Cafecito Caliente and Title Sponsor Lake Trust Credit Union are proud to announce Ramiro Garcia as the 2025 Rising Star of the Year. The award honors a young professional whose leadership, dedication, and commitment are already making a lasting impact in the Hispanic Latino community and beyond.
Born and raised in Lansing, Michigan, Ramiro earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Central Michigan University. He began his career as Director of Constituent Relations in the Michigan House of Representatives, where he quickly recognized the lack of diversity among legislative staff, particularly the underrepresentation of Latinos. At the time, there were fewer than five Latino staffers in the entire House, a stark contrast to the state’s demographics. This realization fueled his drive to open doors for others and ensure Latino voices are present in decision-making spaces.
Ramiro went on to earn his Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy, graduating at the top of his class by serving as commencement speaker. While in graduate school, he served as a Graduate Student Instructor, teaching public policy to undergraduates and mentoring the next generation of policy leaders. As a Policy Fellow with the Aspen Institute, he conducted extensive research on how to make the American insurance industry more inclusive. Through the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomacy Lab, he examined how disinformation spreads in conflict environments and developed strategies for how the U.S. government can respond.
His studies also took him into the field. In partnership with the Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala, Ramiro contributed to restorative justice efforts following the Guatemalan genocide, using anthropology and genetic tracing to help uncover the truth of what happened. Closer to home, he worked on the Flint water crisis, administering psychometric assessments to children affected by lead exposure; this evidence later used in court to help families secure settlements.
Today, Ramiro serves as Chief of Staff to a State Representative, where he continues to champion inclusion, representation, and thoughtful policymaking. Inspired by those who came before him, including close family members who worked in the fields as migrant workers, he believes it is essential for Latinos to be “in the rooms where things are decided” about their communities. His work reflects a deep commitment to ensuring those decisions are informed by Latino voices, lived experiences, and a global understanding of how governments intersect.
Cafecito Caliente is honored to recognize Ramiro Garcia as our 2025 Rising Star of the Year for his dedication to public service, his trailblazing achievements, and his unwavering commitment to paving the way for future generations.
