Bio

Nancy Roldán Johnson is an unapologetic advocate for Latina women’s empowerment and believes there comes a time to pay it forward for the next generation of leaders to confidently step outside of society’s expectations an into their unique light.

Nancy grew up in a loud, loving Puerto Rican family in New England. While her complicated childhood was both colorful and traumatic, she learned to navigate the complexities that came from exploring her dual cultural identity.

With a personal understanding of the challenges facing minority women, Nancy Roldán Johnson co-founded Together For Latinas, Inc. to help Latina girls proudly travel the bicultural bridge while keeping a connection to their roots. Nancy is the author of La Mariposa (the butterfly): A Personal Empowerment Program for Adolescent Latinas, a 12-session curriculum offered nationally to girls ages 12-18.

For her work with Together for Latinas, she has been honored as a Woman of Distinction by the Connecticut Girl Scouts of the USA; featured in O, the Oprah Magazine as a winner of their 2008 Women Rule! leadership contest; and recognized with a “Woman Making a Difference” award by Soroptimist International New England Region. 

Nancy was the first in her family to attend and graduate from college, earning a BS in International Business Management from Albertus Magnus in New Haven, Connecticut. She is a fellow of the William Graustein Memorial Funds’s Community Leadership Program and the Annie E.Casey Foundation’s Elm City Fellowship. Nancy serves as Vice President of the One Circle Foundation.

Always the curious student, Nancy loves traveling, learning about different cultures, and hosting dinners for family and friends. Her happy place is sobremesa – the dinner table, lingering for hours and hours engaged in meaningful conversation with family and friends, both new and old. She is often the first to laugh, the first to cry and give you a hug, and the first one on the dance floor. Her love of life and passion for people makes it easy to bridge differences and bring people from different backgrounds together.

Nancy currently lives in New York City with her husband, Craig. She has two sons, both currently attending college. Before moving to Manhattan, she lived in London, England, and Stockholm, Sweden, her second home country.

Learn about or order La Mariposa.