On Wednesday, April 22, The Unity Council hosted our inaugural funders briefing, Estamos Unidos, bringing together more than 50 philanthropic leaders and community champions for a powerful and timely conversation about investment, equity, and the future of Latino and immigrant communities.
Grounded in both urgency and hope, the gathering centered on a clear message: supporting Latino communities and Latino-serving organizations is not optional—it is essential. As our communities continue to grow and shape the social, cultural, and economic fabric of our region, the need for public and private investment that reflects this impact has never been more critical.
The program featured an inspiring group of leaders who shared their perspectives on the national and local landscape, and the role philanthropy must play in advancing opportunity and belonging:
- Janet Murguía, President & CEO, UnidosUS
- Mayor Barbara Lee, City of Oakland
- Fred Blackwell, Chief Executive Officer, San Francisco Foundation
- Arabella Martinez, Founder, The Unity Council
Their insights reinforced a shared vision for the future—one rooted in equity, collective responsibility, and long-term investment in community-led solutions.
As Janet Murguía shared during the program: “In unity, there is strength—and in that strength, there is power. When we come together and bring others along, we can shape a vision for this country and see it realized.”
The energy in the room was a powerful reminder of what is possible when leaders come together with a shared commitment to action.
Our Call to Action
As we move forward from this important gathering, we invite partners and leaders to stay engaged and take action:
- Recognize that supporting Latino communities and Latino-serving organizations is not optional—it is essential
- Champion public and private investment that reflects the true size, impact, and potential of Latino communities
- Invest in organizations like The Unity Council as a strategic commitment to our shared future
We are deeply grateful to all who joined us and stood in partnership at this critical moment. As we look ahead, we remain committed to building pathways toward opportunity, equity, and long-term community strength.
We invite you to revisit highlights from the day by viewing our event photo gallery. Special thanks to photographer Adriana Oyarzun for capturing the spirit and energy of the gathering.
Latino and immigrant communities are not on the margins of this story—they are at the center of it. Our shared future depends on what we choose to invest in today.
