Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorena Placencia.
Hi Lorena, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Ecuador and moved to Miami at an early age, not knowing that life was going to surprise me in the most unbelievable and wonderful ways. Acting, dancing, photography and pageantry were the stepping stones to a successful career in radio and television.
After winning the titles of “Miss Florida US. International 2011” and “Miss Carnaval Miami 2013”, the questions that I asked myself were: “What’s next?” and “How can I better serve my community”, since I believe wholeheartedly that greatness is determined by service to the people.
This mentality led me to volunteer with multiple nonprofit organizations and schools, raising awareness about beautiful causes, while also contributing and making a powerful and positive impact in society.
While working full-time and studying at Florida Gulf Coast University, I received a phone call that was going to give me an opportunity to serve the Hispanic community on a much bigger scale than previously possible. As News Anchor and Producer of Noticias MundoFox (in Fort Myers, Florida), I helped launch the first Spanish newscast in southwest Florida and became a well-known news personality for local radio stations, utilizing this unique opportunity to further inform the Hispanic audience. These opportunities are where I found the love and passion I have today as a journalist.
As a Latino affairs correspondent for Wink News-TV (a CBS affiliate) in Fort Myers, I covered politics during the 2016 election as well as relations between Cuba and the United States. Previously I co-hosted one of the morning shows of Telemundo Naples-Fort Myers and for over eight years, I have participated as an emcee for numerous community events.
Five years ago, I decided to join Telemundo Austin and it is truly a privilege to have the opportunity to serve the Hispanic community in the Capital of Texas.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has been a road full of trials and struggles. What helped me develop resilience and the power to move forward was a set of values I discovered, including: finding your purpose, setting daily goals, practicing thoughts of awareness, being flexible and most importantly believing in yourself.
Coming from a loving Hispanic family, moving away to Austin from Miami to further my career, was one of the hardest decisions I have made so far. But creating a support system and becoming part of a wonderful community that I can connect with here in the city, has helped shape me into a stronger and wiser woman.
The way through any challenge is to always strategize the next move and most importantly: do not give up on your goals. I believe that the obstacles in our way to success can actually be opportunities to help us to grow and learn as both individuals and professionals.
Life does not happen to us, it happens for us. It is important to be grateful for the opportunity and the struggles we overcome to become the best versions of ourselves possible.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a bilingual news anchor, some of my responsibilities include informing the public of the top news of the day, interviewing guests and managing the broadcast viewer experience. I also follow current events and news stories to present to the audience in an informative and objective manner. The Hispanic community has a range of concerns and along with my team, we cover them all including topics like: immigration, education, health, economy and the weather.
I am most proud of being a Hispanic female journalist because I have the daily privilege to be the voice of a growing minority that allows me to connect with and help the Latino community, because of the nature of my profession. It is all about giving back and helping others!
During my first year as a news anchor for Telemundo Austin, I was honored to be a recipient of the first Emmy Award from the Lone Star Emmy Chapter for “Excellence in the Television Broadcasting Industry”. For two consecutive years, I also received the award for “TV On Air Personality of the Year” from the Alliance for Women in Media. Additionally in my third year, I was the recipient of a second Emmy Award and was a nominee for the Capital of Texas Awards of the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
I believe that change starts within us, and if we would like to see a positive one in our communities, we must set an example. Serving others and supporting many wonderful causes has a lasting impact on society at large. Inspiring and helping people has always been my passion and a personal goal of mine, even before starting my career in journalism.
This has resulted in me taking part in numerous efforts and organizations in attempts to achieve these goals, some of which are: I’ve been a part of I am a former Board Member of “The Alzheimer’s Association of Capital of Texas” and a former Board Member for “Women of Wardrobe (WoW)”, a group of young professional women whose mission is to raise awareness for the non-profit organization “Dress for Success Austin” through fundraising, volunteerism, and community building activities. The goal of “Dress for Success Austin” is to inspire the next generation and empower disadvantaged women through professional development. I have also volunteered my time to work with the organization “Latinitas”, which is dedicated to empowering girls to innovate through media and technology and helping them to build confidence and develop their individual creative voice.
I’ve worked on campaigns to raise funds for the Central Texas Food Bank and led the community in the fight against hunger in our local area. I support the initiative “It’s Time Texas” in order to empower people to lead healthier lives and build healthier communities. I have been the ambassador of the “Kiwanis of Little Havana” Foundation, which focuses on further assisting the financially underserved Hispanic youth. Additionally, I have been the face of an annual campaign that helps raise funds for the Breast Cancer Resource Center to support and improve the lives of those touched by breast cancer.
Lastly, I have volunteered as an emcee for great causes such as “AIDS Services of Austin” to enhance the health and well-being of the community and people affected by HIV and AIDS.
Through these efforts listed, I’ve been able to form a genuine connection with the Hispanic audience, building trust and credibility while getting to meet so many wonderful individuals. This is how I believe myself to be set apart from others- in this ability to connect more personally with my audience by being present in the community and a steadfast pursuit of becoming the best version of myself.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The biggest lesson I have learned from the Covid-19 crisis is to remember the importance of “self-care”, the taking care of our own physical, mental and emotional health. To live in the present and value the time spent with our loved ones.
It forced us to reassess our priorities, to be humble and thankful every day for something that was taken for granted: just being alive.
There has been so much loss, but with it comes new wisdom that may help positively reshape the way we go forward and to take note of those different areas of our lives that need fixing or upgrading.
In this crisis, we’ve also witnessed never-before-seen moments of unity, compassion and service, on both local and global scale. It has shown the importance, now more than ever, to go after those dreams and projects we’ve been wanting to pursue without waiting for the “perfect time”.
There is no time for fear and procrastination, it is your time to shine and be of service to others!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @LorenaPlacenciaTV
- Facebook: LorenaPlacenciaTV
- Twitter: LorenaPlacencia
- Other: Tiiktok @LorenaPlacenciaTV
