From the spark of two transformative movements to a decade of impact, Step Up: Equity Matters has been a relentless force for change in workplaces nationwide. Our journey began with a shared vision for equity and inclusion, uniting leaders from diverse sectors who believed in the power of community-driven solutions.
In 2013, two powerful movements set the stage for Step Up: Equity Matters. The first was the rapid growth of the Latino community in Wisconsin, driven by the dynamic leadership of the Latino Chamber of Commerce. Visionaries like Julia Aratta Fratta, Juan Jose Lopez, Sandy Morales, and Tania Ibarra saw the need for a dedicated space where Latino professionals could connect, grow, and thrive.* With Miguel Corona’s strategic business plan, the Latino Professionals Association officially launched on October 9, 2014, creating a space for this vibrant community to build networks and opportunities.
The second was a growing sense of urgency to tackle racial disparities, sparked by Kids Forward’s 2013 release of the Race to Equity report. The data revealed stark economic, educational, and health disparities driven by race.
Converging around these two movements, Step Up co-founders Tania Ibarra and Amy Kesling met through a mutual colleague, Sara Alvarado. With additional support from Haywood Simmons and nonprofit founder Lisa Peyton, the group brought together a diverse collection of leaders from nonprofit, finance, real estate, and education sectors, determined to address these inequities head-on and make workplaces more inclusive and equitable. This initial meeting in December 2014 laid the foundation for Step Up: Equity Matters.
From the very beginning, our focus was clear: the workplace. While other organizations and coalitions addressed important equity issues like health, education, and housing, we knew that inclusive workplaces—driven by employment and entrepreneurship—could transform our community’s socioeconomic landscape.
Inspired by the insights of our community, Step Up, then a partnership between local nonprofits Sustain Dane and the Latino Professionals Association, created public learning spaces aimed at small and mid-sized organizations, sharing promising practices from both local and national perspectives. Hundreds of people joined us to learn, collaborate, and solve problems.
As our network grew over the next five years, so did our impact. Leaders like Carolina Bailey, Gregg Potter, Ananda Mirilli, Carla Garces-Redd, and many others brought fresh perspectives to our workshops and conferences, each adding new layers of understanding. Together, we created, collaborated, laughed, cried, and, most importantly, learned. Diversity wasn’t just a concept—it was the driving force behind our growth and innovation.
By 2017, however, our expansion exceeded our resources. With much of our work powered by unpaid efforts, we faced the challenge of sustainability. Outside of small stipends for private workshops, Amy was the only member partially compensated through her nonprofit for her role with Step Up. When Amy took parental leave, and Tania used up her PTO to try to keep Step Up afloat, it became clear we couldn’t rely on volunteer power alone.
In 2018, leadership transitions at Sustain Dane and the Latino Professionals Association prompted us to reimagine our path forward. We knew we needed a sustainable model to provide the high-quality support our growing community deserved. In August 2019, our founding team—Tania Ibarra, Amy Kesling, Lisa Peyton, and Carolina Bailey—formally registered Step Up: Equity Matters as an LLC. At the same time, Tania, a CPA by trade who always balanced multiple projects, launched her own financial management company.
The year 2020 brought immense challenges, with civil unrest, the murder of George Floyd, and the pandemic reshaping the world. These events reinforced our mission: to close access and opportunity gaps. Whether through fostering equitable outcomes in mainstream workplaces or providing strategic and financial support to BIPOC and women-led nonprofits, we knew our work was more critical than ever.
In 2023, we officially merged Step Up with Tania’s financial management company, bringing on Maria Luttig as a managing partner. This pivotal moment marked the next chapter in our story—one that aligns perfectly with our mission to drive equitable practices and outcomes across all sectors.
We look back with pride as we celebrate 10 years of Step Up: Equity Matters and 5 years as an established company. Founded by four women—mothers, sisters, friends, and daughters—Step Up remains committed to building a more inclusive, equitable, and just world for future generations.
Key moments, partnerships, and progress that have made Step Up: Equity Matters what it is today.
Latino Chamber of Commerce leaders—Julia Aratta Fratta, Juan Jose Lopez, Sandy Morales, and Tania Ibarra—begin efforts to create a space for Latino professionals to connect and thrive. Race to Equity report released by Kids Forward highlights deep economic, educational, and health disparities in the community.
The Latino Professionals Association officially launches with the help of a comprehensive business plan, creating a platform for Latino professionals to build networks and opportunities.
Step Up: Equity Matters is officially launched, gathering over 100 business and community leaders to discuss the creation of more inclusive and equitable workplaces. The Step Up planning group designs public learning spaces to support small and mid-sized organizations by sharing best practices from local and national perspectives.
The network grows, with leaders like Carolina Bailey, Gregg Potter, Ananda Mirilli, and Carla Garces-Redd joining to bring fresh perspectives to Step Up’s workshops and conferences. The team’s efforts lead to the creation of innovative and impactful diversity and equity strategies, but resources become strained as much of the work is sustained by volunteers. Amy Kesling takes parental leave, and Tania Ibarra exhausts her PTO to sustain Step Up’s efforts. The challenge of operating with unpaid volunteer power becomes evident.
Leadership transitions at Sustain Dane and the Latino Professionals Association push the founding team to consider the future of Step Up. The need for a sustainable model becomes apparent as the team advances workplace equity.
Step Up: Equity Matters is formally registered as an LLC by founders Tania Ibarra, Amy Kesling, Lisa Peyton, and Carolina Bailey. Tania launches her own financial management company, complementing Step Up’s mission to support diverse organizations.
Civil unrest, the murder of George Floyd, and the pandemic reshape the nation. Step Up’s work intensifies, focusing on closing access and opportunity gaps through workplace diversity and support for BIPOC and women-led nonprofits. Step Up hires additional full- and part-time staff.
Step Up merges with Tania’s financial management company, and Maria Luttig joins as a managing partner, expanding the organization’s impact across sectors and services.
Celebrating 10 years of Step Up: Equity Matters and five years as an established company. A decade of progress and innovation is marked by a special anniversary event.
