LIVESTREAM

NALEO 43^rdAnnual Conference

Join us for the NALEO 43^rd Annual Conference — the nation’s largest and most prestigious gathering of Latino elected and appointed officials. As NALEO marks its 50^th Anniversary, we return to Los Angeles, where it all began, at one of the most consequential moments in modern American history.

Under the theme “Celebrating Where We Began. Building What Comes Next.” — this year’s Conference is built around one core purpose: giving leaders the tools, connections, and strategies to govern effectively right now.

July 14 – 16, 2026 | InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026

Opening Gavel Ceremony: Leading the Moment. Rising Together

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026

Kickoff in LA: A NALEO World Cup Celebration

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2026

Building What Comes Next: Leadership at 50

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2026

On the National Stage: Leaders Shaping the Moment | Final Four Fever: A NALEO World Cup Celebration

THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Forward Together: Leadership Beyond this Moment

Livestream Agenda

TUE, JUL 14

WED, JUL 15

THU, JUL 16

Opening Gavel Ceremony: Leading the Moment. Rising Together

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. PT

Three days. Hundreds of Latino leaders. One defining moment. NALEO and NALEO Educational Fund leaders join California’s most prominent officials to open the 43^rd Annual Conference with intention — setting the terms for what the next three days demand. The ceremony opens with a celebratory performance honoring the depth and vibrancy of Latino culture and setting the tone for everything that follows.

Breakfast & Opening Gavel Ceremony Welcome Remarks:

Ms. Jennifer Zinicola, Group Director, Political Strategy & Advocacy, the Coca Cola Company
Ms. Michelle Gaskill-Hames, Regional President, Kaiser Permanente Southern California & Hawaii
Hon. Lena Gonzalez, California State Senator; Chair, California Latino Legislative Caucus
Hon. Karen Bass, Mayor, City of Los Angeles, California

Keynote Remarks:

Hon. Javier Martinez, Speaker, New Mexico House of Representatives

Kickoff in LA: A NALEO World Cup Celebration

11:30 a.m.– 1:45 p.m. PT

Step into the excitement without ever leaving the conference. Presented by The Coca‑Cola Company, this World Cup Watch Party brings the energy of the tournament straight to the ballroom. Join fellow NALEO members for a hosted lunch and an electric atmosphere that kicks off our 50^th Anniversary Conference in true celebration mode. Cheer on your favorite team, connect with colleagues, and enjoy the beautiful game on the big screen!

Keynote Remarks:

Hon. Todd Gloria, Mayor, San Diego, California; President, The United States Conference of Mayors

Fireside Chat:

Hon. Alex Padilla, United States Senator (CA); Former President, NALEO
Hon. Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of California
Mr. Francisco Balbuena, VP of Sustainability, The Coca-Cola Company

Building What Comes Next: Leadership at 50

8:30 – 9:45 a.m. PT

Fifty years ago, Edward R. Roybal had a vision: Latino leaders, organized and ready to govern. This breakfast is about where that vision stands today — and what it demands of all of us right now. CEO Erica Bernal-Martinez and distinguished legislative leaders join NALEO’s statewide and national partners for a morning that isn’t just reflection — it’s a reckoning with what we’ve built, what we’re defending, and who we’re building it for next.

Welcome Remarks:

Hon. Monique Limón, President pro Tempore, California State Senate
Hon. Robert Rivas, Speaker, California State Assembly

Gubernatorial Candidate Remarks:

Hon. Xavier Becerra, California Gubernatorial Candidate; Former Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Keynote:

Hon. Ruben Gallego, U.S. Senator (AZ)

On the National Stage: Leaders Shaping the Moment | Final Four Fever: A NALEO World Cup Celebration

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT

These are the people making decisions that affect your community right now — and you’ll be in the room with them. This forum puts NALEO members in direct conversation with the national leaders shaping policy, driving debate, and navigating the same political terrain you are. This is access you don’t get anywhere else.

Welcome Remarks:

Hon. Suzette Martinez Valladares, California State Senator; Co-Chair, California Hispanic Legislative Caucus; Co-Chair, California Problem Solvers Caucus

NALEO Golden Legacy Award: :

Mr. Ed Avila, First Executive Director, NALEO
Hon. Raymond G. Sanchez, Former Speaker, New Mexico House of Representatives; Former President, NALEO

Gubernatorial Candidate Remarks:

Mr. Steve Hilton, California Gubernatorial Candidate

Keynote:

Hon. Ken Salazar, Former Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior; Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
Ms. Yesenia Monsour, Senior Director, Southern California Regional Government and Community Relations, Kaiser Permanente

Forward Together: Leadership Beyond this Moment

11:30 a.m.– 1:00 p.m. PT

The challenges ahead are too big for any one community to face alone. This closing luncheon brings together NALEO members and allied leaders — partners and sister organizations who share our stakes and our commitment — for a showing of unity and collective leadership as we do the work to build the coalitions that can actually move the country forward. It ends where every great conference should: a focus on the future — with the ceremonial hand-off to the 44^th Annual Conference, a room full of partners ready to keep going, and a clear-eyed commitment to what none of us can do alone.

Fireside Chat with Latin American Consuls General in Los Angeles:
Moderator: Hon. César Blanco, Texas State Senator; First Vice President, NALEO

Hon. Carlos González Gutiérrez, Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles
Hon. Alejandro Letona Alvarado, Consul General of El Salvador in Los Angeles
Hon. Jaime Rafael Casafranca Aguilar, Consul General of Peru in Los Angeles

Hand Off to the El Paso, Texas delegation, NALEO 44^th Annual Conference, June 22-24, 2027.

Keynote Remarks: