Julián Castro serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Latino Community Foundation, the nation’s largest Latino-serving foundation. Julián’s deep commitment to the future of this nation is woven into his DNA. Raised by his mother Rosie Castro, a civil rights and Chicana activist, and his grandmother, Victoria Castro, on the westside of San Antonio, Texas, Julian grew up with a profound understanding of what it meant to love and serve community. 

Inspired by a legacy of leaders working to safeguard our democracy and strengthen community, Julian has dedicated his life to public service. Julián was elected to the San Antonio City Council in 2001 at age 26, then was elected Mayor of San Antonio in 2009. The youngest mayor of a Top 50 American city at the time, Julian revitalized and transformed San Antonio into one of the country’s leading economies.

In 2014, President Barack Obama appointed Julián U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, where he served until the end of the Obama administration. In 2020, Julián ran for the Democratic nomination for President. Julián earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and a law degree from Harvard Law School. His memoir, An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up From My American Dream, was published by Little Brown in 2018. Julian is the proud father of a daughter, Carina, and a son, Cristián. Julián’s brother Joaquin currently represents Texas’ 20th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. In his free time, Julian loves spending time and traveling with his family.

Assemblymember José Luis Solache, Jr. was first elected to the California State Assembly in November 2024 representing the cities and communities of Lakewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, South Gate, Huntington Park, Bellflower and Walnut Park.

Solache has served as a Mayor, Mayor Pro-Tem and Councilmember in the city of Lynwood since 2013. In this role, he’s worked to recruit new job-creating employers to the city, build new parks, make City Hall more transparent and expand youth programs.

Prior to his service in city government, José served for three terms on the Lynwood Unified School District’s Board of Education. The district educates over 15,000 local students and José served as Board President three times. His election to the school board at the age of 23 made him one of the youngest elected leaders in L.A. County.

Solache was born in Bellflower, grew up in Lynwood and attended local public schools. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Dominguez Hills. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, he served two terms as Student Body President. He also served as statewide Chair of the California State Student Association (CSSA).

Senator Lena Gonzalez proudly represents one million residents in California’s 33rd Senate District, which encompasses Southeast Los Angeles, the City and Port of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, and Catalina Island. As Senate Majority Leader and Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, she plays a key role in supporting legislative leadership and is a dedicated advocate on the critical issues impacting Californians.

Senator Gonzalez has led on major policies, including Broadband for All, clean transportation incentives, and expanding paid sick leave. She is also the author of the Abortion Accessibility Act to remove barriers to care and SB 1137 to protect communities from pollution and end neighborhood oil drilling.

Before joining the Senate, Senator Gonzalez served on the Long Beach City Council, where she championed various local policies focused on labor rights, supporting local businesses, sustainability, and innovation. One of her proudest achievements was the Digital Inclusion Roadmap, which has received national recognition for its collaborative and equitable approach. She also worked at Microsoft, leading social impact programs and key data initiatives on the future of work and criminal justice-related projects.

Senator Gonzalez holds a BA in Political Science from Cal State Long Beach and an Executive MBA from Loyola Marymount University. She’s incredibly proud to be the daughter of a hardworking union truck driver and devoted father, and a brave, resilient mother who immigrated from Mexico. Senator Gonzalez resides in Long Beach with her family.

David Huerta is the President of SEIU United Service Workers West,  which represents 45,000 janitors, security officers, airport workers,  and other property service workers throughout California, and the  President of SEIU California. He is a member of SEIU’s International  Executive Committee and International Executive Board. 

David began organizing in the mid-’90s as a leader in the Justice for  Janitors movement, which organized over 2,500 janitors in 2000 to  strike for better wages and benefits. The strike was a historic moment  for labor in LA and across the nation because it raised awareness about  unions’ critical role in improving the lives of immigrant families. David  was elected President of SEIU United Service Workers West in 2014. 

David Huerta’s commitment to improving the lives of working families  in California was recognized on a national level in October 2014. The  White House honored his efforts in promoting citizenship in the  workplace, naming him a national Champion Of Change. This  prestigious recognition underscores the significant impact of his work. 

As President of USWW, David has been a strong advocate for  immigration reform. As a leader in California’s resistance to the Trump  administration, he was instrumental in passing both the Sanctuary  State law and the Sanctuary Workplace law both of which protect  immigrants’ rights when dealing with Federal immigration  enforcement. 

David was born and raised in Los Angeles County. His father was a  Teamster, and being part of a union household helped frame his  consciousness and produced a passion for improving the lives of  working families.

Jose Ruben is a formerly detained leader. While in Detention Jose advocated for his rights and the rights of others by providing interpretation, filing medical requests, and grievances of the mistreatment that he and his peers experienced, spoke to multiple media outlets and state representatives.

In 2022 he co-organized a labor strike with his detained peers and in 2023 he co-organized a collective hunger strike. Weeks after being violently transferred to Texas he was released on april 14, 2023 on a bond hearing and has continued to advocate whether being part of the ACLU ICE detention grievance Database, lobbying at our states capitol Immigrant day of action of 2023 and 2024 also at the 2024 Quest For Democracy, speaks of his experience in Ice detention to the public whether its through the media, peaceful demonstrations, panels at universities such as UC berkeley, University of San francisco, University of southern California, Co- Organized the 2023 pilgrimage, joined the 22 mile pilgrimage for Palestine, Organizes financial support for people who have been deported to there country of origin.

Today he is the Spiritual Activist In Residence with Interfaith Movement 4 Human Integrity as well as a San Joaquin Delta College Student. He enjoys spending time with family, praying and reading his bible scripture with his mother Maria del Rosario.