Con nosotros.

Opening remarks by Javier Diaz.

All I. My name is Diaz.

I'm representing Lehigh Valley Public Media tonight, home of PBS 39, in Bethlehem.

Here.

Welcome to Easton.

Welcome to the Lehigh Valley.

I hope you all had an amazing couple of days here.

I just want to thank Norman and Olga and the entire crew that put this amazing event on, and I want to thank them for having us as a sponsor.

We've been supporting the convention pretty much since the first one in Lancaster, Allentown, Bethlehem.

We were always there to support this effort because we feel it's important, especially if it's important tonight to be supporting the 20 under 40.

These are our future leaders, our future business owners, and we are so proud to be able to support them and hopefully shine some light on the great things that people are doing.

We are recording this tonight, so this video will be available for a future watching and hopefully inspiring youth to see what they can be.

That's one of our main missions at LVM is to inspire the next generation.

Speaking of that, we got a special program coming out soon that I want to tell you about.

It's called Echoes of Cultura and it's a it's a documentary, a little bit of history about Latinos in the Lehigh Valley.

But more importantly, it highlights those in that in our community now that are doing things and making moves and making things happen and doing positive things and setting up the next generation.

And again, that is a hope that young people watching it can see, you know, if they're in a struggle right now, you can make it through and you can do something good with your life.

You don't have to end where you started.

So that's the whole point of that.

October 2nd, we are having an event at our station.

If you're in town, it's a premiere party for Echoes of Cultura, and it will also be broadcast live on YouTube and a panel discussion following that.

So again, I hope you can join us there.

If not, check it out on YouTube again.

We're so proud to be here.

We're so proud to support the 20 under 40 and let's get this party started.

Thank you very much.

Opening at Grupo one.

Para Mario.

The Devil's lobby.

Nova Scotia.

Tony.

Damian, my.

By.

Asked them on your side.

BMO to.

Make middle class.

My mama Desperado.

Indian para la contigo my la.

Fiera.

Commonwealth llama cuando middle mama mama.

Never.

So.

Yes, and I'm I. Love Tennessee I one out in.

The gala presenting sponsor Kathleen Mackenzie, VP, Community Affairs of Highmark.

To see us everyone.

Good afternoon and happy Hispanic Heritage Month to everyone which is in our world every month.

Right.

So my name is Kathleen Mackenzie and I'm the vice president of community Affairs at Highmark Blue Shield.

And tonight I am proudly representing my company, Highmark Health, United, Concordia Dental, and Highmark Whole Care.

I cannot leave this stage without thinking of the incredible leaders who are here tonight and thanking them.

Mayor Sal Pinto, thank you so much, Luis Campos and Jared Mast.

Easton has never looked more beautiful thanks to the hard work and passion of these community leaders, I. Yes, let's give them a round of applause.

And of course, I want to thank Norman Bristol Colon for continuing to lead this magnificent event and our convention team.

Olga, Debbie and DeMar, we love you lady so much.

Thank you so much I also.

I also have to thank my salute team.

They are our Highmark employees and we just love and thank you for how you represent our company in the community.

Thank you.

Salud.

So it was revealed last year in Pittsburgh that this convention would be in eastern Pennsylvania.

And I've been waiting all year to see it here because I'm a proud graduate of Easton High School.

This is my hometown and I will always love Easton.

But I want to tell you about how I was raised here.

I was raised by a Polish father and a Mexican-American mother.

My mother was born and raised in Laredo, Texas.

I was born and raised right here, Southside Easton on Saint Joseph Street.

I went to Cheston Elementary School for anyone who's from here.

My father was a teacher, but he was also a US census taker.

And in those days, the 70s and 80s, the census takers came to your door with a clipboard with little boxes to check off, and they asked, how many people are living here?

Are you white?

Are you black?

Are you Hispanic or other?

That was it.

No other categories white, black, Hispanic or other.

My mother, Angelina Rodriguez, always filled out the form for our family.

She filled it out.

Father white, mother Hispanic and six children live here.

Hispanic.

Hispanic.

Hispanic.

Hispanic.

