¡Celebra con nosotros! Celebrate with Us!
La Vanguardia Academy
GRADUATION CEREMONY
6th Cohort
CEREMONIA DE GRADUACIÓN, LA VANGUARDIA ACADEMY
Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 4:00pm PST / 7:30pm EST
La Vanguardia Academy
GRADUATION CEREMONY
6th Cohort
CEREMONIA DE GRADUACIÓN, LA VANGUARDIA ACADEMY
Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 4:00pm PST / 7:30pm EST
Join us for the sixth graduation ceremony of the of La Vanguardia Academy! The participants 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
Welcome and Greetings
Diana De Jesus-Medina, Board Chair
Nationally known and highly regarded fundraiser she is the Chief, External Strategy and Affairs at Latino Justice/PRLDEF. Diana joined LatinoJustice in 2009 to guide the organization’s fund development strategy and informs organizational planning. Before joining the LJP team, Diana served as the national director of affiliate services at Family Promise, where she oversaw and implemented organizational development services, including strategic planning and board training, for more than 100 affiliates.
Throughout her career, Diana has worked with myriad non-profit teams, including the YWCA of Brooklyn and the American Folk Art Museum, to strengthen organizational resources and capacity. A Brooklyn native and New Jersey resident, Diana volunteers with several nonprofit organizations and is an avid baker.
Diana De Jesus-Medina, Board Chair
Nationally known and highly regarded fundraiser she is the Chief, External Strategy and Affairs at Latino Justice/PRLDEF. Diana joined LatinoJustice in 2009 to guide the organization’s fund development strategy and informs organizational planning. Before joining the LJP team, Diana served as the national director of affiliate services at Family Promise, where she oversaw and implemented organizational development services, including strategic planning and board training, for more than 100 affiliates.
Throughout her career, Diana has worked with myriad non-profit teams, including the YWCA of Brooklyn and the American Folk Art Museum, to strengthen organizational resources and capacity. A Brooklyn native and New Jersey resident, Diana volunteers with several nonprofit organizations and is an avid baker.
Introduction and Welcome
Armando Enrique Zumaya, Founder of Somos El Poder.
Armando has been fundraising for 40 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. He has been published in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Currents, Nonprofit Times, the Stanford Social Innovation Review and many other publications. He has been a key speaker at AHP, AFP, AFP Hemispheric, APRA, SAWA, IoF, AFP Chapters nationwide, DRI and many others.
He recently won the Latino Leaders Magazine's "Maestro Award" in 2025 and was also placed by the Nonprofit Times on the "Top 50 List of Power and Influence" in 2024.
Armando Enrique Zumaya, Founder of Somos El Poder.
Armando has been fundraising for 40 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. He has been published in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Currents, Nonprofit Times, the Stanford Social Innovation Review and many other publications. He has been a key speaker at AHP, AFP, AFP Hemispheric, APRA, SAWA, IoF, AFP Chapters nationwide, DRI and many others.
He recently won the Latino Leaders Magazine's "Maestro Award" in 2025 and was also placed by the Nonprofit Times on the "Top 50 List of Power and Influence" in 2024.
KEYNOTE
Moctesuma Esparza
Chairman of the Board & Co-Founder,
Los Angeles Academy of Arts & Enterprise
Moctesuma Esparza is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, entertainment executive and entrepreneur, and is well known for his contributions to the movie industry and commitment to creating opportunities for Latinos in entertainment. As a partner in the highly successful Esparza-Katz Productions with Robert Katz, he has worked with stars such as Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, Andy Garcia, Jimmy Smits, Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall and Halle Berry. Esparza most recently founded Maya Entertainment, a vertically integrated production, acquisition and distribution company. It is the only Latino owned and managed production/distribution/exhibition entity in the United States, dedicated to the growing U.S. Latino market. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Esparza received a Bachelor of Arts and a Master in Fine Arts in Theatre Arts, Motion Pictures and Television, from University of California, Los Angeles, and from the onset of his career dedicated himself to empowering and transforming the images of Latinos in Hollywood. Esparza has received numerous awards and honors including being named one of the 50 “Most Powerful and Influential Latinos” of 2008 by The Imagen Foundation, recipient of the 2013 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe nomination, an Emmy award, a Clio award, Alma Award and a Cine Golden Eagle award.
Moctesuma Esparza
Chairman of the Board & Co-Founder,
Los Angeles Academy of Arts & Enterprise
Moctesuma Esparza is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, entertainment executive and entrepreneur, and is well known for his contributions to the movie industry and commitment to creating opportunities for Latinos in entertainment. As a partner in the highly successful Esparza-Katz Productions with Robert Katz, he has worked with stars such as Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, Andy Garcia, Jimmy Smits, Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall and Halle Berry. Esparza most recently founded Maya Entertainment, a vertically integrated production, acquisition and distribution company. It is the only Latino owned and managed production/distribution/exhibition entity in the United States, dedicated to the growing U.S. Latino market. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Esparza received a Bachelor of Arts and a Master in Fine Arts in Theatre Arts, Motion Pictures and Television, from University of California, Los Angeles, and from the onset of his career dedicated himself to empowering and transforming the images of Latinos in Hollywood. Esparza has received numerous awards and honors including being named one of the 50 “Most Powerful and Influential Latinos” of 2008 by The Imagen Foundation, recipient of the 2013 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe nomination, an Emmy award, a Clio award, Alma Award and a Cine Golden Eagle award.
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. Please cheer when your graduate is named and recognized!
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. Please cheer when your graduate is named and recognized!
Vanguardia Alumni Association
We are going to introduce our new Alumni Association
