About Us
Founded by Carlene Pinto and Janel Núñez, two native New Yorkers and Latina entrepreneurs, Latinas Grow seeks to ensure that Latinas are at the table in the $90 billion male-dominated legalized Cannabis industry. We strive to build an ecosystem to educate, incubate, and provide transition support for Latinaes in this new and emerging industry. We focus our impacts at the intersections of Womxn, Immigrants, Cannabis and the need to support communities impacted by the war on drugs.
We founded Latinas Grow to empower and provide opportunities for the most vulnerable members of our community and make sure LATINAS are. We prioritize those most impacted by the criminal justice system, including formerly incarcerated members of our community, victims of violence, and undocumented people of African descent throughout the state of New York.
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Co-Founder
Carlene Pinto
Carlene Pinto is the Founder of NYC Action Lab Inc., a collective of organizers and community leaders championing change through social innovation and movement building. NYC Action Lab was founded in 2018 dedicating its efforts to training and resourcing those directly impacted by injustice with the tools and training needed to be successful in turning protest into policy reform. Her advocacy efforts have led to local, state, and national reform efforts. Carlene’s expertise in rapidly responding in real time has allowed her to be successful in leveraging moments into movements.
Prior to founding NYC Action Lab, Carlene led organizing and advocacy efforts at the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) and the Riverside Church as the Coordinator of Mission and Social Justice. Carlene currently lives in Harlem where she’s spent a decade serving her community more recently as a board member of Manhattan Community Board 10. During the uprising of Americans in June 2020 in response to the murder of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd & Ahmaud Arberry, she fundraised $150,000 in aid and supplies to “Protect the Protestors” sourcing frontliners in New York, Illinois, and Kentucky with PPE, Protective Gear, Trainings, and Supplies during the longest sustained documented protests in US History. Through the pandemic NYC Action Lab provided strategic campaign support to the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), Envision Freedom Fund, DoorDash, Family Equality Council, Bolton St-John, The Wright Group, Somos Community Cares, African Communities Together, the Hood Incubator, Techrow and more. In 2020 NYC Action Lab helped pass the Child Parent Security Act, and more recently the Stop Immigrant Bail Abuse Act, steering the Break the Shackles NY coalition for two years. In fall 2021, Carlene was named Top 50 Most Powerful People in Community by City & State Magazine for her endless work in the community. In Early 2022 Carlene co-founded Latinas Grow (LG), to address accessibility of licensing for latinos impacted by the war on drugs and opening pipelines to entrepreneurship in agritech, hemp and cannabis.
Through the last decade, Carlene has helped anchor dozens of campaigns for families of police brutality, the Climate March, the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, the March 2 Justice, No Ban No Wall, Green Light NY, the Women’s March and Tahanie Aboushi for Manhattan District Attorney.
Co-Founder
Janel Nunez
Born and bred in Washington Heights, NYC, Janel Nunez is on a mission to create economic opportunities for Womxn of color in emerging agriculture industries. As the daughter of Dominican immigrant parents, Janel is closely familiar with the experience of Latinas in New York City. Janel is a floral artist who loves experimenting with different mediums and channeled this passion into founding Coquet Bouquets, an online floral design boutique that innovates the floral shopping experience. Her focus has been on creating pathways to sustainability as well as rallying support around issues that impact Womxn in our communities such as domestic violence, breast cancer and closing the wage gap. Janel Nunez is committed to supporting her community by bringing light to the hardships women face on a daily basis, and fighting for underrepresented Womxn to have a seat at the table. It is this commitment, coupled with her passion for plants, that inspired Janel to co-found Latinas Grow.