Hispanic.

Hispanic.

Right.

So she would look us in the eye and she would say, when you take the SATs, you're Hispanic.

When you apply to college, you're Hispanic.

When you get a job, you're Hispanic.

When you go to the hospital and you go to the doctors and you fill out any, you are Hispanic.

And my mother knew who she was.

She made sure her children carried the same pride of identity forward.

So that's why.

Yeah, that's why today, 2026, right here in Pennsylvania, we are over 1 million strong because of that.

At the Latino convention, when a person says we are, what do we say 1 million strong.

So when I say we are, what do you say?

And this is not political, but when I say elections are approaching and we are, it's very important.

Remember that.

And I'm honest, I'm honored, honored to stand here today and represent Highmark, because I know you've all heard about how great and wonderful Highmark is in the last couple of days, but I can tell you this today, tonight, as I stand here, Highmark has allowed me the honor and privilege to support the Latino Convention, and the Latino Convention is changing lives.

Ask any of the young people here, the college students who attended the events.

They are inspired.

They see a future because of the Latino convention.

In fact, they are becoming lawyers and judges and elected officials and community leaders because of the Latino Convention.

It's been nine years across the state and our students are growing up there leading.

They're thriving and they're honoring their heritage because, as you know, our convention chairman and founder, Norman has always said, how do you know where you are going?

If you don't know where you came from?

So I will end this by saying I am deeply grateful to him, a company that has provided me the opportunity to support the Latino Convention, to support the employees at Highmark who are Latino, and to support our Latino community at this exact, pivotal moment in our American history.

Because remember, we are 1 million strong.

Thank you.

Have a nice evening.

20 under 40.

2026 honorees presented by Norman Bristol.

Cologne.

What are.

Caballeros?

Incredible.

Esta noche avant.

Individuals.

Q trajectory.

Professionalism.

Y sobre todo entrega an construir comunidad latina de la suma meant August ellos representing el futuro.

Ellos representing nuestra sangre.

Ellos representing nuestro in cada rincon de este estado de Pennsylvania.

Tenemos sangre Latina contribution diarrhea y Pennsylvania sigue siendo el mejor estado de la nacion.

Gracias a las contributions bent individuals jovenes de nuestra comunidad latina de Pennsylvania.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have to deliver the message first.

Not only my first language, but as you all know, Spanish is the language of God, right?

You knew that.

So it is such an honor for me to welcome you to the 2026 Pennsylvania Latino Convention Gala.

And this is the first time that we are honoring 20 wonderful individuals under the age of 40 that every day contribute in Pennsylvania, in making our Commonwealth a better place to work, to live, and to raise a family.

These individuals represent the very best of who we are.

They know when Arabella Sand moved here from somewhere, they brought with them their dreams.

Well, that is the dream of their abuse, that they are this American dream, that they are the best representation of who we are.

As 1.3 million Latinos in the Commonwealth, but also 68 million Latinos in the nation.

So tonight, tonight we honor these 20 amazing individuals from Pittsburgh all the way to Philadelphia, from Lancaster to Harrisburg.

And they once again represent the hopes, the dreams and the aspirations of every single Latino that called this Commonwealth home.

So first, I'm going to start calling the honorees.

Yesenia Alvarado from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Carlos Aponte from Philadelphia.

Jaime Arroyo from Lancaster.

Amanda Batiste from Harrisburg.

I'm choosing to spend my time tonight to talk to our young people.

Our kids are seeing on a regular basis the struggles that the adults and people in this room and across our nation are facing.

It is important for us to see them, to value them, and to remind them that they matter, that they're enough, and that when we show up in spaces with them that we are lifting up their voices and we're creating opportunities for them.

I think the other layer of the work that we do on a regular basis is to make sure that when we walk into spaces, we are making our presence known.

When there isn't a path, we create the path, and we and our ancestors remind us on a regular basis that we are created for such a time when there are so many people against us.

We show up strong.

We show up resilient and we don't back down.

Just remember that we are Latinos.

And when Latinos come to the party, we stay until after the bar closes.

So thank you all.

