




Meet the Team
Daniela Gamez Salgado was born in Holguin, Cuba and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. While choosing a path in higher education, she knew that she wanted to support and uplift immigrant communities in Kentucky in any way she could. She graduated with a B.A. in International Studies from the University of Kentucky in 2021 and soon after began working at a refugee resettlement nonprofit, where she provided case management to thousands of newly arrived immigrants. This work taught her a lot and most of all, it taught her to take action to fill the gaps. This is what inspired Mango Street Dreaming, a platform devoted to promoting access to higher education and remembering our roots.​
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Melissa Pavon Salgado was born in Holguin, Cuba, and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. At the age of seven, she arrived in the United States and began attending Hazelwood Elementary, where she learned English and quickly adapted exceeding every expectation set for her.Like many immigrant children, Melissa became the bridge between two worlds, often taking on the role of translator for her parents. Now in her last year at the University of Louisville, Melissa recognizes education as one of her greatest achievements. What began as a journey of uncertainty when she arrived from Cuba has grown into a story of perseverance and purpose. Earning her Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Sales, it represents not only a personal milestone but also a symbol of how far determination and resilience can carry a dream.
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Vanessa Salgado was born and raised in Kentucky and has always believed in pursuing every passion with purpose. After graduating from high school, she began her career in real estate to uplift and empower her community, especially first-time homebuyers and first-generation families, by showing them that homeownership is possible and within reach. Alongside her work in real estate, Vanessa has also pursued her passion for modeling, a creative path that’s taught her the power of following where your heart leads. Her dedication has led her to work with notable brands like Pantene, an experience that continues to inspire her to dream bigger. Her passion for growth has led her to pursue a degree in Finance at the University of Kentucky. Through Mango Street Dreaming, Vanessa hopes to continue sharing resources and helping others see that no dream is out of reach.
History
2022
2023
2024
2025
Daniela Gamez Salgado started out as The Bookstore on Mango Street, an Etsy shop that doubled as a platform to review books. The goal was initially to encourage others to read and celebrate their roots. In 2022, we decided it was more meaningful to focus on celebrating our roots and change our name to Mango Street Dreaming.
At the height of her work providing direct client assistance to immigrant and refugee families, Daniela noticed that many young adults desired to pursue their education. She had recently heard her grandmother's story of perseverance in the pursuit of her own education which opened her mind to other ways that she could serve her community. This led to the first La Santana Scholarship, which was coordinated through Bold.org.
Rebrand. Second La Santana Scholarship, coordinated through mangostreetdreaming.com. First community-based scholarship, Las Violetas Initiative.
Team grew to include Vanessa Salgado and Melissa Pavon Salgado.
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