Who are We?  ¿Quiénes Somos?

Jen Maria (Leal) Harris, a fourth-generation Mexican American with roots in Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and San Luis Potosí, she is a co-founder of DULUTH Unidos and has been an active advocate for BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ and historically undervalued communities in the Twin Ports since moving to Duluth in 2020. Born on a Nebraska Air Force base to a Mexican-American U.S. Air Force veteran and a mother of Swedish and German heritage, Jen’s challenging upbringing shaped her path toward community advocacy and public service. After graduating from community college in Omaha with a 3.94 GPA and recognition for her work on Latin American history and diplomacy, she became involved in numerous civic efforts in Duluth, including the League of Women Voters DEI Committee, the Duluth Community Garden Program, the Interfaith Committee on Migrant Justice, and Twin Ports Rapid Response. She has served as Vice Chair of the City of Duluth Community Development Committee (2022–2024) and the Duluth Human Rights Commission (2024–2026), and recently received a scholarship through the American Mexican Association leadership program while participating in Duluth Unidos. Professionally, Jen works in the finance department at the College of St. Scholastica, and in her free time she enjoys writing, listening to heavy metal, and spending time with her husband Chris, with whom she will soon celebrate 26 years together—often searching for agates along the shores of Lake Superior.

Luis Islas is a nonprofit leader, community advocate, co-founder of DULUTH Unidos, and fundraiser dedicated to expanding opportunity for marginalized communities. Born in Morgan Hill, California, and raised in a proud Wixárika and Mexican-American family with roots in Nayarit and Michoacán, Mexico, Luis’ commitment to service is deeply personal, shaped by his experiences with homelessness and food insecurity growing up. As the first in his family to pursue higher education, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Pre-Law, and History and a Master’s degree in Business Leadership from William Penn University. His career has focused on mobilizing philanthropy and strengthening community institutions through leadership roles with organizations such as the American Red Cross of Idaho, Montana, and Eastern Oregon; Montana State University; One Valley Community Foundation; and the ACLU of Montana, and he currently serves as Senior Development Officer for the Swenson College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Luis has also served as the Latinx Community Liaison for the City of Bozeman, Montana, State Vice Chair of the Idaho Latino Caucus, and currently serves as Chair of the Duluth Human Rights Commission. A recognized community leader, he has been named one of Idaho’s Rising Leaders, an Idaho Accomplished 40 Under 40 recipient, one of Southwest Montana’s 20 Under 40, and was recently selected for the Minnesota Young American Leaders Program. Luis was an inaugural TEDxMSU speaker and keynote speaker for Montana State University’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, “Salsa, Soul, and Leadership.” He is also the founder of Raíces Rising Consulting, a mission-driven fundraising consultancy that helps nonprofits strengthen their impact.

Melisa Gomez-Romo is a community advocate and organizer based in Duluth, Minnesota and a co-founder of DULUTH Unidos. Melisa is the daughter of working-class parents who fled the civil war in El Salvador, she brings a deep understanding of resilience and community to her work. Melisa advocates for displaced and unhoused families while working within local systems to improve housing stability and access to services. She has also managed political campaigns ranging from City Council to State Representative, helping amplify the voices of working families in Northern Minnesota.

Pablo is a community advocate, co-founder of DULUTH Unidos, and housing leader in Duluth, Minnesota, working to improve access to housing and essential resources for underserved communities. Pablo's work is shaped by his lived experience with poverty and homelessness, which drives his commitment to building more equitable systems. He serves as the project manager for street Wise, an initiative that brings the voices of people experiencing homelessness, incarceration, and addiction into policy conversations to improve services and accountability. He also collaborates with the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness (MICH) as an implementation consultant, helping bridge the gap between state policy and the real experiences of people navigating housing instability. In Duluth, he works with One Roof Community Housing and Common Ground Construction supporting affordable housing initiatives. Pablo also serves on the St. Louis County Heading Home Advisory Council and participates in the Lived Experience Council, which works closely with the Stepping On Up initiative to ensure that people with lived experience help shape solutions to homelessness. As a bilingual Latino leader, he is committed to connecting migrant and underserved families with resources and strengthening our community.