Lucy Richardson
Executive Director
Lucy Richardson is a bilingual, bicultural immigrant to the US from Mexico. Before she arrived here in 1999, she was the administrator of a radio station and Personal Assistant to both the owner and News Director. In the US, she worked in manufacturing jobs, and for Hiawatha Valley Adult Basic Education as the organization’s Hispanic liaison. In 2010, she began volunteering at Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County, and by the next year, had become the Executive Director. This small but very active agency serves Goodhue County’s rapidly growing Hispanic population and is the only organization between the Twin Cities and Owatonna/Winona providing greatly-needed, Hispanic-specific services. Lucy is energetic, passionate about her work, and loves a challenge!
Yelba Olson
Administrative Assistant
Yelba Olson is our Marketing & Administrative Assistant. She is bilingual, and worked prior to Hispanic Outreach in Virginia as a Residential Property Manager. She’s a born helper, and was attracted to Hispanic Outreach for that reason – to assist people in need. Yelba loves to run and to travel (she lived in Peru for a couple of years when she was a child.
Zamira Mendoza
Communications and Marketing Manager
Zamira Mendoza (She/Her) is an artist and entrepreneur from the Twin Cities who has recently earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Entrepreneurial Studies at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Zamira’s creative interests consist of Photography, Web Design and Multimedia Arts.
Zamira works as our Communications & Marketing Manager at Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County. Previously, she worked for over four years in the Saint Paul Public Library system, working as a Library Associate and a Latino Community Specialist in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood of East St. Paul, MN.
Zamira enjoys working within her two career passions: public service and the arts! She believes art is a powerful tool to create positive social change.
Veronica Cavazos
Youth and Family Program Manager
My name is Veronica Cavazos. I am a Texas native. My mother was from San Luis Potosi, and my father’s family were migrants from Tamaulipas. Spanish is my second language but I have learned through high school, teaching English, and working with so many people over the years. Also learning from my husband, and having the opportunity to teach my children and foster children. I am the second oldest of 6. I was a past Juvenile Correction Officer in the state of Georgia, along with communication and working at the world’s largest music company in their credit/customer service department. I am a Bio, Kinship, and foster parent to 5 children, ranging from 8-18, as well as an advocate for young children. In 2021, I was a Liarson, for the local community ESL Adult, helping students, and parents with the English language. I have worked with families from Mexico, Central & South America. I volunteer with local law enforcement in assisting with translating. I have really enjoyed learning more about the Hispanic cultures as well as listening to different dialects, reading and writing.
My hobbies include dancing, cooking, baking, crafting, teaching, and playing musical instruments with my children. I have been married for 16 years to my high school sweetheart. My desire to help the community with children is very exciting to me and to have the opportunity to work with youth and their families.