A Champion for Community: The Remarkable Journey of Lourdes Ribera

The Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati’s “Kudos Corner” - In today’s Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati’s “Kudos Corner,” we honor Lourdes Rivera.

Lourdes Rivera is retiring, and her remarkable achievements and unwavering commitment to the Hispanic community have earned her a place of honor in the annals of Cincinnati’s history. 

Lourdes Ribera, a distinguished figure in the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Cincinnati Chapter, has dedicated her career to advocating for the rights and well-being of the Hispanic community. Founded in 2005, LULAC Cincinnati has a rich history of championing civil rights, education, economic development, immigration, and equal opportunity.

As one of the founders of the organization, Lourdes Ribera assumed the role of president in 2009. During her tenure, she successfully developed a diverse and multi-talented LULAC Board that effectively served the needs of the underserved Hispanic community. She also strengthened the educational platform by doubling the number of Young Readers programs and increasing the number of college scholarships awarded in the Tri-State area. Notably, LULAC Cincinnati awarded 32 scholarships to talented and underserved Hispanic students this year.

Since its inception, LULAC Cincinnati has awarded a total of 379 scholarships, amounting to approximately a quarter of a million dollars. Lourdes Ribera’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including LULAC Ohio Woman of the Year, LULAC Presidential Commendation Award, and Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan in 2011 by the Commission of Hispanic Latino Affairs.

In addition to her leadership roles, Lourdes Ribera has held various positions within Procter & Gamble (P&G), where she served for 35 years. Her extensive international experience included living in England and Spain for a decade. Her final assignment at P&G was in Multicultural External Relations, an organization dedicated to serving the needs of U.S. Hispanic and African American consumers.

Lourdes Ribera served on the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati Advisory Council. In 2022, she was honored with the Su Casa Lifetime Achievement Award for her exceptional service and unwavering dedication to the Hispanic community. Additionally, she received the “Make a Difference” award from the Cincinnati English Language Foundation for her invaluable contributions to education. In 2025, Lourdes Ribera was recognized with the Cincinnati Compass 2025 Legacy Award for her decades of advocacy and service. Lourdes received the 2025 Esperanza Latino Center’s Pillars of Esperanza Awards (Los Pilares de Esperanza)—a recognition established to honor lifelong friends, partners, and sponsors who strengthen the organization’s mission.

Lourdes Ribera’s academic journey commenced with a Business Administration degree obtained from Lima, Peru, followed by language studies in Boston, Massachusetts. Born in Bolivia, she currently resides in Cincinnati with her husband, David Reed. Lourdes is the proud mother of a son and two grandchildren who reside in London. Lourdes is retiring, and we are confident that her retirement signifies the commencement of a new chapter in her life. 

Image courtesy of Lourdes Rivera.

Written by Lorena Mora-Mowry, host of the Latina Today Podcast and HCCUSA Foundation Board Member.