La Vanguardia Graduation Ceremony 2024-2025
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Join us for the fourth graduation of the of La Vanguardia Academy! They have completed an 4-month course in fundraising designed to serve small/medium Latinx nonprofits. For years there have been many panels and discussions on how to get more Latinx into nonprofits, into fundraising.
At Somos El Poder we believe in creating Latinx Philanthropy through Latinx Fundraising. Philanthropy comes from Fundraising and specifically well trained fundraisers. If we want to realize the true promise that is Latinx Giving and Philanthropy we need to train a new generation of Latinx Fundraisers. ¡Si Se Puede!
We are proud of our new graduates, we know they will truly be the Vanguard for new Latinx giving and philanthropy. Join us and meet your new graduates!
At Somos El Poder we believe in creating Latinx Philanthropy through Latinx Fundraising. Philanthropy comes from Fundraising and specifically well trained fundraisers. If we want to realize the true promise that is Latinx Giving and Philanthropy we need to train a new generation of Latinx Fundraisers. ¡Si Se Puede!
We are proud of our new graduates, we know they will truly be the Vanguard for new Latinx giving and philanthropy. Join us and meet your new graduates!
EVENT PROGRAM
Introduction and Welcome
Armando Enrique Zumaya, Founder of Somos El Poder.
Armando has been fundraising for 38 years in a variety of roles that have given him a unique perspective on all aspects of development offices, fundraising culture and Latinx in the US nonprofit world. He is a noted expert on Latino Major Giving and all aspects of fundraising with the Latinx community. He has direct experience raising five, six and seven figure gifts from Latinx in the US. He is an active development officer.
Armando Enrique Zumaya, Founder of Somos El Poder.
Armando has been fundraising for 38 years in a variety of roles that have given him a unique perspective on all aspects of development offices, fundraising culture and Latinx in the US nonprofit world. He is a noted expert on Latino Major Giving and all aspects of fundraising with the Latinx community. He has direct experience raising five, six and seven figure gifts from Latinx in the US. He is an active development officer.
Keynote
Henry Cisneros, Chairman of American Triple I and Former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Henry is a Co-Founder of American Triple I and serves as the firm’s Chairman. He provides the firm with governance, leadership, and helps develop relationships with asset and investor partners. Henry has been a pioneer in the investment industry for nearly 35 years, having successfully led and launched several investment platforms serving institutional investors and communities. In 2003, Henry co-founded CityView, a registered investment adviser which has invested in and completed more than 100 real asset projects in 13 states.
During his time at Cityview, Henry helped to oversee the deployment of $5 billion of asset value and the formation of eight funds as a member of Cityview’s executive, investment, and audit committees. In 1988, Henry formed Cisneros Asset Management Company, a nationally recognized fixed income asset manager.
In 1981, Henry became the first Hispanic-American mayor of a major U.S. city, San Antonio, where he helped rebuild the city’s economic base and spurred the creation of jobs through massive infrastructure projects and downtown improvements, including a new airport terminal, a 65,000 domed-stadium, underground flood diversion for the City’s Riverwalk, and a nuclear power generation project. In 1992, President Clinton appointed Henry as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development where he was credited with initiating the revitalization of many of the nation’s public housing developments and formulating policies which led to the nation’s highest homeownership rate.
Henry holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Texas A&M University, a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, and a Doctorate in Public Administration from George Washington University, as well as more than 20 honorary doctorates from leading universities.
Henry Cisneros, Chairman of American Triple I and Former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Henry is a Co-Founder of American Triple I and serves as the firm’s Chairman. He provides the firm with governance, leadership, and helps develop relationships with asset and investor partners. Henry has been a pioneer in the investment industry for nearly 35 years, having successfully led and launched several investment platforms serving institutional investors and communities. In 2003, Henry co-founded CityView, a registered investment adviser which has invested in and completed more than 100 real asset projects in 13 states.
