Driving efforts that create a more inclusive socioeconomic landscape.

With deep insight in the small business world, Vamos aims to bridge resource gaps through collective initiatives, leveraging cross-sector experience to support groups that are overlooked in economic development.

“All levels of government should pursue policies that help families or individuals build assets, increase human capital, reduce or eliminate debt, transfer intergenerational wealth, access financial information networks, and achieve income and job stability”

-Closing the Latino wealth gap: Exploring regional differences and lived experiences. A Brookings Metro article.

Our work is centered on economic stability for small businesses, creating inclusive spaces, and advancement a skilled workforce. This is vital because: Businesses face daily challenges to remain open without accessible capital. Exclusionary zoning, complex permit processes, and restrictive building codes hinder property owners from using their land or opening businesses. Culturally significant corridors are often redeveloped by groups displacing long-standing local businesses. Cities must invest in critical infrastructure and climate change adaptations to protect residential neighborhoods. Students earn degrees (& debt) but graduate without industry experience and struggle to find work or advance professionally and economically.

To address these issues, it’s essential to bridge the gap between public entities, financial and higher education institutions, and the private sector. Engaging with local small businesses and organizations—especially those deeply rooted in and shaping the built environment—is key to creating shared prosperity. We must recognize the efforts of those who create & sustain the vibrancy of our neighborhoods. By combining our knowledge, experience, and resources, we can implement urgently needed solutions.

Vamos, pronounced \Vah-mohs\, references action, excitement, or encouragement. E.g., let’s do this, or let’s go!

Small Business Resilience

Infrastructure Equity

SocioEconomic Mobility

Contributions to the Built Environment

Speaking about Hispanic + Latinx contributions to the built environment is essential. It highlights the significant impact we’ve had shaping cities, local neighborhoods, and infrastructure through our skilled work, knowledge, services, and design aspects. Our contributions to the economy are vast, spanning entrepreneurship, innovation, and labor that drive growth and cultural enrichment. Acknowledging this impact honors our role in the building industry and the spaces we create.

We created L.AEC and L.PM to share the work of Latine professionals in Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Project Management, and Finance. Through these programs we host activities where we exchange knowledge and resources, on projects, industry licensing, or business. We also collab with other orgs & experts to amplify support.

Our work

Training the next gen of Project Managers

Hispanics represent a significant portion of the construction workforce, yet few have management roles or project / site ownership. Through our training programs like Latine.PM & Latine.AEC we have equipped student-interns, emerging professionals, and contractor businesses with skills in Business Operations and Construction Management. Leading to careers in Project Management, Contracting, and Home Building. As well as pursuing their own projects, launching or growing a firm, or scaling family-owned businesses.

Vamos is led by

Ari, Economic Development Consultant based in TX with 🇲🇽Mex-Am roots. Working in construction project management and commercial real estate exposed me to the exclusionary systems and resource gaps that cause financial setbacks for many small businessess. Through Vamos, I work to bridge these economic disparities by offering programs and collaborative efforts that provide bilingual technical assistance, training workshops, and digital and financial literacy. Participating in the Open Access and Urban Leaders fellowship expanded my involvement in advancing policy & community development finance. As a Fulbright Business Policy Fellow I have also contributed to projects in Latin America.

Mi historia

A chat with professionals in Architecture, Engineering & Construction about our heritage & contributions to the built environment.

In collaboration with leadership expert Dr. Alejandra Mielke.

MWBE, SBE, & HUB Certified.