International Women’s Day Power Luncheon: A Conversation Dedicated to Determination

Join us for an inspiring Power Luncheon as we honor the achievements of women and enjoy an unforgettable culinary experience. This special event features award-winning chefs Amalia Moreno-Damgaard and Soleil Ramirez, two trailblazing women who bring passion, creativity, and cultural richness to every dish they create.

Come ready to be inspired, connect with fellow changemakers, and celebrate the power of women in leadership, business, and beyond. Let’s raise a toast to empowerment, delicious flavors, and the incredible women shaping our world!

Amalia Moreno-Damgaard is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and former banking executive dedicated to promoting Latin heritage and empowering women in business. As a WBENC-certified woman-owned enterprise, the first Latina President of NAWBO-MN (2023), and co-founder of Women Entrepreneurs of Minnesota, Amalia champions initiatives that uplift women entrepreneurs, foster inclusivity and inspire cultural understanding. Through her work, she addresses key challenges, such as the lack of cultural awareness in corporate spaces, the underrepresentation of Latina voices in leadership, and the need for healthier, innovative approaches to traditional cuisine.

As a keynote speaker, consultant, and experiences curator, Amalia inspires organizations nationwide to embrace diversity and inclusion through cultural education, culinary storytelling, and meaningful engagement. She partners with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), executives, nonprofits, and universities, to deepen their understanding of Latin cultural nuances, creating authentic connections that foster inclusivity, innovation, and collaboration.
With a legacy of serving on 12 nonprofit boards, Amalia has consistently used her leadership to drive philanthropy and community empowerment. Her efforts focus on uplifting diverse causes, mentoring future leaders, and supporting initiatives that create lasting impact.

Amalia is a regular contributor to WCCO-CBS MN, KARE11, KSTP TV5, and MPR News and has been featured on National Geographic’s World Eats Bread, The New York Times, People en Español, Forbes BrandVoice, and PBS-TPT. She was recently featured in the Taste section of The Minnesota Star Tribune and graced the cover story of Chicago’s The Women Who Empower Chronicle. Her award-winning books, Amalia’s Guatemalan Kitchen and Amalia’s Mesoamerican Table, have garnered 14 international awards, including the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for Best in the World and gold medals from the International Latino Book Awards.

Amalia has an MIB from Saint Louis University, is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, the CIA’s CEIP Program and NSA’s Speakers Academy. Her unique combination of education, global experiences, and cultural advocacy enables her to deliver transformative speeches, consulting, workshops, and culinary experiences that drive impact for individuals and organizations alike.
Recognized as the National Woman Business Owner of the Year (NAWBO National), recipient of the National Immigrant Spirit Award and the Latino Entrepreneur of the Year by the IES and Minnesota Latino Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Woman in Business Champion of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration Minnesota District Office and the Catalyst Award by Women Venture, Amalia is building a lasting legacy of leadership and impact.

Amalia leverages her lived experiences (rooted in her Guatemalan heritage and global travels) to create lasting connections and inspire change. Discover more about her mission to promote Culture Through Cuisine through Amalia Latin Gourmet at AmaliaLLC.com or follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

Soleil Ramirez was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and grew up in a loving, multigenerational home where food was the connection that brought everyone together. Her fondest childhood memories are of cooking alongside her mother and grandmother for the people they cherished most.

Soleil began her professional journey on a practical and promising path, earning a college degree in business administration and working in the financial departments of two large international companies. However, a few years later, the pull of her true passion for food and cooking inspired her to enroll in culinary school and embark on a career in the food industry. Her unique combination of financial expertise and culinary talent allowed her to turn a struggling restaurant into a thriving enterprise in just three short months. Recognizing her exceptional skills, the restaurant’s owner invited her to become his business partner when she was only 26 years old.

Unfortunately, her rapid success drew the unwanted attention of corrupt government officials, who expropriated the restaurant’s and her personal assets. Left with nothing and facing threats and violence, Soleil made the courageous decision to seek asylum in the United States in 2016. She arrived with only $300 and a week’s worth of clothes, yet her determination and resilience never wavered. Forced to leave her beloved country, she resolved that her future would not be defined by these hardships.

It took 151 days for Soleil to gain a work permit after arriving in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Since then, she has poured her heart into building a meaningful life in her new home. Despite the distance, she continues to support her mother in Venezuela, sending money and medicine, and remains deeply connected to the struggles of her people. With innate talent, exceptional culinary skills, and an unmatched work ethic, Soleil quickly caught the attention of renowned chefs in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, including Jonathan Hunt at Al Vento Restaurant and Jack Riebel at The Lexington, where she served as Chef de Cuisine for three years. Amidst grueling schedules and high expectations, Soleil thrived.

While immensely grateful for the opportunities to grow and learn, Soleil always dreamed of executing her own culinary vision—sharing her culture and creating a welcoming space for the Latin community. In 2020, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic, she took a leap of faith and opened her first restaurant, Arepa Bar, at the Midtown Global Market. Both a heartfelt tribute to her Venezuelan heritage and a gift to her adopted home in Minnesota, Arepa Bar was the only 100% traditional Venezuelan restaurant in the region in 2020. From the moment Soleil decided to migrate, her dream has been to “bring a piece of home to the USA and show the world that Venezuela is not just oil, bad government, and drugs.”

In 2021-2022, Soleil launched the “Love & Soul Series,” a monthly private fine-dining experience for 30 guests held at The Central Mix in Columbia Heights. These events educated patrons about the historical roots of Venezuelan cuisine and its influences from Spain, Portugal, and France. After the series’ overwhelming success, Soleil pursued her next adventure. In August 2023, she opened Crasqui Restaurant at 84 Wabasha St S in Saint Paul, MN.

Crasqui embodies Soleil’s vision, with dishes inspired by her Venezuelan roots, travels, family, and the flavors she remembers from home. Each creation is a tribute to her memories and the vibrant places she visited in Venezuela. Crasqui is one of the few Venezuelan fine-dining experiences in the United States and proudly houses the only Venezuelan Rum Bar in the entire Midwest. The restaurant has been widely recognized, earning mentions in the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Minnesota Monthly, and Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine as one of the 50 best restaurants in 2023. Soleil also competed in the acclaimed show “Chopped” in 2024, with the episode set to air in 2025.

Soleil is profoundly grateful for her dedicated team, loving family, supportive friends, inspiring mentors, and the organizations that helped her succeed. By sharing her expertise, contagious passion, and unyielding optimism, she is committed to paying it forward—encouraging others with the same audacious entrepreneurial drive to pursue their own American dreams.

REGISTRATION CLOSES:  MARCH 3RD, 2025!

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