MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT - MENSAJE DE LA PRESIDENTA

¡Saludos y bienvenidos!

I’m Zarina Hernandez. I am a criminal defense attorney serving the Spanish speaking community in Central Florida. I am an immigrant. My family brought me to the United States from the Dominican Republic when I was 5 years old and have lived in the Orlando area since I was 14. Being an attorney is my second career and I have no regrets.

It's an honor to serve as president of the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida. I've been a member of this organization since my 1L year of law school in 2013, and it has shaped my career and my sense of community in profound ways. I met some of the most incredible people here, made connections that have opened doors for me, and witnessed firsthand how we genuinely help each other succeed. 

I'm deeply grateful to our past presidents, whose dedication and vision have built the strong foundation we stand on today. They believed in the power of community, fought for representation, and created pathways where none existed. Their legacy is our inheritance, and honoring that legacy means carrying it forward with intention and purpose. My goal is to build on their success while opening new doors for our members and our community. 

This year, we're focused on three priorities: engagement, education, and community impact.

First, engagement. We want to reconnect with former members who've been part of our journey and remind them why this association matters. To our current members, we're committed to providing real, tangible value—opportunities to connect, grow, and thrive professionally. And we're reaching out to the next generation by partnering with local law schools to attract student members who will shape the future of our profession.

To make this happen, we're creating consistent touchpoints. Mark your calendars and keep an eye on your emails for our e-boletin newsletter: we'll be hosting monthly luncheons on the last Wednesday of every month as well as after-hour events during which you'll have a chance to network, share ideas, and strengthen our community.

Second, education. We're having two CLE programs this year, with plans for more. Our goal is to provide high-quality continuing education that serves our members' professional needs.

Third, community impact. We recognize the challenges faced by the Hispanic community, including isolation due to language barriers, which can hinder access to legal assistance and services. The HBACF created Conozca Sus Derechos Seminars for that purpose and to address that need. We directly reach out to the Hispanic community and provide vital information on legal issues that they may face but often lack understanding of.

Our seminars are presented in both English and Spanish to ensure that all members of the community can benefit from this valuable information without language barriers. This year we're organizing three "Conozca Sus Derechos" events to serve our Hispanic community with critical legal information.

Over the years, the Central Florida voluntary bar community has built a strong tradition of collaboration, and we're committed to continuing and expanding that partnership through joint programming—because together, we're stronger. 

And we're building a strong foundation for the future. We're establishing systems to ensure continuity for future executive boards, so that the work we do today creates lasting benefits for years to come. Just as those before us built the foundation we now stand on, we're laying the groundwork for those who will follow. We're documenting our processes, strengthening our structures, and creating institutional knowledge that will outlast any single presidency. This is how movements endure—not through individual accomplishment, but through collective commitment to something greater than ourselves.

This association is more than just an organization—it's a community. It's a living bridge between the leaders who paved our way, the professionals doing the work today, and the students who will carry our mission into tomorrow. Together, we honor our past, we do amazing work in the present, and we build a future worthy of those who will inherit it.

We invite you to reach out to us at hbacf.info@gmail.com, attend one our events, and become a member.  I look forward to working for you, with you, and for the advancement of the Hispanic community.

Thank you for your trust. ¡Vámonos!