Member Highlight: Kimberlee Cortes
Kimberlee Cortes isn’t just a dedicated Union Capital member—she’s a force of resilience and inspiration. Her journey of triumph over life’s challenges fuels her mission to uplift and empower those around her.
Originally from Puerto Rico and raised in South Boston, Cortes faced a childhood marked by adversity. Food insecurity cast a shadow over her and her family, leaving a deep impact on her early years. Yet, with the support of organizations like the Red Cross, Cortes discovered a powerful truth: if she could overcome her struggles, she could help others do the same. This became the code of her unwavering commitment to making a difference.
“My family suffered from food insecurity, so I experienced that firsthand. It was organizations like the Red Cross and ABCD that made us able to get food. Ever since then I always said I wanted to work in the food insecurity sector and with community members because if it wasn’t for organizations like Project Bread, Greater Boston Food Bank, ABCD, and also Union Capital Boston, I wouldn’t be where I’m at,” said Cortes.
Cortes has participated in many of UC’s leadership programs such as UC Learns, UC Leads, and plans to complete UC Facilitates soon. In her early years as a UC member, Cortes was very timid and afraid to speak in public, but she knew she had so much to give and a lot of passion for helping the communities around her. In joining UC Learns, Cortes set out to overcome her fear of public speaking and become comfortable sharing her story.
“I want to finish UC Facilitates and make my own curriculum to be able to have a workshop, that's like my own business, where I can teach people how to create digital products, and physical products, through Canva, and be able to sell it,” said Cortes, “One day I want to run my own program. I have the passion to have my own organization.”
A huge piece of partaking in UC Learns, which is a 10-week-long course, is sharing a public narrative at the end of the program. The overarching goal of UC Learns is to teach participants how to use their stories to promote change and inspire the community. Cortes chose to share about her experience being in a domestically violent relationship.
“Where I was and where I am now, how I’ve overcome things, that could make somebody else feel like, ‘Hey if she did it, I can do it too,” said Cortes.
Cortes found a community of people who not only sympathized but related to her story after she shared her experience. In completing UC Learns, Cortes had connected with people who had faced similar challenges, fostering a sense of mutual understanding and support. These connections allowed her to open up about struggles she had previously kept to herself, finding comfort in the shared experiences of others. For Cortes, UC Learns became more than just a program; it became a pivotal moment in her personal and emotional development, helping her to feel seen, heard, and empowered.
“People will try to tear you down. But towards the end of UC Learns, as I’m writing this public narrative, I learned that I deserve better. I ended that relationship and focused on my audience, because I realized my story could benefit someone,” said Cortes in regards to the abusive relationship she had experienced.
Through her connections at UC, Cortes just accepted a role as Community Leader for Vital CxNs. Cortes will be working to support the Community Health Hubs by listening, supporting, and helping community members.
“You never know who your story is going to touch. Words have power,” said Cortes.
From overcoming her fears of public speaking to becoming a leader within Union Capital Boston, she has turned her story into a source of hope for others. As she steps into her new role as Community Leader for Vital CxNs, Cortes is eager to continue her work supporting and empowering individuals in need. Her journey is a reminder that through perseverance, passion, and connection, we can not only overcome life’s challenges but inspire others to do the same.