Inkluded Graduate Rose Heredia to Moderate Latinx in Publishing’s 10th Anniversary Panel

This year, Latinx in Publishing celebrates its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of amplifying Latine/x voices in literature and in the publishing industry. To honor the milestone, Latinx in Pub is hosting Getting In & Moving Up panel on Wednesday, October 22, 7pm ET. This special discussion will explore pathways into publishing—from educational programs like Inkluded Academy to entry-level jobs—and how professionals of color can navigate hiring practices, move up the corporate ladder, and shape the future of the field.

Inkluded is proud to be part of this conversation, with our Director of Operation, Cecilia Gray sitting on the panel, and one of our 2025 Inkluded Academy graduates, Rose Heredia, serving as the panel’s moderator. Kayah Hodge, a 2019 Inkluded Academy graduate, will also sit on this panel.

Rose’s journey reflects the transformative impact of both organizations—community-building through Latinx in Pub and career preparation through Inkluded Academy.

“I’m glad organizations like [LatinX in Publishing and Inkluded] exist,” Rose said. “I hope the panel shows people of color that there are publishing professionals who look like them—and that they can see themselves in those positions. I also hope this panel provides both resources and the belief that building a career in publishing is possible.”

A Journey Through Two Communities

Rose’s journey to publishing has been circular. A lifelong writer and voracious reader, she has always been drawn to stories and the power they hold. Yet, like many people of color, she faced barriers to breaking into the industry and pursued other career paths. Now, twenty years later, Rose has returned to publishing with renewed determination—ready to make an impact on the stories we read and the voices that get heard.

Rose first connected with Latinx in Publishing in 2022, when she applied for an editorial fellowship. When she tells it, she says, “I almost didn’t apply.” After years of searching for an industry job, Rose thought that this might become another unanswered application. But, with determination, she said, “I decided to give the application my all and be honest about why I wanted [to be in publishing]. A few months later, I found out I’d been accepted, and that opened the door to Latinx in Publishing.” Since completing the fellowship, Rose has been involved in different ways—from attending their networking events to having mentorship check-ins with the founders. Rose fondly states, “I’ll never not be part of this organization.”

Her path to Inkluded came later, during an informational interview where someone mentioned Inkluded Academy to her. By that point, Rose had quit her full-time job and was fully committed to pursuing her dream career in publishing. “I told myself, ‘If I get into this program, I’m meant to be in publishing.’” Meant to be it was because Rose absolutely shone in Inkluded Academy, impressing the faculty, her mentor, and her fellow matriculants with her passion, knowledge, and dedication. 

“I really appreciated the experience. [Inkluded Academy] was more than I expected. I loved that I got more information about every department in publishing than I ever have in my life, and I got access to so many professionals I wouldn’t have otherwise met. I’m so glad I got to be part of Inkluded.” 

Since graduating, Rose has stayed deeply connected to Inkluded, generously giving her time and energy as a volunteer—contributions that continue to strengthen our community.

Building a More Inclusive Industry

For Rose, the impact of both organizations goes beyond her personal journey:

“I’m glad these organizations exist—they weren’t around twenty years ago when I first tried to break into the industry.… Their presence allows more people of color to believe that they can pursue these roles [in publishing] and exist in the industry. I’m hopeful that the PoC currently in these organizations will continue to mentor future generations to help create more visibility and access, and that [these organizations] will continue to receive the support and funding they need to keep doing their work ten, twenty, and thirty years from now.”

She also points to the need for greater access points across the industry. While some publishers and agencies offer internship, fellowship, and apprenticeship opportunities, Rose acknowledges that we, as an industry—large and small companies alike— need to continue creating opportunities for people to learn about the different facets of publishing and how to break in. “ Both [Inkluded and Latinx in Publishing] are creating pathways and mentorship that didn’t exist before, and that’s impactful.”

Looking Ahead

For Rose, breaking into publishing has always been about returning to her passion for stories. “My dad calls me comelibros, which in Spanish means someone who eats books [or just a bookworm], because I’ve always been drawn to stories. Earning my MFA gave me the chance to be in an environment where I was constantly talking about stories and surrounded by people who shared my passion. I realized that’s what I wanted for my career. At the end of the day, I want to use all my skills to advocate for stories and for people.”

As moderator, Rose is most excited about sparking honest conversations and creating space for aspiring professionals to see themselves in the industry the way that she does. There is space and need for PoC voices in publishing, and this panel is just one of many opportunities for us to encourage publishing aspirants to chase their dreams.  

As Latinx in Publishing marks a decade of impact, and as Inkluded continues to grow its programs, Rose’s role as moderator is both a celebration and a sign of what’s possible: the next generation of Latine/X and BIPoC voices stepping into leadership, shaping the future of publishing.

Inkluded Announces Partnership with Macmillan Publishers to Support Diversity in Publishing

New York, NY (September 30, 2025) — Inkluded, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering diversity in publishing, and Macmillan Publishers, a big five publisher, are proud to announce a partnership that will strengthen career pathways, amplify voices, and create spaces for connection.

Inkluded champions diversity in publishing by actively working to train and place people from a diverse range of backgrounds into their first publishing jobs. Macmillan strives to cultivate a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging, and is empowered to contribute authentically while making meaningful contributions. Together, this partnership reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to creating a more inclusive industry. 

