Nonotuck Hosts Mass Rep. Gonzalez

Nonotuck’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee recently kicked off Latinx Heritage month with a special guest speaker, Representative Carlos Gonzalez.

Gonzalez—a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives since January 2015—spoke to Nonotuck about the Hispanic community’s rich cultural diversity, how much we all actually have in common, the importance of education, why his heroes are the people who raised him, and more.

About Representative Gonzalez

Carlos Gonzalez is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. A resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, he was elected as a Democrat to represent the 10th Hampden district and was sworn into office in January 2015.

Carlos Gonzalez was the founder of the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce, where he serves as President/ CEO. During the last ten years MALCC has assisted 2000 members start or grow their business. Mr. Gonzalez is also the President/CEO of Nueva Esperanza, hired in 2012 he reorganized the financially strapped agency and reestablished the organization as a powerful community champion of the poor. From 1996 to 2004 Carlos Gonzalez served as the first Hispanic Aide to the Mayor in Springfield, MA and in 1999 Mr. Gonzalez was promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff.

Prior to his work in politics Carlos Gonzalez ran his own small business “Hispanic Marketing Services” where he published a Bilingual Newspaper, and produced and directed a daily Spanish language music and news television program for ETN ethnic television network. He also worked as General Manager to build and manage WSPR 1270AM Spanish Radio Station, and was nominated by BillBoard Magazine and Radio Musica as one of top five best programming directors in the small Spanish language radio station category.

Prior to 1993 Carlos was a social worker for the Massachusetts Department of Social Services. He is married and a father of five children.