Continue to honor each other.

And thank you again to the to the convention for honoring us.

Thank you.

Good evening.

So when I walked in today at We Love Philly, one of our young people said, Mr.

Carlos, you got a suit on today.

Where are you going?

And I said, actually, I'm being recognized tonight and I'm getting an award for all the work that we do here.

We love Philly.

He said, oh, you can get an award for something like that.

And I said, you could.

It really fits in with our motto of give love, get love.

We show up every day.

We give love.

And then when you do that on a regular basis, you're going to get it in return.

So I asked him, I said, hey, I have to give a speech, so what should I say?

And in the amazing wisdom of this young adult, he said, well, you obviously got to give them an opportunity to give love.

So what I would love for all of you to do is take out your phones.

You too.

Norman, take out your phone and text a young person in your life and check in on them.

All right?

And yeah.

That's it.

Have a beautiful night.

Sorry, I have a co voice.

My name is Amanda Batista, and I just want to start by saying how amazing this absolutely feels.

Because when I was younger and Norman was always like, you know, I saw him being keynote speakers and, and just going to events and seeing how, how powerful somebody like that is.

Right.

So to be here and to be honored tonight is an absolute I'm grateful and it's an absolute blessing.

But I also wanted to recognize the entire Pennsylvania Latino convention I can see.

And learning through all the days that I've been here, all the work that's been put behind the scenes to make something so significant for us Latinos to take back home on, Latinas to learn from and to meet new people within Pennsylvania.

And it really rejuvenated because personally, at Harrisburg, as we can see right now, I think it's the only one here from Harrisburg.

But sorry, I'll hold it down.

I'm going to smoke anyways.

So to be in this space now and that I'm constantly going in at my age fighting for, you know, others in our community because I feel like we need to have the right to fair housing and just education, all different things.

So I just feel that it's very important and it's rejuvenated me from these days.

Like I'm ready to go back tomorrow.

I'm ready to go to a board meeting.

I'm ready.

I'm dealing with it.

Okay.

I just want to say that I've learned that belonging is not something that you wait for it to be granted.

It is something we create through service and courage and the doors we open for others.

My journey has never been defined by one title.

I'm an entrepreneur, educator, public administrator, safety professional, a nonprofit leader, a mental health advocate, a community organizer.

And I'm also a mother of two sons.

Whether I'm connecting families or bilingual culture or language.

My biggest thing is just being able to speak up for those that can't, and that we shouldn't be considered less than in any else.

So I just want to say that thank you very much.

Appreciate it.

The next group of honorees and they are Melanie Boyer from Pittsburgh, Victor Cabral from reading.

Angela Capella from Lancaster and statewide.

And Soraya Cordero from Philadelphia.

I am here accepting this award on behalf of Victor Cabral, my from reading, Pennsylvania.

Unfortunately, he's so sad that he could not join us tonight, but he did give me some words to leave with you all.

I accept this 20 under 40 Latino Emerging Leaders Award in honor of my grandmother, Amanda Cabral, a beautiful black Dominican Campesina who fed her children and her community.

And my mother, Agueda Cabral, who sacrificed so much of her own life so that I could no possibility.

I stand on their shoulders.

I center my blackness to honor their legacies of resistance and breaking generational patterns.

And as an act of resistance against the anti-Blackness my grandmother experienced throughout her life.

And that continues to permeate our communities and culture.

This recognition, this honor, belongs to them.

Thank you so, so much.

Thank you to the Pennsylvania Latino Convention, comedian Norman, for this space today.

I feel so happy to be here with all of you.

It is a big honor for me to receive this award and is in part due to some of you opening doors for me, someone that came from the island.

And now we're making a little bit of noise here in Pennsylvania.

I feel very responsible with this, and I'm just excited to look forward to all the things that we still have to do together, so that we can open doors to all of the other Latinos that have so much to say and so much, so many ideas and things that they want to do for our Commonwealth.

So thank you so much.

I'm a little tiny.

Buenas noches.

Cordero es un estar aqui con todos y muchas gracias.

At the Latino convention.

Juntos.

