On July 22, UnidosUS, a nonprofit that supports the Hispanic community with research, policy analysis, and advocacy efforts on both state and national levels, announced the appointment of four new members of its Board of Directors.

The announcement comes upon the opening of the UnidosUS Annual Conference, the largest gathering in the country of Latino advocates, community and business leaders, allies, and young advocates. 

This year's conference was held in Chicago, IL, from July 22-24.

“UnidosUS welcomes four accomplished leaders with diverse and extensive experiences in advocacy, public health, education, housing, youth development and media,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of UnidosUS, in a statement.

“As the Latino community in the U.S. continues to grow in size and influence, I’m thrilled that to have the insight and expertise of these new Board members to guide our mission of creating greater opportunities for Hispanics,” she continued.

The new Board members are:

• Edward C. Garza, Executive Director for the Mexican American Council, Inc. a nonprofit that provides music and education programming for underserved youth in the South Miami-Dade area. (Homestead, FL).
• Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, Dean of Duke University School of Nursing (Durham, NC). He is also the founding director of the Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health at Duke University.
• Laura Ponce, Executive Director of Project BRAVO (El Paso, TX) which supports individuals and families in the Borderlands community.
• Francisco Rivera, Head of Emerging Business & Broadcast Operations Latin America of Sony Pictures Entertainment (Miami, FL). His experience includes work with NBCUniversal and Hispanic Unity of Florida Inc.

Alongside these additions to the Board of Directors, the UnidosUS Board also elected its 2023-2024 Executive Committee, whose members include Luis Granados, Chair (CA); Maria Arias, Vice Chair (CO); Maricela Garcia, Secretary (IL); Arnulfo Manriquez, Treasurer (CA); Josie Bacallao, At Large Member (FL); Jay Bhatt, At Large Member (IL); Juan Carlos Gonzalez, At Large Member (OR); and Ana Ponce, At Large Member (CA).

“I join Janet in giving an enthusiastic bienvenidos to the four new members of our Board.  We are fortunate to have the talent, skills and thought-partnership of these experts on the UnidosUS Board during a pivotal time for the organization and the Latino community,” said Luis Granados, Board Chair, UnidosUS.