Latino leaders, activists and entrepreneurs came together for an interactive 90-minute town hall broadcast to explore issues around immigration and stories of success. “Tu Voz es Poder,” which translates to “Your Voice is Power”. This special event was in partnership with Univision Houston.
Watch Live in English
Ver en Vivo en Español
TOWN HALL PANELISTS
Art Acevedo, Houston Police Chief
Born in Cuba, Chief Art Acevedo came to the U.S. when he was four years old. Last year, he became the first person of Hispanic descent to lead the Houston Police Department.
Carlos Duarte, Texas State Director of Mi Familia Vota
Originally from Mexico, Carlos Duarte promotes voter engagement in Latino communities. He attended Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, where he received a master’s degree in social and industrial psychology and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.
Julio Torres, Hispanic Community Engagement Coordinator of the Harris County Republican Party
Julio Torres emigrated to the United States as a youngster, and became a citizen more than ten years ago. He has been a student at the University of Texas, a father of two children, a political activist in his community and an entrepreneur for more than 20 years.
Andrea Guttin, Legal Director of Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative
Andrea Guttin oversees Houston’s Immigration Legal Services Collaborative’s legal initiatives, such as pro se asylum clinics, the Texas Immigrant Rights Hotline, preventing notario fraud, and advising the non-profit legal services providers who are members of the Collaborative. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and is admitted to practice law in Texas, New York, and Georgia.
Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum
Raised in California, Ali Noorani is the child of immigrants from Pakistan. He helps lead the National Immigration Forum, an immigrant advocacy group.
Cesar Espinosa, Executive Director of FIEL Houston
Cesar Espinosa is an activist for immigrant rights. He works for a group that provides resources for immigrant communities.
Vladimir Davidiuk, Communications Director for the Harris County Republican Party
Vladimir Daviduk is the communications director for the Harris County Republican Party and a conservative blogger on media, politics and culture. He studied political science at the University of St. Thomas.
Cassandra Luevano, South Texas Regional Director for the Republican Party of Texas
Cassandra “Cassie” Luevano, graduated as Senior Class President from Edinburg High School located in the Rio Grande Valley, and attended University of Texas San Antonio to study Political Science. She was hired by Governor Abbott for his successful gubernatorial campaign at the age of 22. Cassie since then has continued working for the State Republican Party of Texas covering Congressional District 23, special house district races, and was most recently promoted to South Texas Regional Director.
Sonia Clayton, President and CEO of Virtual Intelligence Providers
Born in Columbia and raised in Venezuela, Sonia Clayton is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, French and English. As the founder and CEO of a Houston-based consulting firm, she has traveled to and conducted business in over 40 countries.
Maria Rios, President and CEO of Nation Waste
Maria Rios was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States as a child. She graduated from the University of Houston and founded the first Hispanic, female-owned waste removal company in the United States.
Alex López Negrete, President and CEO of López Negrete Communications
Alex López Negrete leads more than 200 employees at an agency specializing in advertising and marketing to Hispanic communities. He’s a graduate of the University of Houston.
David Cordúa, Executive Chef of the Cordua Restaurants including Americans, Artista and Churrrascos
A native Houstonian, Chef David Cordúa has traveled from Nicaragua to Paris experiencing international cuisine. He’s also active in the Houston community.
María Inés Sicardi, Founder Sicardi Gallery
María Inés Sicardi moved to Houston nearly 30 years ago from Buenos Aires. She opened an art gallery in 1994, which showcases artists from Latin America.
Jessica Hulsey, Community Activist in Houston’s East End
For more than three decades, Houston has been home for Jessica Hulsey. During that time, she’s been aggressively active in hyper-local issues in her community.
DIGITAL STUDIO GUESTS
Carolina Ortuzar-Diaz, Partner at Monty & Ramirez LLP
Carolina Ortuzar-Diaz is a Partner in Monty & Ramirez LLP’s immigration division, where she handles immigration court removal proceedings and appeals in circuit and federal court and before the Board of Immigration Appeals, as well as administrative proceedings with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Carolina has been practicing immigration law since 2009.
Liz Lara-Carreño, Marketing and Outreach Director, Goldman Sachs 10.000 Small Businesses, HCC
Liz Lara-Carreño currently serves as the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program Director of Outreach. As part of the program launch in January 2011, she also holds additional roles as a faculty member of the National Program at Babson College and the local Program at HCC..
David Carabajal, Financial Specialist with Wealth Development Strategies
David Carbajal focuses on getting his clients to think and plan for their short and long-term goals for financial independence. Born in Mexico City, Mr. Carbajal is the first in his family to attend and graduate from college. He graduated from the University of Houston Downtown in Finance and is currently completing his Certified Financial Planner certificate at Rice University.
ABOUT DIVERSECITY
“Tu Voz es Poder” is part of Houston Public Media’s DiverseCity project (#DiverseCity), a yearlong multi-media initiative looking at what Houston’s diversity means for the city.