Estos grande es una demonstration mas de el cambio comienza con nosotros.

So a little bit about me.

Mi sangre y peruano.

And I'm damn proud of it.

I'm the daughter of an immigrant, a proud queer Latina, and 100% of product of my community.

Everything I needed came from my parents, local orgs, food pantries, after school programs, and local businesses who wanted to see kids like me prosper.

It took a village, which is why I believe in people power and community mobility.

My path has not been linear.

Army veteran, social worker, civic educator, committee person and today's executive director of the Sustainable Business Network.

Building a just, green and thriving local economy with local businesses that keep our neighborhoods alive to create real impact.

You do not need to stay in one lane, and you do not need to put yourself in a box.

That is why this recognition means so much to me.

It is for the little girl in New York, the also a William Allen graduate who did not know that she could be in rooms like this.

It's for the next generation that's coming after me that will see themselves through me today, and I hope that they know they too can be in this position as well.

And for the local businesses and the local Latino businesses who continue to make our communities what they are.

So I believe that we can do this together.

And I believe that all of us in this room have the capacity to create positive change specifically for our Latino community.

So thank you so much, and I'm so grateful to be here with all of you.

The next group of honorees, Rosa Maria Crystal from Pittsburgh, Mariel de la Cruz from Philadelphia, Giovanni from Macon, GPA and Karina Fuentes from Bethlehem.

Good evening everyone.

It's a true honor to be here with you all.

In reflecting on what to say tonight.

What's been in my heart is, you know, these awards.

Yes.

It's my name that's being recognized.

But behind that, and next to me, I can tell you about a whole team that should be on this stage with me tonight.

And so today, while I'm incredibly grateful for this honor, this really should be for the Latino Community Center team that is in Pittsburgh right now.

And I couldn't do anything without them.

You know, we announced last week that we are setting roots in the Strip District in Pittsburgh, meaning we purchased the building and that's a big deal.

Yeah.

And so while I'm here today celebrating, our team has been getting ready to move while they're also showing up to our after school programs, being there for our children, helping families navigate different systems.

I mean, they are doing the work and I get to be in these spaces, and a part of me feels like that's not really fair.

And so today, I just want to be mindful of that and just thank them and give this to them.

To the Latino Community Center team.

I don't know where the cameras are at, but thank you all.

And to our board, our board chair Veronica, and to our partners, we couldn't do this without you.

So thank you.

Chase.

Good evening everyone.

I did prepare my notes because I can talk forever.

So thank you to the Pennsylvania Latino Convention for this incredible honor.

First, as a woman of faith, I want to thank God.

Me, this poor todos siempre.

Congratulations to everyone that's being honored today.

I am proud of you.

I am a proud Afro women from North Philadelphia, and I stand here because of the sacrifices, the faith and resilience of my parents and my ancestors who came from the motherland, my motherland, Dominican Republic, seeking a better future for our children.

I wish me Mama Amy Baba could be here tonight.

My mother and my father saw something in me long ago that I didn't see in myself.

That is the same light and the same thing I see in a lot of our young people today in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania, as a public servant and advocate and educator, I have learned that leadership is not about having the loudest voice.

Sometimes we do have to have a lot of voice, though, but it is about using our voice for those who are not heard.

Okay, I'm opening my doors to every youth, every person who deserves a mentor.

And my city in Philadelphia, I mentor youth across all ages in Philadelphia.

I'm proud of the work that I do.

I'm the proud I'm a proud daughter of, like I said, of Dominican parents to the young women and the girls watching us tonight, including my own daughter who's four years old.

Her name is Ava.

You belong in this room.

You belong at the table.

You belong in the stage.

El Mundo estudio, build, lead, serve and be fierce.

Take up space.

And lastly, I want to say bye in La Lucha Siempre.

It's a pleasure to be here.

I thank you for the Latino convention to to be nominated and be chosen for this beautiful award.

I see a lot of beautiful people in front of me right now that I feel that could easily get this award as I did too.

So I prepared a little something here.

First, I want to thank God for the blessings, opportunities, and the incredible people that you put in place for my teachers, professors, and my professional mentors and coaches.

