Spotlight on LEDC's Board President, Laura Contreras
At the Latino Economic Development Council (LEDC), women are shaping the future of our organization and our community. Their leadership is rooted in lived experience, deep commitment, and a belief in the power of Latino families to build lasting prosperity. This month, we are proud to highlight one of the women guiding our mission forward: LEDC Board President Laura Contreras, M.P.A.
Laura's story begins in Schuyler, Nebraska, where she was raised as the daughter of Mexican immigrants who came to the state in the late 1980s to work in the meatpacking industry. Nebraska shaped her early years, but Omaha is where she has built her home and career over the last thirteen years. Laura carries her family’s journey with her, grounding her leadership in humility, purpose, and community pride.A former Goodrich Scholar, Laura earned degrees in Psychology and Public Administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha. She began her career in special education and social services supporting children and families as they navigated complex systems. These early roles made clear how often Latino voices were missing from decisions that shaped the programs intended to serve them. At Lutheran Family Services, Laura stepped into systems-level work. She managed a family engagement program in North and South Omaha, helped launch a Migrant Support Services program providing free mental health care to new arrivals, and supported the statewide distribution of CARES Act assistance during the pandemic. Today, Laura Contreras, M.P.A. serves as Senior Program Manager at the Omaha Community Foundation, overseeing investments in mental health, youth development, and community stability. Her work connects donors to real community needs and strengthens the infrastructure that makes programs effective. She brings this same systems lens to LEDC’s board leadership.
What experiences shaped your path toward leadership and inspired you to serve in a governance role at LEDC?
My leadership path has been shaped by the gaps I kept seeing in representation, access, and the way systems can either support or fail our communities. I started my career in social services, where Latino perspectives were often missing from the decisions that shaped programs meant to serve us. Our needs were sometimes overlooked or treated as an afterthought, and that pushed me to get involved in shaping the work. Over time, I learned that my strength is in building the “invisible” infrastructure that makes programs effective and sustainable. At Lutheran Family Services, that meant helping bring to life a program that provided free mental health services for recently arrived immigrants. In my current role at the Omaha Community Foundation, it means stewarding major community investments that support mental health, youth development, and other initiatives that touch thousands of lives across the metro. Serving in a governance role at LEDC is a natural extension of that work. My goal has always been to support the conditions for long-term community wealth and stability, and LEDC gives me the opportunity to help strengthen the systems that allow Latino families to thrive.
What does it mean to you to be a Latina in a leadership role within economic development and civic decision-making spaces?
To me, being a Latina in these spaces is both a responsibility and an opportunity. I carry my family’s story with me. Growing up in a rural meatpacking town, watching my parents work hard without always having access to information, networks, or influence, this experience shapes the way I show up. Being a Latina leader means I’m intentional about bringing lived experience, cultural understanding, and community perspective into rooms where those voices haven’t always been present. I also bring my background in nonprofit program management and philanthropy, which helps me understand how decisions are made, how funding flows, and what structures are needed to support long-term economic opportunity. I see my role as strengthening institutions like LEDC, ensuring our community’s needs aren’t an afterthought, and opening pathways for future Latina leaders to step into these spaces.
What advice would you give to young Latina leaders who want to step into roles of influence in their communities?
My biggest advice is to trust yourself. You didn’t land where you are by accident. You’re there because you’re competent, intelligent, and capable. A lot of us often feel we have to wait until we feel fully qualified before stepping into something new. But the truth is, you already have the resilience and ability to navigate different worlds that make you a strong leader. Don’t talk yourself out of opportunities just because they feel unfamiliar. Leadership is about showing up, asking questions, and learning as you go. Also, surround yourself with people who see your potential and push you to grow. Seek out mentorship and peers who will remind you of your strengths when you forget them. And stay connected to your community and your values because they will keep you grounded and guide your decisions in the moments that matter. At the end of the day, trust that you belong in the rooms you step into.
What are your hopes for LEDC as it continues to grow its influence locally, regionally, and nationally?
I hope LEDC continues evolving into a strong, stable institution that drives Latino economic mobility, not just in Omaha but across Nebraska. We are still in a start-up phase as an organization, which means we are building the foundation that everything else will stand on. My vision is for LEDC to be a go-to resource for entrepreneurs, a trusted partner for other organizations, and a place where Latino leaders see themselves reflected and supported. I want us to set the standard for what Latino-led economic development looks like. Ultimately, I hope the entire community benefits for generations from the work we are building today.
