Leading By Example
Impressed From Day 1: How an Eight-Month Engagement Grew Into a Lifelong Commitment
About 20 years ago, Adrien Lopez Lanusse was working at a consulting firm that UnidosUS (then the National Council of La Raza) hired to help with branding support as Janet Murguía transitioned into the role of president and CEO. Adrien worked with UnidosUS for about eight months between 2005 and 2006.
“What stayed with me was the people,” Adrien explains, having spent time with the leadership and other team members across the organization. “I was so impressed by their talent, conviction and humility. The whole team was deeply committed to making a difference. That stood out to me, along with how deeply the work is rooted in identity, history and community,” he adds.
Since that time, Adrien has lived and worked in New York and California and has been involved with local organizations, especially in California where he grew up. “I’ve come to appreciate the importance of both on-the-ground and national advocacy work and how much we need both. UnidosUS does so well connecting the two. With a national scope, UnidosUS amplifies impact while its Affiliates make sure that impact reaches communities and people. For example, with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) work, UnidosUS has helped shape the national conversation and advocates protections while supporting Affiliates locally where individuals can access services. The combination of systems-level change and human impact are powerful. And this resonates with me personally; my parents didn’t go to high school.” Adrien was the first person in his family to go to college.
Adrien and his husband, Ken Cerniglia, have three sons: Jacob, Luka and Alex, who are ages 24, 19 and 14, respectively. Adrien and Ken give together to UnidosUS; making an impact is important to them. When asked why they give, Adrien explains, “It has to be done; UnidosUS does such important work.” And, he adds, “Seeing our country during this difficult time and the work of organizations like UnidosUS that are creating pathways forward gives hope that progress is still possible. The way UnidosUS uplifts the community is aligned with our own values and goals.”
Now, a few years after leaving his most recent role as a vice president at Netflix, Adrien’s hope is that their sons think more broadly about how they can also make a difference in the world and empower others’ empathy, curiosity and kindness.
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