Why Sí Puedes Was Founded

Hola, I’m María Eugenia — a Latina social entrepreneur and founder of Sí Puedes, with a deep conviction that every person carries the potential to flourish.

I believe in empowerment over dependency, dignity over victimization, and personal development that helps Latinos facing barriers create change from the inside out.

How We Got Here

After nearly two decades of working with programs and organizations serving Latino communities, I began to see something clearly: despite their hard work and resilience, many Latinos were still struggling to move forward.

They did not simply need temporary assistance. They needed tools to create lasting change from within.

I became convinced that personal development was not a luxury — it was essential to building confidence, self-reliance, and a new path forward.

In 2018, that conviction led me to take a leap of faith and launch VisiónYes, the work that later became Sí Puedes. It has been a long journey of study, service, persistence, and hope — but also the fulfillment of a dream: helping Latinos facing barriers recognize their worth, discover their potential, and begin building the life they deserve.

Seeing that transformation in the lives of participants has made every step worth it.

From VisiónYes to Sí Puedes

This work began as VisiónYes, a social enterprise created to help Latinos discover their potential and believe in themselves again.

As our signature program, Sí Puedes, grew and touched lives across different communities, something beautiful happened: the name Sí Puedes became the heart of the work. People connected not only with the program, but with the message itself: Yes, you can.

So today, we are embracing that name fully.

Sí Puedes, Inc. continues the same mission with a renewed identity — now as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, creating greater opportunities to expand this work and reach more Latino families and communities.

Where My Conviction Began

Growing up in poverty, I heard messages that many people facing barriers know too well: “College is not for the poor,” or “You can’t, because you are poor.”

But thankfully, I was surrounded by people like my grandparents, who constantly reminded me of my worth and dignity as a human being. They taught me that I could accomplish anything if I was willing to work for it — with purpose and faith. And they were right!

That experience shaped me from an early age. I decided I would work hard, pursue the education I needed, and build a different future for myself. I also knew that someday I wanted to give back to my community.

That is what I have been doing for the last two decades.

The Key to “Yes, It Is Possible”

Why do I believe this so deeply?

Because I believe we all carry talents that can help us move toward our dreams. Sometimes what we need is someone to help us see what is possible, understand what is holding us back, and take the next step forward.

That is what Sí Puedes represents for me: a key that helps unlock the “yes, it is possible” in Latinos who face barriers.

I created Sí Puedes to help others discover their worth and potential so they can thrive. After years of study in psychology, nonprofit management, and business administration — and decades of service with Latino communities — I knew it was time to bring those tools together in a way that could create lasting change.

The lessons I use in Sí Puedes are rooted in that education and shaped by real community work. Through simple, actionable tools, the program helps participants recognize their strengths, understand what may be holding them back, and begin building a better life for themselves and their families.

A Purpose Bigger Than the Obstacles

As an immigrant who arrived in the U.S. as an adult, I know what it means to start over — learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, looking for work, and continuing my education. It was not easy, but those challenges became fuel for a purpose bigger than the obstacles.

Before creating Sí Puedes, I spent five years at UnidosUS, formerly NCLR, and more than a decade as Vice President at the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA), working to promote the well-being of Hispanic older adults and their families. That work deepened my commitment to our community and helped me see, again and again, the need for tools that build confidence, dignity, and long-term change.

During my graduate studies in psychology, I took a sabbatical from NHCOA to develop the research project that would eventually become Sí Puedes. The more I explored personal development as a tool for success, the more convinced I became that change starts within the person — and that helping Latinos recognize their potential was one of the most sustainable ways to serve.

For me, this work has never been about reaching a numbers goal. It is about helping participants understand what may be holding them back, strengthen their confidence, and take steps toward the stability they and their families deserve.

My hope is that Sí Puedes can be an instrument of change for Latinos who feel stuck — helping them unleash their talents and build a better future with dignity and hope.

A Journey Worth Joining

My goal is simple: to help others recognize their worth, trust their capacity, and take the next step for themselves.

I am still inspired by my grandparents, who gave me determination and taught me to love God, neighbor, and self. Their generosity — giving even when they had so little — continues to guide me every day. I am also blessed with a husband whose quiet, selfless support behind the scenes has helped make this work possible.

Sí Puedes carries that same spirit forward: helping Latinos facing barriers see what is possible within themselves, trust their capacity, and feel empowered to pursue opportunities and build the lives they deserve.

I invite you to be part of this journey. Together, we can help bring inside-out change to more Latino families.

Help Bring Inside-Out Change to More Latino Families

With your support, Sí Puedes can expand culturally relevant personal development coaching in Spanish and prepare trusted Community Coaches to bring these tools to more communities.

Why Sí Puedes Was Founded

The Key to “Yes, It Is Possible”

Help Bring Inside-Out Change to More Latino Families

With your support, Sí Puedes can expand culturally relevant personal development coaching in Spanish and prepare trusted Community Coaches to bring these tools to more communities.

© 2026 Sí Puedes Inc.

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