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In October 2024, Verizon hosted an event as part of its Connected by Culture series at its Rockville store in Maryland. Connected By Culture, which included stops in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, and New York City, highlighted the Latino community and Verizon’s ongoing efforts to serve a rapidly growing demographic in the US.
At the Rockville event, Verizon announced $73,000 to be spread across six Latino-serving organizations in Maryland. The day also highlighted the contributions of more than 6,000 Maryland small businesses, which Verizon supports through its free Small Business Digital Ready platform. Through the Connected by Culture series, Verizon has announced more than $570,000 in funding to Latino serving organizations across the East and Central US region.
These are exactly the kind of moves Mario Acosta-Velez believes will help establish Verizon as an advocate for its Latino customer base and make it a provider of choice for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and other hardworking communities. Verizon’s regional senior director of local engagement and corporate responsibility has spent his career connecting communities, advancing inclusion, and improving access in underserved communities.
“I am particularly proud of the Connected by Culture initiative. It fosters opportunities to spark long-lasting connections among Latino changemakers nationwide while honoring their communities and elevating the impactful work and missions of our Latino partners across the United States,” Acosta-Velez says.
“Through our technology, community partnerships, and services and products, we keep our communities connected when it matters the most. Connected by Culture is part of our commitment to serve our Latino community customers and partners with pride and culture.”
Born in mountainous Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, Acosta-Velez moved to Washington, DC, to pursue a career in public policy and corporate responsibility. He led national and local diversity, community engagement, and Latino-focused outreach initiatives decades before they became mainstream. His work has earned him citations and awards from the Washington Business Journal’s Diversity in Business and Business of Pride, Out and Equal, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and a number of other organizations.
“My passion and commitment for social responsibility connect to my Hispanic heritage from early on,” Acosta-Velez explains. “I embraced a strong interest in community development, education, human rights, philanthropy, and economic development that have led to my pursuing roles in community, government, and corporate leadership. My leadership role at Verizon has strengthened my commitment to community and social responsibility, and especially how technology can be leveraged to advance inclusion and improve access in underserved communities.”
Since joining Verizon as a director of external and government affairs in 2007, Acosta-Velez has aimed to bring more visibility to minorities in positions of leadership. For example, he has been involved in two of the company’s most active employee resource groups: its Hispanic and LGBTQ+ organizations.
“I’m proud to work for a company that champions inclusion,” Acosta-Velez says. “Not only within our company but also in the community, creating a greater sense of belonging for our employees. It’s important for our people to see leaders that reflect themselves. This helps create safe and inclusive spaces that make our communities a better place to live.”
Verizon is also working to bring that connectedness and advocacy to its customer base through its Small Business Digital Ready platform. The platform offers over forty different free courses in English and Spanish, one-on-one coaching, mentorship opportunities with industry experts, peer networking events, and grant opportunities for those looking to expand the digital parts of their business. Acosta-Velez sees the small business platform as vital for Latinos, so often the builders of small businesses.
“From my perspective as a Hispanic professional, this initiative is crucial,” Acosta-Velez explains. “We aim to ensure that Hispanic and other minority business leaders have access to these resources and can build a stronger digital presence through their businesses.”
“At Verizon, we are extremely proud to partner with many outstanding business organizations in cities like New York City, DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, and many others across the country, supporting them in their mission to foster a thriving Hispanic small business landscape giving us the insight we need to tailor Verizon’s programming to fit the most pressing needs of entrepreneurs,” he continues. “We want them to see themselves as part of a larger network that can support their growth and development. And maybe most importantly, this offers them a chance to connect with each other.”
More broadly, Acosta-Velez says his team’s mission is to build strategic partnerships with diverse organizations and unite both community and business leaders to advance the priorities of the communities they serve. “Our team’s work brings together all of the elements that make communities and corporate partnerships powerful. When we build strategic partnerships, we focus on gaining a perspective on the issues impacting communities, aligning with our mission to improve communities through technology, and bringing resources to the communities we serve through impactful partnerships.”
Acosta-Velez says it’s been easy to stay at Verizon for eighteen years because the work that has driven him for his entire career is front and center in his job. He’s seen change, connection, and customers who have risen in their communities and businesses to become leaders in their own right.
“It’s important for our people to see leaders that reflect themselves. This helps create safe and inclusive spaces that make our communities a better place to live.”
Mario Acosta-Velez
For those who might value the same kind of work Acosta-Velez has dedicated his life to, he advocates getting involved with internal resource groups.
“These networks represent us and provide unique opportunities for our personal and professional development,” Acosta-Velez explains. “When you join these employee resource networks, you can help us build more awareness about the importance of inclusion and belonging both in our companies and the community.”
His final piece of advice is to be who you are. Embrace your Hispanic heritage and remember that your heritage is an asset and an integral part of communities and companies across the US. Your heritage is a gift and a reminder of just how great you can be.