Advisory Group
Dr. Jacqueline Delmont
Dr. Delmont established her private practice in the Freeport-Roosevelt area 15 years ago. Since then her Organization has grown into a thriving primary care facility, delivering efficient, high quality and culturally sensitive care to thousands of low-income, uninsured and underinsured patients. Presently Delmont Medical Care has 4 locations, three which are in federally-designated healthcare professional shortage area, manages 20,000 lives (60% Medicaid), with 12 primary care providers, several sub-specialties and 85 employees. In January 2016 Dr. Delmont formed access-salud, a bi-lingual (Spanish/English) care management center that strives to be the link that connects patients and providers. Dr. Delmont became Board Certified in Internal Medicine both in her native Venezuela in 1995 and the United States in 1999. Dr. Delmont completed her master’s degree in Business Administration at the renowned Adelphi University in 2013. Dr. Delmont was a recipient of the prestigious 2008 Women of Distinction Award and the 2009 Hispanic Heritage Award. Recently, she has been acknowledged with the Physician Hero category of the annual Healthcare Hero awards, sponsored by Long Island Business News. She was recently nominated for the prestigious 2016 Modern Healthcare’s 2016 Top 25 Minority and 50 Most Influential Physician Executives.
Dr. Jacqueline Delmont
Mary Pryor, Cannaclusive
Mary Pryor, Cannaclusive
Mary Pryor is a passionate and vocal media expert currently based in Los Angeles and New York. She is a proud native Detroiter and graduate of the University of Michigan. She is a bicoastal media expert with an impressive roster of employers and clients. Mary has worked for major brands across the music, media, technology, and marketing industries including Sony Music Group, Viacom, Attention PR, City Parks Foundation, Mirrorball, Black Enterprise, CBS News, Ebony Magazine, Essence Magazine, Rolling Stone, VaynerMedia, Mindshare, SheKnows Media, McCann XBC, McCann Health, Byron Allen Group, Sean Combs Enterprises, and McGarryBowen. Having realized there was a pressing need for agencies that catered to culturally rich and niche audiences through digital and social marketing integration, Mary founded her own firms, WeFancy (consulting) and UrbanSocialista (digital marketing consulting). Mary participates in speaking engagements nationwide to share her expertise in digital innovation. In 2014 she was recognized as SXSW’s Innovator of the Year. Mary’s goal is to provide online branding and digital trend-forecasting for the general market by empowering communities through the utilization of digital tools. She is the co-founder of Cannaclusive, a collective focused on inclusive marketing and business advocacy in the cannabis industry, New York Chapter President of Minorities for Medical Marijuana, and she serves as Chief Marketing Officer for Tonic CBD and Tricolla Farms. She currently serves on the board for Possible Plan, a Cura Cannabis social equity effort and serves as an advisor and judge for Eaze Momentum Accelerator. She advises three cannabis and non-plant-touching companies: Kanna, Dieux Skin, Flor De Maria Chocolates.
Dr. Daniela Vergara - Cornell University - Hemp Expert
Dr. Daniela Vergara is an evolutionary biologist, data analyst, educator, scientific writer, and public speaker. In addition to her multiple publications, she founded and directs a non-profit organization, the Agricultural Genomics Foundation (AGF;AgriculturalGenomics.org). AGF aims to make hemp and cannabinoid science available to a broad public. Vergara has been part of the scientific teams at private companies including Steep Hill, Inc. who are a global leader in agricultural testing, and the biotech company Front Range Biosciences.
Dr. Vergara recently joined the Harvest New York Extension Team from Cornell University as an ‘Emerging Crop Specialist’ to help hemp farmers with their crop. Dr. Vergara’s scientific publications include the comparison of the cannabinoids by federally produced Cannabis to that produced by the private market. These results were featured in news platforms such as The Atlantic, Science, and FiveThirtyEight. Recently, she published a comparison between the genome of these federally produced varieties to the genome of the varieties found in the private markets. Vergara is also an international consultant and policy advisor and has advised companies in the US and Latin America. Additionally, she has worked as an expert witness for multiple legal cases in the US and abroad. Dr. Vergara is a scientific writer in both Spanish and English and has translated her scientific work into Spanish for a broad public in Hispanic Countries.