“At Inkluded, our programs are designed to demystify publishing, foster meaningful connections, and expand access to the industry,” said Michael Mejias, Executive Director at Inkluded. “Macmillan’s support creates opportunities for our members to engage, learn, and enter the industry with confidence.”

As part of this partnership, members of Macmillan will connect with the Inkluded community in upcoming Spotlight events, offering members direct access to industry professionals and insight into the publishing landscape. The collaboration will also establish tangible career mentorship for Inkluded members.

“We are truly excited to partner with Inkluded to continue expanding and empowering a wide range of voices within the publishing industry,” said LaToya Rose, Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Macmillan. “By creating this community, Inkluded is helping folks navigate their career aspirations with confidence.”

About Inkluded

Inkluded is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making publishing a more welcoming and diverse space by educating, mentoring, and championing underrepresented talent. We foster new voices, facilitate career entry points, and advocate for more diversity across all divisions of publishing. For updated news, please follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn, and visit Inkluded.org. 

Inkluded Press Contact:

Cecilia Gray, Director of Operations, CeciliaGray@inkluded.org

About Macmillan Publishers

Macmillan Publishers is the U.S. trade company that is part of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a large family-owned group of media companies headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Holtzbrinck Publishing Group's publishing companies include prominent imprints around the world that publish a broad range of award-winning books for children and adults in all categories and formats.

U.S. publishers include Celadon Books, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Flatiron Books, Henry Holt & Company, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, The St. Martin's Publishing Group, and Tor Publishing Group. In the UK, Australia, India, and South Africa, companies in the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group publish under the Pan Macmillan name. The German publishing company, Holtzbrinck Deutsche Buchverlage, includes among its imprints S. Fischer, Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Rowohlt, and Droemer Knaur. us.macmillan.com 

Macmillan Publishers Contact:

Catherine Marvin, Senior Director, Communications, Macmillan Publishers, Catherine.Marvin@macmillan.com

Hachette Book Group and Inkluded Announce New Partnership to Promote Diversity in Publishing

New York, NY (June 25, 2025) — Hachette Book Group (HBG) and Inkluded, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering diversity in publishing, announced today a partnership that includes tuition stipends and in-kind support for Inkluded’s participants and programs beginning this summer. Inkluded champions diversity in publishing by actively working to train and place young people from underrepresented groups into their first publishing jobs. Graduates of Inkluded Academy perform a wide range of job functions in all Big 5 publishers and several major agencies.

“One of Hachette’s goals is to ‘change the story,’ which is possible through partnerships with organizations like Inkluded whose mission so closely aligns with ours,” said Sara Munjack, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Hachette Book Group. “Our mission is to make it easy for everyone to discover new worlds of ideas, learning, entertainment, and opportunity, which echoes Inkluded’s work to make publishing more diverse and the literary community a more welcoming and aware space for all readers, writers, and industry professionals.”

HBG will support the organization in a number of ways, including financially for Inkluded Academy as well as in-kind with speakers and event space in its New York headquarters for Inkluded’s year-round programming, namely Spotlight, and Pathways.

• Inkluded Academy is a publishing course taught every summer by industry professionals that aims to educate and place BIPoC publishing aspirants across all areas of the business. Cohorts are comprised of nine matriculants who are over 18 and live in the NYC tristate area, representing a mix of recent college graduates, graduate students, and career changers. Each matriculant receives full tuition support, with all stipends for the Class of 2025 covered by HBG. This year’s Academy begins July 10.

• Spotlight and Pathways are year-long programs featuring monthly speaker-driven events that help Inkluded realize its mission. Spotlight program speakers bring overlooked parts of the publishing industry into focus, whereas Pathways speakers offer practical, skills-focused training. Both programs will benefit from having HBG’s roster of publishing professionals on their schedule.

“Through our programming, we support and embolden BIPoC voices, collaborate with like-minded organizations, and facilitate actionable discourse regarding the lack of diversity in our business.” said Michael Mejias, Executive Director at Inkluded. “With this partnership, Inkluded and HBG will equip future BIPoC publishing professionals with the tools and network they need to thrive.”

About Hachette Book Group

Hachette Book Group (HBG) is a leading U.S. general-interest book publisher made up of dozens of esteemed imprints within the publishing groups Basic Books Group; Grand Central Publishing Group; Hachette Audio; Little, Brown and Company; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Orbit; Union Square & Co.; and Workman Running Press Group. We also provide custom distribution, fulfillment, and sales services to other publishing companies. Our books and authors have received the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, Booker Prize, Nobel Peace Prize, and other major honors. We are committed to diversity in our company and our publishing programs, and to fostering a culture of inclusion for all of our employees and authors. We are proud to be part of Hachette Livre, the world’s third-largest trade and educational publisher. Visit hachettebookgroup.com to learn more about our imprints, titles, and products. For updated news, please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, X.com, and YouTube.

Hachette Book Group Press Contact:

Gabrielle Gambrell, Chief Communications Officer, Gabrielle.Gambrell@hbgusa.com

About Inkluded

Inkluded is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making publishing a more welcoming and diverse space by educating, mentoring, and championing BIPoC talent. We foster new voices, facilitate career entry points, and advocate for systemic change from the inside out. For updated news, please follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Inkluded Press Contact:

Cecilia Gray, Director of Operations, CeciliaGray@inkluded.org

Read the original press release here.