Before she was born, Laura’s grandmother left Cuba for the U.S. and petitioned for her daughter (Laura’s mother) to join her. The process to receive a visa took ten years but, eventually, Laura was able to come to the U.S. with her mother when she was nine years old.

Laura and her mother joined her grandmother and uncle in Miami where they adjusted to life in the U.S. by learning English and acclimating to the new culture. Luckily for her family, there’s already a huge Cuban population in Miami that made the adjustment a bit less harsh.

“If you have not visited Miami, be prepared to be in a different country when you visit,” Laura says.

For example, in Miami, Laura says that there is an expectation to speak Spanish. If you don’t, people will be upset and good luck ordering at restaurants!

🗣️ Laura’s background as a native Spanish speaker also prepared her well for her communications work on the Hill.

“Spanish communications is not just translating a message from Spanish to English – it’s translating an idea,” she says.

Laura believes that if you truly want to reach a Spanish-speaking audience, there needs to be a native Spanish speaker doing the job.

Moving from Congressman Díaz-Balart’s district to Hill office, Laura was even able to bring some of her Cuban and Miami traditions along with her.

☕️ She opened what the office named “Laurita’s Ventanita,” which pays homage to “ventanitas” or walk-up service counters in Miami. In the afternoon, Laura would make cafecito for her office using her Cuban coffee maker and Café Bustelo.