So many people have shaped the person I am today from incredible programs like like Star Spark and organizations such as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Alloy five has given me opportunities to not only grow, but to give back and mentor the next generation to come to every Latino here tonight.

Whoever wondered if they belong or question whether if there's a place for them in the room, as I have since we make up a tiny percentage of the overall architectural industry, I'm here to tell you you belong.

And not only that, you physically, but what makes you you with your Latino and the things that make you different, can become the things that make you extraordinary.

And we make it into these rooms.

Let's not forget where we came from.

Let's reach back, bring someone with us, and this make our success normal for the future generations to come.

Finally, to my wife.

All the countless all nighters in college, you made sure I was fed, taken care of, and now the best mother and prime example to my beautiful children.

And lastly, when up by mommy Bobby work and they're right there.

This award is not just mine, it's ours.

You sacrifice, you believe.

And you told me that where you start does not determine where you finish as long as you put God first.

So dream big, work hard, stay humble.

And when you finally get to the table, don't just take a seat.

Build a bigger table.

Thank you.

God bless and whip.

I also wrote my speech here so I can stay concise and share everything I want to share.

But first, I am a Latina.

I am a woman, I am Selena, I am a daughter, a sister, a fiance, and a proud millennial.

And I am here with you all today.

I want to first thank God because without him I wouldn't be here.

Where I'm at right now, I'm a living testimony.

And with all of that, I want to thank my mother.

She is the strongest mother, strongest woman that I know, and she is my biggest cheerleader and has allowed me to be in these spaces as well.

So I'm very thankful for her.

My sister, who is my biggest cheerleader.

She is the first one to always make me feel great about myself and honors me every day.

So thank you for that.

My fiance Myanmar.

Gracias por siempre ser mia pero.

On todo.

Because everything you allow me to do, you always remind me that anything is possible.

And my village today, Michelle and I appreciate you both for taking your time to come support and celebrate me.

Thank you so much.

Working overall in higher education, the role that I do, I am the first to always share my story to my community.

Lehigh Valley we are Lehigh Valley strong.

I do believe in the greater Lehigh Valley, and I am the first to share my story to make sure that the younger youth and the Latino community knows.

Jessica puede porque sis puedo younger.

Karina would have never imagined that she'd be here representing Pennsylvania.

And lastly to the committee, thank you so much because I can now proudly say Como una chilena, yo soy de aqui, Isabella.

Muchas gracias.

You know the way she said amor pronto.

And by the way, you know there's Bob Bonnie in the back.

Look at the mask.

Now, the next group of honorees.

Let's get serious here.

Brenda Garcia from Pittsburgh.

Magdalena from Philadelphia, George Palmas at just 25, the youngest member of this group from Pittsburgh and Geraldine Pena from Philadelphia.

Hello, everybody.

I just want to say I'm incredibly honored this evening to be here standing among so many trailblazers.

This is a full circle moment for me because I founded Latinas in Pittsburgh after attending the Latina Convention in Lancaster.

So thank you, I came back, thank you.

I came back to Pittsburgh feeling so inspired to lead and find Latinas and create a network and community of women.

So it is an honor to represent those women as well as all first gen kids and my immigrant parents who came here by foot to give me the opportunity to stand here on this podium and do something with my life, and for those kids and my kids to have a voice, to know that they belong and they deserve to take space here.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Magda Casares from Dominican Republic, and my family immigrated when I was seven years old.

I wanted to a speech that I have written, thank you, Pennsylvania Latino convention.

And and.

Oh thank you.

Pennsylvania Latino convention and Latin community.

So much for this beautiful recognition.

And thank you to everyone who believe in me and my vision.

I want to I want to remind everyone to never give up on your dreams.

Trust your journey and always do everything we love.

From the Bible of Corinthians.

Let's all that you do be done in love because everything should be done with love.

Thank you.

Let me do this because I'm tall.

Yeah.

So before we get started.

If anybody was wondering, I know somebody was wondering.

I'm six seven, so I'm definitely.

I'll be.

And then.

That's good.