During his time at Cityview, Henry helped to oversee the deployment of $5 billion of asset value and the formation of eight funds as a member of Cityview’s executive, investment, and audit committees. In 1988, Henry formed Cisneros Asset Management Company, a nationally recognized fixed income asset manager.
In 1981, Henry became the first Hispanic-American mayor of a major U.S. city, San Antonio, where he helped rebuild the city’s economic base and spurred the creation of jobs through massive infrastructure projects and downtown improvements, including a new airport terminal, a 65,000 domed-stadium, underground flood diversion for the City’s Riverwalk, and a nuclear power generation project. In 1992, President Clinton appointed Henry as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development where he was credited with initiating the revitalization of many of the nation’s public housing developments and formulating policies which led to the nation’s highest homeownership rate.
Henry holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Texas A&M University, a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, and a Doctorate in Public Administration from George Washington University, as well as more than 20 honorary doctorates from leading universities.
Student Testimonials and Thank You's
We will hear from three students about the class, their experience and a chance to say a few words.
Acknowledgement of Each Student
We will read the names of each graduate and confirm their graduation
Vanguardia Alumni Association
We are going to introduce our new Alumni Association
We will hear from three students about the class, their experience and a chance to say a few words.
Acknowledgement of Each Student
We will read the names of each graduate and confirm their graduation
Vanguardia Alumni Association
We are going to introduce our new Alumni Association
OUR GRADUATES
- Abby L. Johnson-Flores, Manager of Corporate Relations, ASGE
- Adrian Gonzalez, SVP, Pinnacle Financial Partners
- Brenda Cervantes, Senior Project Manager, Latino Health Access
- Cassandra Hernandez, Development and Special Projects Administrator, Gente Organizada
- Cydney Varner, Empowerment Coordinator, Pride Center San antonio
- Douglas Reyes, Advancement Manager at LatinxEd
- Gerard E.C. Guerra, Director of Employment Services, Designated Exceptional Services for Independence (DESI)
- Jie Zong, Senior Research Analyst, UCLA LPPI
- Ileana Vazquez, Donor Relations Officer
- M. Liliana Sanchez Rasmussen, Administrator, Donor Services at San Diego Foundation
- Monique L. Patterson, Treasurer, Board of Directors Corazon Community Services
- R. Monique Santiago-Beauchamp, Coordinator, The University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc.
- Veronica Fuentes, Development Associate, LaAmistad Inc
- Yolanda Gaffney, Associate Director, Sacramento Region Community Foundation
- Nelly Viramontes, Operations Manager
- Paul Callejas, Client Services Manager at the Foundation of Little Village
- Bridget Sanchez, Latinx Therapist Project
- Gabriella Carmona, UCLA
- Kristy Chinchilla, CHIRLA
- Christiamilda Correa, Reel Works
- Cristina Balli, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
- Joyce Sanchez
- Julie Angulo, ScholarMatch, Inc.
- Leyden Mendez, Latinos in Heritage Conservation
- Mike Leyba, City Life / Vida Urbana
- Miriam Almendares, City Life/Vida Urbana
- Quiana Natividad, Our Lady of the Lake Univerisity / Cisneros Miramontes
- Rocio "Cio" Hernandez, THE BE IT FOUNDATION INC, Levelation International,
- Daphne Marcilli, Heart of the city
- Eduardo Salas, Latino Equality Alliance
- Vanessa Bonilla, Water Foundation/Latino Outdoors (volunteer)
- Ingrid Bustos, ECCO Community Center
- Magdalena Saucedo, Latinx Therapist Project
- Yazmin (Gaby) Gil de Leon, UCLA, Labor Center
- Anna Lisa Escobedo
- Joshua Patstone, Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos
- Elizabeth "Lisa" G. Martinez, Office of Henry Cisneros
- Jeannetth Camilo-Arias, Centro Romero
¡Queremos desear a nuestros graduados la mejor de las suertes en su futuro laboral! ¡Esperamos que sepan que ahora son parte de nuestra Somos Familia!
