Meet the Latino Leadership Council

In an effort to engage, enrich, and excel the sprawling Latino community of Patchogue, the Latino Leadership Council was formed within the Patchogue Chamber of Commerce by intrepid leader, Javier Kinghorn.

Already a central figure in the Patchogue business and arts world, Kinghorn wanted to pay homage and grow the visibility of the Latino community, who make up over 30 percent of Patchogue’s population.

“The Latino community’s contribution is a powerhouse—culturally and economically speaking—and they deserve the recognition by our leaders,” said Kinghorn.

His impetus to start the LLC was to incorporate Latino-inspired initiatives, business ventures, and arts events into the larger Patchogue community.

During one of Long Island Advance's interviews with Kinghorn at the popular coffee shop The Bean, he quipped, “You know someone is Latino when they’re having coffee on a hot summer day.”

Kinghorn’s vision to unite and strengthen the Latino community is based in the amalgamation of Long Island and Latino culture.

In choosing his fellow members of the LLC, Kinghorn was determined to find “those that carried themselves with a high standard and brand the committee with dignity and respect.”

The key elements were individuals who exhibited passion, engagement, and commitment to the growth and development of the Latino community, as well as the integration of the Latino and non-Latino cultures.

“Every person has a distinct talent, with different abilities that we pool collectively to bring the best out of the LLC,” said Kinghorn.

Wanting to show that the Latino community is not monolithic, Kinghorn assembled a pan-Latin committee, with members hailing from Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, and an honorary Italian.

JODI-ANN GIAMBRONE

Jodi-Ann Giambrone, currently the associate director of the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, is a co-founder of the LLC and is an honoree for the biggest event the LLC will put on in 2021: the third annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Sept. 17.

“I am Latino at heart,” said Giambrone, who is of Italian descent.

This past year, Giambrone has had her own personal struggle with breast cancer, undergoing a double mastectomy in the spring.

But this has not stopped her commitment to the LLC, and she has continued to help with the planning of the Hispanic Heritage Celebration, working to make it more inclusive for non-Spanish speakers.

Last year, Giambrone sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the commencement of the second annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration in the lobby of the Patchogue Theatre.

JOSE HERNANDEZ

Serving as head of adult services at the full-service Patchogue-Medford Library on Main Street, Hernandez has spent his entire career in the industry, with the past eight years at Patchogue.

The library has a long and continuing outreach program with the Latino community that Hernandez has been steadfast in maintaining.

“Throughout the pandemic, we have been translating materials and news on public health and safety for the Latino community in Patchogue, who have had trouble getting news on COVID-19 because there is little Spanish reporting in Suffolk County,” said Hernandez.

During the pandemic, Hernandez and his staff called homebound patrons, including Latino members of the community, every couple of days, just to provide basic social interaction.

Madres Latinas is a group that meets regularly at the library to organize and discuss school policies, and has about 30 to 40 attendees at each meeting.

Immigration attorneys from Catholic Charities come over 50 times a year to facilitate legal work.

“At the library, there is a huge cross-section of people and the library is a trusted space,” said Hernandez. “We look to create civic engagement, and now as part of the LLC, we can continue that work with the Latino community of Patchogue.”

PABLO RODRIGUEZ

The founder of Cavalry Engineering in Patchogue, Rodriguez has been providing a much-needed service for Latino business owners and homeowners.

“Communication is the key to any project,” said Rodriguez, “More than 50 percent of our clients are Latino, and being able to explain the process comprehensively in their first language is critical to building a relationship.”

While projects (including schools, office buildings, restaurants, and residential work) span Brooklyn to East Hampton, the majority of Rodriguez’s clients are based in Brookhaven.

Staying abreast of Suffolk County’s ever-changing regulations is one of Rodriguez’s standout qualities that he provides to his clients.

“My role in the LLC is supportive; we take our direction from our leader, Javier,” said Rodriguez, who has been put in charge of the guest list for the Hispanic Heritage Festival in September.

MELISSA BONILLA

Representing as Miss Patchogue for the Miss New York contest in late August, Bonilla’s family has long-standing roots in the community.

Bonilla’s father opened Bravo Supermarket in Patchogue nearly 20 years ago, and he was honored at last year’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration.

The path to beauty queen, albeit an obvious one for anybody who has seen how gorgeous Bonilla is, was not an easy one for her.

“Growing up, there was always this feeling that if you were El Salvadoran, you could never be as pretty as someone Colombian or Venezuelan, because they were the dominant faces in the Latino community to represent beauty,” said Bonilla.

Wanting to be an example of a strong woman for young girls in her community, especially those who were El Salvadoran, Bonilla made it a goal to be a representative, particularly in the pageant world, where she made her debut in Miss New York Teen U.S.A.

“Growing up, I never saw El Salvadoran women on stage, and now that I have become more prominent, I get messages from young girls who say, ‘You’re inspiring,’ ” said Bonilla.

In previous interviews for the Miss New York pageant, Bonilla has had local Latino business Beib Beauty, based in Patchogue, do her makeup.

Joining the LLC, Bonilla hopes to continue to be a voice for Latina women and business owners.

EMILY ALVARADO

Co-owner of the well-reviewed El Matador restaurant with her father, Alvarado hoped to dazzle Latino and non-Latinos alike with their traditional Spanish fare when they opened in January 2018.

Running the front of the house while her father cooks up the delectable dishes, Alvarado has said, “I’m definitely more extroverted and excel in social situations.”

Wanting to prove that Spanish food was more than just “rice and beans,” El Matador has high-end but fun-filled tastings, with creative sauces and sautés.

One such tasting involved a whole spectrum of sangrias and a curious dish involving stuffed green beans that brought one lifelong green-bean hater to love the humble vegetable.

During the early pandemic, when the restaurant had to be closed, El Matador switched to a takeout menu and Alvarado said, “The community really came out and supported us. It was amazing.”

Wanting to give back to the community, Alvarado and the restaurant worked with the Patchogue-Medford School District and cooked up free meals for students and families who were experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic lockdown.

As part of the LLC, Alvarado hopes to “unite everyone through food. Our patrons are 40 percent Latino and 60 percent non-Latino, and we think getting all people together through delicious food is the best way to help the Latino community have more of a voice.”

BRIAN HUAYTA

A graphic designer, artist, and founder of Printggoat, Huayta studied at SUNY Farmingdale and worked with companies all over Long Island to hone his personalized approach to graphic design for businesses.

The artist behind LLC’s introspective yet engaging new logo, Huayta wanted to capture the essence of the organization.

“We wanted to look professional, but not too corporate,” said Huayta, “So while there are clean, clear-cut design elements to make the logo memorable, we also added tribal, earthy coloring and aspects.”

The rounded hands and rounded font were meant to promote unity and community. The colors were chosen from Latin-American flags, meant to be a pan-Latino palette.

“I had made a design, but only as a starting-off point,” said Huayta. “We really wanted this to be a collaborative effort within the LLC so we could show how we work together to help the community.”

Going forward, Huayta will be handling the branding and merch for the LLC, with items like T-shirts for all members to raise visibility for the group when engaged in community outreach.

With support from organizations like the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Huayta was able to open his own business and would like to mentor other members of the Latino community to become entrepreneurs.

“Many come to this country with dreams, and owning your own business, building and living off your talents, is a great way to achieve that,” said Huayta. “I hope I can help others realize their dreams.”