When Rosa Phelps, a Mortgage Financing Advisor in the Hilton Head market, moved to Savannah, Ga. in 2020, one of the first things that came to mind was, “How can I make an impact?”
Rosa, a military spouse and mom of five, has lived in several places across the world and despite the uneasiness of settling into a new community, she has always had a desire to contribute immediately.
Throughout her time in Savannah, Rosa has volunteered and built relationships with local non-profits and Hispanic and Latino-owned businesses to increase visibility and engagement in the community. In addition to helping business owners with translations, Rosa was a key member in helping Hispanic and Latino-owned businesses secure free memberships into the Savannah Chamber of Commerce.
Rosa joined the Savannah Chamber of Commerce in June as an ambassador and was invited by Mayor Van Johnson to officially announce the Proclamation of National Hispanic Heritage Month on September 8th. The proclamation celebrates equity and diversity to a city that is dedicated to providing resources to its Spanish-speaking communities.
“Holding the proclamation was like a stamp that said we are here, and we are stronger together,” Phelps said. “Sometimes in our communities there is a lot of exclusion, or we aren’t aware of the resources available so it’s important for me to help others get access to resources and break those barriers within my city.”
“What Hispanic Heritage Month means to me is simply living my values,” said Phelps. “It’s leaving everything that was left behind for a better future. I’m a daughter of Mexican immigrants that sacrificed everything. It wasn’t easy. It’s a sense of overwhelming pride about our culture, history, family, and legacy.”