Dr. Daniela Vergara - Cornell University Hemp Expert
Cultivation Advisor, Licensee
Dr. Daniela Vergara - Cornell University Hemp Expert
Brittney Carbone, Cultivation Advisor, Licensee
Brittany founded TONIC in 2017, while working as a personal trainer and health coach on Long Island, NY. Bootstrapping as a solopreneur, Carbone grew the company from a side-hustle operating out of her parents’ kitchen to the 7-figure business it is today, all while staying true to her original vision and mission of bringing the most healing to the most people.
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Brittany not only leads the all-female team at TONIC as the FOUNDER & CEO, but she also co-founded Tricolla Farms and Bardo Labs. From full-supply chain control and the adoption of industry-leading authentication technology, to TONIC’s monthly giving initiatives and Bardo’s social equity programs, Carbone is paving the way for an industry that operates with intention, integrity, and inclusivity.
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Brittany has hands-on experience in every aspect of CBD brand development and management. From manufacturing, marketing, and sales to regulatory compliance and industry insights, Brittany is able to provide Bardo and its clients with tactical guidance to navigate a complicated and rapidly-changing industry.
Statements of Support
Marisol Alcantara
Former New York State Senator
As a Dominican immigrant & former State Legislator I am deeply concerned at the potential pipelines to deportation that exist for DACAmented young people and non citizens across the state. I am urging the city & state government to put resources into educating the immigrant community for the impacts and consequences of this new industry.
Catalina Cruz
Queens Assembly Member
As New York State continues to announce its Cannabis equity & inclusion licensing requirements, we applaud Latinas Grow for cultivating a space for Latinas to seed opportunities in this new industry. There are so many lessons learned from California, and we must commit to educating and organizing our new entrepreneurs while safeguarding our most vulnerable immigrant communities. I stand with and fully support Latinas Grow as they seek to create a critical space for women and immigrants to thrive.
Amanda Farias
Councilwoman
As a Latina woman born and raised here in NYC, I have seen firsthand how Latina’s, and marginalized womxn in general, have been excluded from previous economic opportunities and industries. As New York launches the legalized Cannabis industry, I am so thankful for the work of Latina’s Grow in establishing viable pathways to equity and inclusion, and urge all of us to maintain a commitment to supporting work to protect immigrants and promote equity.
We believe all women can embrace who they are,
can define their future, and can change the world.
Nathalia Fernandez
Bronx Assembly Member
As a first generation Colombian/Cuban born New Yorker I know how critical it will be to build bridges of inclusivity for Latinas across the state. In a national industry with 22% of its force represented by women we want to ensure there is a level playing field in New York, and that Womxn, of all races, religions and creeds have access to licensing and legacy building. I applaud Latinas Grow in hosting the first accessible, bilingual conversation in cannabis in the Bronx and for leading the way for real equity in this new industry.
Vanessa Gibson
Bronx Borough President
As we continue our recovery from COVID-19, it is essential that our residents have access to opportunities that will stimulate economic growth and build generational wealth through an equitable lens in our borough. I commend Latina Grow for their work on this initiative and for working to empower our community.
Jessica Gonzalez, Esq
Award Winning Cannabis Attorney
Latinos have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition but have been excluded from conversations regarding the restoration of our communities. There are issues unique to Latinos that are not reflected in most social equity conversations. As a latina immigrant it’s a privilege to be a part of this emerging cannabis industry and I have fought and will continue to fight for more Latino representation. We deserve to be here, we deserve to be heard and most of all we deserve to be recognized.
Amanda Septimo
Bronx Assembly Member
As a Latina from the Bronx who has spent my life fighting to address inequality, I have seen firsthand how our communities have been devastated by The War on Drugs. Now that legalization is upon us, accountability and equity are a necessity to ensure this harm is counteracted rather than expanded. I applaud the Latina’s Grow for their work to demand a seat at the table for marginalized and directly impacted communities.
Yudelka Tapia
Bronx Assembly Member
As a Dominican Immigrant, and Bronxite, I know how critical language access is to Latinos entering the Cannabis industry and I celebrate the Mujeres at Latinas Grow for creating a space for our community to seek education and resources to navigate licensing. There will also be 6,000 jobs created in this industry and we want to ensure the Bronx see's its fair share.