Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate our culture, history and contributions, but its greatest value may be found in what happens when the right people, organizations and resources come together. Tomorrow evening, Latino professionals, business leaders, entrepreneurs, community advocates and allies will gather in downtown Chicago for a celebration designed to create exactly that kind of connection.
The 18th Annual ¡Viva La Hispanidad! Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff Celebration takes place tomorrow, Friday, September 11, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at I|O Godfrey Roofscape inside The Godfrey Hotel Chicago. The event will bring together some of Chicago’s most influential Latino professional and community organizations alongside corporate, educational, cultural and civic partners committed to advancing opportunity.
This is more than another networking reception. Viva La Hispanidad offers attendees an opportunity to meet the people leading organizations that support professional development, leadership, entrepreneurship, healthcare, education, civic engagement and cultural participation. These organizations serve different industries and communities, but they share a common purpose: expanding access and helping Latino professionals move forward.
Meet the Organizations Creating Opportunity
Tomorrow’s featured guests represent organizations whose work reaches professionals at different stages of their careers and across multiple sectors.
Abel “AJ” Alvarez, President of the Prospanica Chicago Chapter, will represent an organization dedicated to empowering Hispanic professionals and students through leadership development, educational opportunities and professional connections. For attendees interested in business, management, graduate education or expanding their professional network, Prospanica provides an important bridge between talent and opportunity.
Dr. Juan Andrade Jr., President of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, brings decades of experience developing Latino leaders and strengthening civic participation. USHLI has established a national presence through leadership conferences, student programs, research and initiatives designed to prepare the next generation of Latino leaders. His participation underscores the connection between professional advancement, community leadership and civic responsibility.
Alfonso Barrera, Founder of HispanicPro, The Hispanic Professional Network, will represent the organization behind Viva La Hispanidad. HispanicPro connects Latino professionals with employers, educational institutions, cultural organizations and one another through networking events, forums, editorial content and career development opportunities. The organization’s work is grounded in the belief that meaningful professional relationships can help strengthen careers, businesses and communities.
Cristian Biviano, Vice President of Leadership Programs at the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, will represent HACE and its work developing Latino professionals into influential leaders. Through leadership programs, career development resources, employer partnerships and community building, HACE helps professionals strengthen the skills and relationships needed to advance within their organizations.
Jorge Cabrera, Chicago Co-Chair of Latinx MBA, will introduce attendees to a community connecting Latino professionals pursuing or holding graduate business degrees. Latinx MBA provides a valuable space for professionals interested in business leadership, entrepreneurship, career mobility and the relationships that can open doors across industries.
Healthcare leadership will also have a strong presence. Diana Yesenia, President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses Illinois Chapter, will represent an organization supporting Hispanic nurses while advocating for improved health outcomes in Latino communities. Her participation brings nursing leadership, healthcare access and professional development into the evening’s broader conversation about community advancement.
Emma Olivera, Chicago Chapter Co-Chair of the National Hispanic Medical Association, will represent a network focused on supporting Hispanic physicians and advancing the health of Latino communities. The presence of both nursing and medical leadership creates an important opportunity for healthcare professionals, students and community advocates to connect with organizations working directly within the field.
The evening will also demonstrate why cultural institutions belong in conversations about professional and community engagement. Alyssa Greenberg, Audience Engagement Manager at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, will represent the CSO and its efforts to build stronger relationships with Chicago’s diverse communities. Through initiatives such as the CSO Latino Alliance and culturally relevant programming, the organization is creating more opportunities for Latino audiences and professionals to participate in one of the city’s leading cultural institutions.
Steve Bernas, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau, will represent an organization that plays a vital role in building trust between businesses and consumers. For entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals, the BBB provides resources and standards that can help organizations establish credibility, operate responsibly and strengthen customer confidence.
Sponsors Investing in Latino Professionals and Communities
Viva La Hispanidad is made possible through the involvement of sponsors and institutional partners that recognize the importance of supporting Latino professionals beyond Hispanic Heritage Month messaging.
The celebration is presented with the support of NBCUniversal and Telemundo Chicago, the Chicago White Sox, Illinois Tech, the Better Business Bureau, Chubb Insurance, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and The Godfrey Hotel Chicago. Their participation reflects the range of institutions that have a role to play in building stronger pipelines for Latino talent, entrepreneurship, education, cultural participation and community leadership.
Hennessy will serve as the official cocktail sponsor, adding a hosted cocktail experience to the opening of the evening. Its involvement helps create the celebratory atmosphere that has made Viva La Hispanidad one of Chicago’s signature Hispanic Heritage Month gatherings.
Sponsorship matters because it transforms corporate commitment into a visible community investment. When companies support professional organizations and culturally relevant events, they help provide the spaces where relationships begin, emerging leaders gain visibility and organizations can introduce their work to new audiences.
Be in the Room Where Connections Begin
The strength of tomorrow’s gathering will not come from any single speaker, sponsor or organization. It will come from having all of them in the same room with hundreds of Latino professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, community leaders and allies.
Attendees will be able to learn what each participating organization offers, discover upcoming programs and events, explore membership and volunteer opportunities and meet the people leading this work. A conversation with a chapter president could lead to a leadership opportunity. An introduction to another professional could produce a mentor, client, collaborator or future employer. Learning about a program could provide the resource someone needs to make the next move in a career or business.
That is why you should not miss Viva La Hispanidad. Hispanic Heritage Month should celebrate where we come from, but it should also help us build where we are going. Tomorrow’s gathering will provide the culture and celebration people expect while creating access to organizations and relationships capable of producing an impact long after the evening concludes.
The 18th Annual ¡Viva La Hispanidad! Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff Celebration takes place tomorrow, Friday, September 11, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at I|O Godfrey Roofscape at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago. Advance registration is required because of hotel security, and walk-up registration will not be available. The event is open to guests ages 21 and older.
Come celebrate Latino culture, meet the leaders creating change and connect with the organizations investing in our community. This is where careers, business and community come together—and where Hispanic Heritage Month begins in Chicago.
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