In Your Community | UnidosUS

2024 Fall Affiliate Convening 

In October, UnidosUS brought together Affiliates from across the country in Philadelphia for our annual Fall Convening. These gatherings provide a space for our network of community-based Affiliate organizations and stakeholders from the U.S and Puerto Rico to connect, share their expertise and exchange best practices. Our community leaders, who provide direct services to the Latino community, are vital partners in ensuring that the needs of the Latino community remain at the center of our work. 

The Convening featured half a dozen breakout sessions on organizational development, led by Affiliate Leaders and UnidosUS partners. It also offered plenary sessions covering timely issues, including: 

• Equity and Systems Change: Florencia Velasco, President and CEO of The Concilio in Texas (UnidosUS 2024 Affiliate of the Year), spoke about the organization’s Latino Strategy Institute, which helps community-based organizations and leaders drive meaningful systems change. The session included an interactive discussion on how The Concilio collaborates with thought leaders and practitioners to address community needs. 

• Fireside Chat/Lunch Plenary: During the luncheon, participants heard from Janet Murguía, President and CEO of UnidosUS and Marc Morial, President and CEO of the Urban League, discuss their decades-long efforts to defend the civil rights of the Latino and Black communities. They reflected on the nation’s political landscape, the election, and the critical role our communities play in protecting our democracy. 

• Election 2024: Effectively Countering Anti-Immigrant Disinformation and Threats: Messaging experts shared tools and strategies to help Affiliates counter disinformation targeting the Latino community. 

• Shifting Legal Landscape: Threats to Diversity Programming: Tom Saenz, President and General Counsel of MALDEF, shared insights on how court rulings related to race-conscious decision-making affect community-based organizations. 

The 2024 Fall Convening was a valuable opportunity for our Affiliate familia to learn from one another, celebrate their work and strengthen our collective efforts to improve opportunities for Latinos, ultimately building a stronger nation for all. 

To find out more about the UnidosUS Affiliate Network, visit us at www.unidosus.org/about/affiliates