UnidosUS Concludes 2026 Annual Conference in Austin, Mobilizing Latino Leadership and Community Power

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More than 1,000 Latino leaders, advocates and allies gathered to advance solutions on immigration, economic opportunity, democracy and civic power 

AUSTIN, Texas — This week, UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, concluded its 2026 Annual Conference, Our Moment. Our Movement. Our Power., in Austin, Texas. Over two days, participants focused on driving actionable solutions to strengthen families, defend civil liberties and expand economic opportunities, carrying those solutions home to their communities.  

The Moment Before Us 

The two-day event gathered more than 1,000 leaders, advocates and allies, cementing its status as one of the most influential national convenings for the Latino community. 

The conference opened with the National Affiliate Luncheon, where UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía delivered the keynote address, honoring our Affiliate Network as the backbone of the movement while sounding an urgent call to action heading into November. 

“We are not gathered here by accident. Our roots run deep in this state, and in many respects, the future of this country is being written right here in Texas. America is at a crossroads — and Latinos are in the crosshairs. But here is the good news: every year, nearly a million more Latinos in this country turn eighteen. That is not a wave. That is a tide. And it is coming in,” said Murguía. 

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35) and Texas State Rep. James Talarico joined the luncheon stage to address what is at stake for the Latino community in Texas and across the nation this year. 

“UnidosUS represents the best qualities of this country and its people, and we’re thrilled to welcome their members to Austin for the 2026 UnidosUS Annual Conference. For over 50 years, UnidosUS has been an integral part of America’s civil rights legacy — challenging the social, economic and political barriers that exist for Latinos and creating more and better pathways to opportunity for all,” said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. 

At the opening plenary session, The Moment Before Us — Fulfilling the Promise of America, U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker engaged in a wide-ranging conversation about the growing influence of Latino communities and the critical role they play in strengthening democracy, expanding opportunity and shaping a more prosperous future for all. 

 “Latinos are not the guests in the country. We are part of the very fabric of this nation. We are the youngest, fastest-growing population in America. Latina women are opening up small businesses at six times the national rate of anybody else in this country. So an investment in our community is literally an investment in the United States,” said U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego. 

 “Across Illinois, UnidosUS’s 27 Affiliates are standing up for what is right, expanding opportunity, protecting civil rights and strengthening communities for the 2.4 million Latinos who call our state home,” said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. “Together, we are delivering real progress — from rising wages and record high school graduation rates to growing homeownership and more affordable pathways to college. I’m proud to share Illinois’ story at the 2026 UnidosUS Annual Conference and to stand alongside UnidosUS as we fight for a stronger, more prosperous and more just America.”  

Addressing the intersection of immigration enforcement, voting rights and civic power, Texas State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Taft Mayor Elida Castillo and Austin Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes each spoke to the real and immediate consequences facing Latino communities and the urgency of collective action. 

From Conference to Action 

At the closing plenary session, Our Vote, Our Democracy — The Roadmap to 2026 Midterms, April England Albright, Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter; Clarissa Martinez De Castro, Vice President of the Latino Vote Initiative of UnidosUS; and Yadira Sanchez, Executive Director of Poder Latinx, discussed the critical role civic participation and voter engagement serves at this time. Amid today’s growing challenges to voting access, representation and trust in institutions, Latino leaders made clear that they are not standing by — they are mobilizing. 

At our conference, we launched the 2026 Latino Civic Engagement Coalition, a nonpartisan alliance between UnidosUS, LULAC Institute, Inc., Mi Familia en Acción and Latino Victory Foundation. It will bring together four of the most influential Latino civic organizations in the country to operate under one unified strategy, directly contacting more than five million Latino voters, registering 250,000 new voters and promoting Latino civic engagement and voter turnout. 

Honoring the Movement 

The conference celebrated the extraordinary work of the UnidosUS Affiliate Network, with nearly 300 community-based organizations who serve around 8 million community members nationwide. We unveiled its $50 million Affiliate Legacy Fund, an endowment providing flexible, unrestricted support across the network. The initial $5 million is already out the door, reaching more than 120 communities with emergency assistance, immigration legal support and resources to help organizations stay resilient. 

Among the many Affiliates driving impact is Building Skills Partnership (BSP), recipient of the 2026 National Affiliate of the Year Award. Since joining the UnidosUS Network in 2024, this California-based nonprofit has been advancing economic mobility for low-wage property service workers and their families, predominantly in Latino immigrant and first-generation communities. BSP reaches more than 5,500 individuals annually through workforce development, immigration legal services, financial capability, digital literacy and college readiness programs, as well as reaching more than 50,000 workers directly in their workplaces across California. 

The conference closed with the Annual Awards Gala, honoring distinguished trailblazers whose work reflects the values at the heart of our national convening fighting for dignity, opportunity and justice for the Latino community: 

  • The Maclovio Barraza Award for Leadership: Mickey Ibarra, Founder and Chairman of the Latino Leaders Network, for decades of commitment to empowering and accurately representing Latino communities nationwide. 
  • The Rubén Salazar Award for Communications: Anna M. Gomez, Commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission, for her leadership in protecting free speech and expanding broadband access. 
  • The Graciela Olivarez La Raza Award: Greisa Martínez Rosas, Executive Director of United We Dream, for her courage and impact leading the largest youth-led immigrant rights network in the nation. 
  • The Raúl Yzaguirre President’s Award: The Honorable Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative (TX-20), for his unwavering leadership and commitment to the mission and goals of UnidosUS.

In her closing remarks, Janet Murguía rallied the more than 1,000 leaders gathered in Austin around a simple but urgent call: The Latino community’s power is not confined to a single room or a single moment. Against the backdrop of a live map illuminating UnidosUS Affiliate communities stretching from Texas to New York to Colorado, Murguía challenged attendees to carry that power home — with 96 days to make their community’s voice impossible to ignore. 

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