MONTEBELLO – A trio of motivational speakers inspired dozens of Bell Gardens High School sophomores to show off their talents and publicly announce their career dreams during an April 22 event designed to empower Latino youth. The event was part of Univision’s national Todo es Posible tour.

Nearly 250 students heard from TV personality, attorney and author Laura Posada; Univision’s “Sal y Pimienta” co-host and Univision image consultant Jomari Goyso; and Nuestra Belleza Latina winner and “La Banda” host Alexandra Espinoza.

Posada shared her experience as a motivated young woman from Puerto Rico who dreamed of becoming a successful attorney. She achieved her goal and married former New York Yankee catcher Jorge Posada. Upon the birth of their first child, she discovered that her son had craniosynostosis – a condition that can hinder the growth of the skull. Posada and her husband established a foundation to fund research and offer family support, and she now works as a motivational coach.

Goyso, who has styled many famous superstars, told how his grandmother taught him that beauty goes further than the physical. A person’s spirit, he said, is what makes her beautiful.

Espinoza recounted her youth in Tijuana, where her family of 12 struggled to make ends meet. She dreamed of working in entertainment and her passion was rewarded when her father enrolled her in a model agency. She eventually was crowned Univision’s first Nuestra Belleza Latina beauty queen.

“These three individuals offered our students examples and thoughtful words of encouragement about what it means to believe in oneself,” MUSD Board of President Benjamin Cárdenas said. “On behalf of the Board of Education, I thank Univision for taking time to visit our students to remind them they are capable of achieving their dreams.”

The speakers asked students to join them on the auditorium stage to ask questions, write their dreams and goals on a Todo es Posible chalkboard and to showcase their talents. One student revealed he hoped to be a hip-hop artist and rapped for a few moments at the encouragement of Posada. Another student, a lyrical ballerina, shared a few dance steps with Goyso after Espinoza played a song on her cell phone.

“Montebello Unified students are such talented and bright young men and women – who with the support of their teachers, administrators, staff and parents – are able to accomplish so much,” MUSD Superintendent Susanna Contreras Smith said. “We are so grateful that these three successful speakers reminded our students that they are capable of reaching their academic, professional and personal goals.”

The Todo es Posible campaign was launched by Univision in 2015 to bring to life the core values of tenacity, love, respect, building bridges, achievement, pride and union – and to tell the stories of Hispanics in the U.S.

All student attendees received a Todo es Posible notebook and pen. The tour stopped in Miami, Florida and in the Dallas/Fort Worth-area of Texas before concluding at Bell Gardens High School.

Photo Captions:

MUSDUNIVISION1: A trio of motivational speakers inspired 250 Bell Gardens High School sophomores to show off their talents and publicly announce their career dreams during an April 22 event designed to empower Latino youth as part of Univision’s national Todo es Posible tour.

MUSDUNIVISION2: Nearly 250 Bell Gardens High School students heard from TV personality, attorney and author Laura Posada; Univision’s “Sal y Pimienta” co-host and image consultant Jomari Goyso; and Nuestra Belleza Latina winner and “La Banda” host Alexandra Espinoza, pictured here with BGHS student Melanie Meda and friends on April 22 event designed to empower Latino youth as part of Univision’s national Todo es Posible tour.

MUSDUNIVISION3: From left to right: Bell Gardens High School Principal Juan Herrera, Univision’s “Sal y Pimienta” co-host and image consultant Jomari Goyso, Montebello Unified School District Superintendent Susanna Contreras Smith; Nuestra Belleza Latina winner and “La Banda” host Alexandra Espinoza, TV personality, attorney and author Laura Posada, and Montebello Unified Board Clerk Hector Chacon pose ahead of an April 22 event designed to empower Latino youth as part of Univision’s national Todo es Posible tour.