The Kansas Latino Community Network is a nonprofit focused on improving “health equity” by empowering Latinos through civic engagement, leadership development, and coalition building. ¹

The organization was founded in 2023, and hosts an annual Latino Leadership Luncheon. ² The group also organized the All Latinos at the Capitol event held at the Kansas state Capitol in 2025. ³

Background

Kansas Latino Community Network is a nonprofit that says it focuses on improving “health equity” by empowering Latinos through civic engagement, leadership development, and coalition building. ¹

Kansas Latino Community Network provides resources for residents to mobilize voters, and educates people how to register to vote. ⁴

The network’s programs are organized in three categories: civic engagement, leadership development, and coalition building. ⁵

Activities

In July 2023, the Kansas Latino Community Network hosted about 100 Latino leaders from all congressional districts in Kansas for the Latino Leadership Luncheon in Wichita. The event was organized in collaboration with Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, Alce Su Voz, and the Voter Network. ⁶ The 2023 Latino Leadership Luncheon was to launch of the Kansas Latino Community Network’s civic engagement efforts. ²

The network hosted the 2024 Latino Leadership Luncheon in August in Dodge City, with Janeth Vazquez, a member of the city commission for the City of Liberal, Kansas. Vazquez is also the marketing and business development director at Southwest Medical Center. ⁷

In 2024, the Kansas Health Foundation established a long-term partnership with 30 organizations—that includes the Kansas Latino Community Network—to address issues related to racial equity. The initiative was called the “Building Power and Equity Partnership,” and included plans to spend about $30 million over the next 10 years. ⁸

In March 2025, the Kansas Latino Community Network organized the All Latinos At the Capitol day for Latino activists to interact with state legislators at the Capitol. More than 165 Latino leaders attending the event participated in workshops, legislative discussions, and Capitol tours. ³

The organization participated in the “Boots on the Ground Midwest” event in March 2025 sponsored by the left-of-center group Indivisible to “build a yellow brick road for our senators to find their way back to Kansas.” ¹

Leadership

The Kansas Latino Community Network board is made up of co-chair Catalina Velarde and board members Kathleen Alonso, Irene Caudillo, Geovannie Gone, and Nidia Lopez. ⁹

Aude Negrete co-founded the Kansas Latino Community Network in 2023. ¹⁰ She is the network’s executive director. She previously worked on political campaigns, managing field operations, and writing campaigns strategic plans. She was the Kansas state director for a presidential campaign. She also formerly worked for CASA de Maryland. She also worked at El Centro Inc., developing outreach programs, and managing volunteers. Negrete was the executive director of the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission, a role in which she was a liaison between the Hispanic community and the governor’s office. She was also the community partnerships and engagement consultant at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. ¹¹

1.  Glynn, Earl F. “Boots on the Ground Midwest promotes progressive organizing in KC area.” Watchdog Lab. March 17, 2025. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://watchdoglab.substack.com/p/boots-on-the-ground-midwest-promotes
2.  “The Latino community is making itself felt more and more in Kansas.” Planeta Venus. August 4, 2023. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://www.planetavenus.online/post/the-latino-community-is-making-itself-felt-more-and-more-in-kansas
3.  Amaro, Claudia. “Historic Turnout at “All Latinos At the Capitol” Celebrates Latino Leadership and Civic Engagement in Kansas.” Planeta Venus. March 11, 2025. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://www.planetavenus.online/post/historic-turnout-at-all-latinos-at-the-capitol-celebrates-latino-leadership-and-civic-engagement-i
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5. “Our Programs.” Kansas Latino Community Network. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://www.kslatinotable.org/activities
6. Press Release. “Successful Latino Leadership Luncheon Brings Collaboration Among Organizations and Launches Non-Partisan Latino Civic Engagement Programing in Kansas.” Kansas Latino Community Network.  July 19, 2023. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://www.kslatinotable.org/post/successful-latino-leadership-luncheon-brings-collaboration-among-organizations-and-launches-non-par
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8. Svoboda, Trish. “Kansas Health Foundation Launches $30 Million Initiative to Address Racial Equity.” KCLY News. January 23, 2024. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://kclyradio.com/top-stories/kansas-health-foundation-launches-30-million-initiative-to-address-racial-equity/
9. “Our Board.” Kansas Latino Community Network. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://www.kslatinotable.org/activities
10. “Audé Negrete.” LinkedIn. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/aude-negrete/
11. “Our Staff.” Kansas Latino Community Network. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://www.kslatinotable.org/activities