Cecy Toro Completes NALCAB's Pete García Fellowship

Working Solutions is proud to announce that Business Development Manager Cecy Toro has successfully completed the 2025 Pete García Fellowship through the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB).

The Pete García Fellowship is a nationally recognized leadership program that develops the next generation of Latino leaders committed to advancing equitable economic and community development. Over the past year, Cecy joined 19 other fellows from across the country in intensive training, peer learning, and strategic collaboration designed to expand their capacity for impact within the community development field.

Throughout 2025, the cohort participated in leadership training in Puerto Rico, Chicago, and San Antonio, and led discussions at NALCAB's 2025 National Conference in Nashville.

Through the fellowship, Cecy deepened her expertise in bilingual and culturally responsive lending, technical assistance, and equitable small business development. She continues to integrate these insights into her leadership role at Working Solutions.

A highlight of the fellowship is the Community Development Project—an initiative where each fellow identifies and develops an impactful project to implement within their organization. With guidance from mentors and peers, fellows refine their ideas throughout the year, culminating in final presentations and peer scoring at the closing convening. Cecy’s community project—IMPULSO, a bilingual financial literacy and capacity-building hub—is designed to empower Latino entrepreneurs across California. This initiative reflects both her personal commitment and Working Solutions' organizational dedication to expanding access and equity in the small business ecosystem.

"This fellowship reminded me that leadership is not about position, but about service," said Cecy. "It's about showing up for our communities with humility, cultural understanding, and a commitment to build pathways for others to thrive."

We are excited to see how Cecy will draw on her NALCAB experience to continue building pathways that empower Latino entrepreneurs throughout California.