That's good.

All right.

I'm currently honored to receive this award.

The 20 to 40.

And congratulations as well.

To everybody else receiving this award today I'm very happy to see all the Latinos in Pennsylvania doing amazing work to trying to better our community and better futures in Pennsylvania.

Earlier today, I mentioned in the legislative hearing that something I believe in is when we were given the microphone.

You're also given an opportunity and a responsibility to do something with that microphone.

And like one of my favorite baseball players, because I'm from Pittsburgh, Clement once said.

It said, anytime you have an opportunity to make a difference in the world and you don't, then you're wasting your time on Earth.

I believe that all of us here have a duty.

While we are here, I believe mine is to use my voice to speak for the people who are too often feel like they don't have a voice.

And I hope that by doing that, I can also inspire the next generation, the young people in our communities, and that May 1st day become advocates, public servants, and our leaders in Pennsylvania.

I hope that is only the beginning of my own journey as public service, and I want to thank my family, my friends, and I also want to thank my organization, Casa Jose, and everyone who believed in me along the way, and giving me an opportunity to use this microphone, to use the platform to inspire the next generation of Pennsylvania Latinos.

This award gives me another opportunity, another platform, and now the microphone.

So I intend to use that to make a difference.

Thank you.

And now I'm little.

Buenas noches.

Mi.

Ustedes.

It's an honor to be recognized as one of the honorees for 20 under 40 as a Dominicana.

It's important to note, as many of my fellow colleagues and honorees have said, I didn't get here alone.

My parents, especially my dad, can pass this cancer taught me to be proud of where I come from.

To shine in every room that I step into and to always support the people around me.

I carry those lessons with me always and remember my family and my community, while never forgetting the people who poured into me, as well as the people who have trusted me to pour into them.

My work as a therapist, an educator, and a business owner has given me the privilege of creating spaces for Latinos to feel seen, supported, empowered to take up space like we are doing right now in eastern.

And that's what this recognition represents to me.

The importance of taking space, but also making sure we hold the door open to those that are coming through with us.

I'm proud to be part of this community and even more excited about what will happen next.

And shadow to my dad, who gave me everything that I am to be successful and to stand here.

Gracias.

The next group of honorees are from York, Talisa Ramos from reading, Julia Rivera from Philadelphia, and his story from Erin, PA.

That's near Pittsburgh.

Just in case.

That is very bright.

Good evening.

Thank you so much to the Latino convention.

I'm deeply honored to join this inaugural cohort of distinguished honorees and Latinos in the Commonwealth.

In a time that we really need to support each other and stand strong together.

And as we've heard, we're 1 million strong.

It's a true honor to represent central Pennsylvania and York County, and I'm especially honored to accept this award as a first generation MBA graduate.

I just graduated in May.

Joining the 8% of Latinas nationwide that hold a master's degree.

And as many of my colleagues have said, this work has never done alone.

And I'm forever grateful to the York County Economic Alliance for nominating me and giving me the opportunity to stand on this stage tonight.

And like many here, I come from a long, a long and proud generation of strong Latina women.

Two of those are here with me, my mom and my.

Which I can't see you with the light.

And it's it's through them.

It will say this Nostra familia de la cultura ecuatoriana Como Amala Como la y Como celebra con todos ustedes.

Yes, I. I'll be brief because I know we have a lot to get through.

But yesterday during the fireside chat, we heard of the poet and the keynote speaker that reminded us of the quote pero no sabemos no sabian miller's, which means they try to bury us, but they didn't know we were seeds.

And I'd be remiss.

My employer, the organization is the Bloom Business Empowerment Center.

We are focused on helping people in many Latinos in York County bloom to their next goal, whether that's starting their business, connecting to employment, and connecting them to their next step.

Our work is to treat everyone with the courtesy and dignity that we want our as our primary abuelo and abuela to receive, and I share this award with the team at the Economic Alliance in Bloom that lead every day with their hearts.

So thank you so much for this recognition, and I will always continue to share this with our community.

And I'll just end with let's keep building supporting one another and keep blooming together.

Gracias.

Hello again.

