you.
What is your vision for the future of Latina leadership in public service?
I envision a future where Latina leadership is intersectional, borderless, and multigenerational, where Spanish and English speakers of all ages have a seat at the table, and where lived experience, professional knowledge, and civic passion are equally valued. I want young people who may feel invisible in systems to see that their voices matter and that leadership is not defined by a title, degree, or legal status; it’s defined by engagement, courage, and commitment to community.
Rapid Fire Questions
Favorite podcast?
Glow up podcast – So grounded and reaffirming
What’s one Spanish dicho (saying) you live by?
“Cree y vencerás.”
What is your power color or accessory?
Royal Blue