Transforming prosperity from concept to action

By Kim Marshall, Director, Integrated Communications

Summary: The UnidosUS Prosperity Forward convening faced the reality that many communities across the country, especially Hispanic communities, are experiencing right now: A diminishing view of what economic prosperity looks like and how it can be achieved. Throughout the day, Affiliate leaders, corporate and foundation representatives, nonprofit partners and policymakers shifted the tone from one of fear and uncertainty to a collective call to action, discussing the policies and practices that are already delivering results. UnidosUS also recognized leaders creating positive impact through its Capital Awards.

UnidosUS Prosperity Forward was an invitation to listen, lead and act by endorsing the UnidosUS Economic Prosperity Agenda or investing in solutions shared by Affiliates, national organizations, policymakers and corporate partners.

A convening to shape our economic future 

“Escuchamos,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat, U.S. House of Representatives. “Es importante escuchar.” His welcoming remarks reflected UnidosUS’s work over the past year: hosting listening sessions with more than 600 community members across 15 states.

However, UnidosUS had done more than just listen. It convened nearly 200 leaders from multiple sectors to underscore the fear being experienced by communities across the country, and the resolve of these communities in the face of today’s challenges.

Abel Nuñez, executive director of CARECEN, an Affiliate based in Washington, DC, said it well: “Latinos are not just identifying the problems. We’re leading the solutions.”

In response to harmful and unlawful immigration enforcement that had resulted in community members being too scared to leave their homes for work, school or medical appointments, Angelica Perez-Delgado, president and CEO of Ibero-American Action League, an Affiliate based in upstate New York, shared a solution of delivering family preparedness sessions virtually.

Felida Villarreal, president and CEO of Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA), an Affiliate based in Texas, shared another solution to better support local residents: In VIDA’s community, the county judge leads a Prosperity Task Force organized across sectors that connects residents to resources available from nonprofit partners. A recent Task Force success story helped a single mother, who had been living in her car, go back to school.

Solutions shared were grounded in the everyday realities that many communities, especially Hispanic communities, are facing today. For example, Juan Carlos Linares, president and CEO of Association House of Chicago, talked about a young mother facing both financial and housing insecurity. She had dropped out of high school to make ends meet and felt stuck. The Association House of Chicago’s child care program offered a safe educational environment for her child. With that stability, this young mother enrolled in the Unidos in Finance work program. Today, that woman is a vice president at a large regional bank.

“Dignity and opportunity are powerful forces when institutions like ours invest in them,” Linares said. “Our collective stories illuminate what we already know: Our community’s potential is not the issue. The barriers are access and policy inconsistency. It’s a system that views the Latino working class as an afterthought instead of its backbone.”

A sentiment shared by U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego during his fireside chat with UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía. “If the Latino community is poor, the country is poor.” He shared several examples of this from his personal history helping his mother buy her first home, the high cost of child care and the chaos caused by cruel immigration enforcement. “Latinos are growing. We need to have a larger conversation with America: Investing in our communities is investing in this country. Together, we are America, so let’s make sure we are together.”

Representatives from six anchor sponsors (Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Google, Raza Development Fund, Walmart and Wells Fargo) made remarks and some shared how they’re investing in the Hispanic workforce, providing career and upskilling pathways.

The challenges, stories and solutions shared throughout the morning culminated in the launch of the UnidosUS Economic Prosperity Agenda and its four pillars of prosperity:

• Housing: Every family deserves a safe, affordable home to live and thrive.
• Labor and workforce: Every worker should have a job that provides dignity, stability and upward mobility.
• Entrepreneurship: Those with the courage to launch their own business need a fair start.
• Family security: No one should have to choose between a paycheck and child care, work and caring for an aging parent, or medicine and food.

“This is more than a policy document,” said Murguía. “It is a statement of values, a call to action and a vision for our future — that opportunity should be available to all, that everyone in our economy deserves dignity and that hard work should lead to a better life for you and for your family.”

Nearly 50 organizations have endorsed UnidosUS’s agenda. What does endorsing the UnidosUS Economic Prosperity Agenda mean?

• Publicly affirming support for the Economic Prosperity Agenda.

• Staying connected on the agenda’s progress and impact.

• Adopting and investing in solutions — whether as a policymaker shaping legislation, an employer improving workplace practices, a funder investing in programs or a community leader mobilizing action.

A tribute to America’s leaders 

At a defining moment for the U.S. Hispanic community, the UnidosUS Capital Awards ceremony held that night brought together more than 450 distinguished guests to honor leaders and organizations whose work protects and advances the Latino community.

This year’s honorees were U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and two national organizations jointly recognized with the Public Service Awards: Center for Taxpayer Rights and Democracy Forward.

Read UnidosUS’s press release to learn more about these honorees.

Thank you to our sponsors! 

The 2026 Prosperity Forward anchor sponsors:

• Bank of America

• Google

• Raza Development Fund

• The Coca-Cola Company

• Walmart

• Wells Fargo

American Airlines was the airline of choice for Prosperity Forward and the Capital Awards.