My name is Lisa Ramos and wow, what an incredible honor to be with you tonight in community.

I stand here as a daughter of the Puerto Rican diaspora, a proud Boricua with roots stretching back to the mountains of San Lorenzo and the city of Ponce.

Who?

I was born and raised and what I like to call Puerto Rico.

Because growing up, you couldn't tell me I wasn't on the island with all the Boricua brilliance that was surrounding me, that raised me and reminded me where I came from.

And that is why this recognition means so much to me, because I know that I did not arrive here alone.

I am the harvest of seeds planted a long time before me.

I carry my ancestors, my mentors, mi familia, and especially mi madre de Jesus, who taught me that when one of us rises, we reach back, we make room, we pour into the next generation so that they can rise to that.

That's our responsibility.

So whether through social work and mental health, through education or preserving culture, through our ancestral gifts of Bombay and or preserving the culture of of all of our Latino community, everything that I do comes back to that responsibility.

So I receive this a recognition as more than an award.

I receive it as a reminder to keep planning, to keep serving, keep making room until our young people know that their stories belong in that room.

Their culture belongs in the room, their dreams belong there as well, and they never have to leave who they are at the door to become who they are called to be.

Gracias to the Pennsylvania Latino Convention for this honor.

Siempre.

First and foremost, thank you to Norman and the Latino Convention and to my fellow honorees.

I accept this ward as a proud Puerto Rican.

Let me tell you.

And I want to say, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the trailblazers that have come before me who have not only opened doors for me, but have sometimes pushed me through them, of course.

So gracias.

To Jeannette, to Lisa, Anna, Reverend Bonnie Gemelli, Benito.

Delante.

I feel very privileged that I get to go to work every day and work on behalf of Philadelphia's Latino community at Congreso, an organization whose legacy of almost 50 years I'm so proud to be part of during these trying times.

Events like this remind me of my why.

I hope everyone takes a moment tonight to pause, celebrate, hopefully dance, and remind ourselves how everything that we do todos nuestros de arena matter.

Gracias y palante.

Aqui mami mucho Puerto Rico mi Isla Mila.

Hey, never forget where you came from.

You know, it's truly an honor to be here tonight and receiving this recognition.

Thank you to everyone that believed in me.

Thank you to wear su somebody that our fearless leader, Gracia for my mentor.

You are amazing.

I thank you so much for everything.

Everyone needs a mentor like Susan.

Thank you.

Thank you for everyone that that believe in working in unity and believed in us.

Thank you to Norman.

To thank you to the Pennsylvania Latino Convention, to convention, the staff.

Everyone has been so amazing.

And you know, that little kid that grew up in Puerto Rico who moved by himself to United States to in high school by himself from Puerto Rico to Maine?

Yeah, I was local a little bit to go to Maine.

But, you know, I was chasing my opportunity to play basketball and get an altercation.

And I know that the kids that are here and the ones listening, if I did it, yo puedes también.

Things are never going to be easy.

I struggle a lot moving by myself with my family, my friends, everyone.

But on cigar Palante find your passion to me, my flat, my passion is to help and serve our amazing Latino Hispanic community here.

And I found La Promesa in Pittsburgh.

And since 2023, we had given over 96,000 in scholarships for our future generation.

But you have to find your passion by your motivation.

My motivation?

May Isla.

They pushed me to do better.

One of the messages here from from the the team.

So my fuerte, no matter what the difference is we have to work together.

We celebrate our culture, our community and each other.

And I was going to say I have the, you know, his speech, but you stole it from me.

So pero no, no, he I don't have family in Pennsylvania.

I learned through everything the past since I moved in Pennsylvania in 2014, that even though I don't have family here.

Familia, you guys are stuck with me.

Now to everyone here.

Gracias, gracias.

The Pittsburgh delegation is strong.

Ladies and gentlemen, these are architects.

They have founded organizations.

They are the officers.

They are baseball players and basketball players.

And one of them even represent Puerto Rico in a national thing in the Olympics.

I present to you the first ever Pennsylvania Latino convention.

20 under 40 Latino leaders of Pennsylvania.

This is a testament that we are no longer the future.

We are the present.

The president of Pennsylvania and the president of the United States.

Once again, the 2026 Pennsylvania Latino Convention 20 under 40.

When I know my good evening, my people.

I'm Ana Craig, proud Latina, Dominican and Puerto Rican Weber.

But more than that, I'm also a shareholder at HSK Injury Lawyers.

And for over 30 years, we have championed the rights of those that have been injured right here in Pennsylvania.

And along the two 2022, the 222 corridor.

But more importantly, for over 30 years, we have witnessed the incredible impact and growth of the Latino community throughout the footprint in those areas, we have seen them grow to incredible numbers over 1 million strong.

We have seen them reach great heights of leadership that were not seen before by prior generations.

In as just said, our passion is following the Latino community, the Latino convention, and being supporters of this great community.

We are champions not just for the injured, but for every single youth that comes every year to the Latino Convention to see great speakers, to three great messages, to see small businesses vending their wares right here in the convention, and more importantly, to see the support that we give to one another.

We are more than just a law firm.

We are your neighbors.

We are your supporters.

We are your champions.

And the future looks incredibly bright.

Congratulations to every single one of you.

Have a great night.

Take care.

Closing remarks.

Olga Negron my.

Congratulations to all the honorees.

This has been an amazing I love hearing your speeches.

You're ready to a great, great, great future.

And I'm proud to say you are going to be definitely you continue to do the be the leaders that you have that you are because I'm ready to retire.

So, you know, it's it's perfect I love it.

Thank you everybody.

It's been two incredible days.

I know that we ran a little late, but we were trying to get everybody excited about the space and the process.

Now, you probably know that Myanmar.

Norman.

Norman mano Tina terminar esto aqui.

Yo yo no ahora mijo.

Bueno caballero a la conclusion yo programa pero antes Canada tenemos para ustedes.

The 2027 Pennsylvania Latino Convention is going.

To the city of Lancaster.

I hope we hope to see you there.

The city of Lancaster is ready to welcome you to the 2027 Pennsylvania Latino Convention.

So please join us.

We are Amish in Lancaster and we are very proud of that.

Thank you so much.

Gallo.

Carlos.

Carlos, Carlos.

Carlos.

Mama.

The summer's hottest day.

It's hot, but that's okay.

My, my would say.

It was hotter at home in the border, the Washington Heights of Havana.

A crowded city of faces the same as mine.

Back as a child in love, I chased the birds in the plaza praying.

Mama, you would find work.

Combing the stars in the sky for some sort of sun.

I'm so many stars in Cuba.

In weather York.

We can't see beyond our street lights.

To reach the roof.

You got up arrive the super.

Ain't no Cassiopeia in Washington Heights.

But ain't no food in love.

But I, I remember nights and go in the streets.

Hunger at the windows.

Filming clothes, playing with my friends in the summer.

Mama need the job mama says were poor.

One day you say when I ask.

And whether you're the spark, whether you're cat work.

And so we came.

And now I'm wide awake a million years too late I talk to you in my Jenny.

What you do you never know what we went.

Your eyes, mama.

It wasn't like today.

You take since.

I felt fresh off the boat in America, freezing in early December.

A crowded city in 1943.

Learning the ropes.

I'm Eddie.

Come on, y'all, I remember dancing with mayor LaGuardia.

All of you.

Well done.

Hominy.

I say.

Trying to catch a break, struggling with English, listening to friends.

Finally got a job working as a man.

So we cleaned some homes, polishing with chloride, scrubbing the whole of the Upper East Side.

The days into weeks, the weeks into years.

And here I stay.

I feed, these birds begin to shake, and as I say these words, my heart's about you break.

Hey, I. But what do you do when your dreams come true?

I spent my life inheriting dreams from you.

Do I do with this winning ticket?

What can I do but pray?

Right by my loaf of bread.

Continue with my day and see you in my head.

And I did what?

You change the fact they fly away.

Do they try to love evil I. I. All right mama okay.

Bossy and.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for coming out, everybody.

It means the world.