Michelle Juarez- Perry | Leadership, Homeownership and Building a Legacy

Michelle Juarez- Perry | Leadership, Homeownership and Building a Legacy

Sep 17, 2026 | Business, Women and Leadership

HL INSIGHTS

Michelle Juarez- Perry | Leadership, Homeownership and Building a Legacy

A Hispanic Heritage Month Story

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

or NHORA National President Michelle Perry, leadership, homeownership and community are personal. As a first-generation homeowner and longtime real estate professional, she understands how owning a home can change the trajectory of a family.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we often celebrate the accomplishments of individuals who are making an impact in their professions and communities. Sometimes, the more interesting story is understanding what motivates them to lead. For Michelle Perry, that story begins with home.

Perry is the 2026 National President of the National Hispanic Organization of Real Estate Associates (NHORA) and a full-time Realtor who has worked in Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County and San Benito County for more than 26 years.

Long before becoming a leader of a national real estate organization, however, Perry experienced something that continues to influence how she views her profession and community service.

She became a first-generation homeowner.

“I know what that trajectory is in life, and I know how it’s changed my family,” Perry told HL Media Network during NHORA’s 2026 National Conference in San Jose.

She became a homeowner before entering the real estate profession.

“So it’s something big for me,” she said. “I know what it means.”

Watch our conversation with NHORA National President Michelle Perry 

Discovering NHORA

Our introduction to NHORA went beyond attending its national conference.

The day before the conference, HL Media Network was invited to join NHORA leaders for a chapter retreat at Hayes Mansion in San Jose.

It provided an opportunity to observe the organization from the inside — chapter leaders gathering to discuss leadership, communication, professional development and the direction of the organization.

One word came up repeatedly: family.

The following day, as real estate professionals, lenders, affiliates and industry leaders arrived for the national conference, it became easier to understand what they meant.

There was an obvious professional purpose to the gathering. But there was also familiarity among the members and a sense that relationships between chapters mattered.

For those unfamiliar with NHORA, as we were before spending time with the organization, its work extends beyond professional networking.

The organization promotes sustainable homeownership while developing leadership within the real estate industry and encouraging its members to serve as trusted advisors within Hispanic communities. Its work also includes financial literacy, consumer education and community involvement.

Perry became involved with NHORA approximately six years ago.

“I knew what they were doing in the community,” she said.

That connection between profession and community appealed to her.

“This organization gives back to the community,” Perry explained. “In every aspect, not just in real estate, not just in education, but actually giving to people that are in need.”

Leadership Starts With Communication

When Perry became National President earlier this year, one of her priorities was strengthening NHORA from within.

Her focus has been on the chapters and, particularly, developing the professionalism and leadership skills of the people running them.

“They’re the ones that are really serving the community,” she said.

For Perry, effective leadership starts with something basic.

Communication.

“The number one thing for me, when you talk about leadership, is communication,” she said. “It’s really important that we establish what our priorities are, and how we communicate them.”

That meant investing in leadership training and making sure chapter leaders understood not only the organization’s priorities, but where NHORA wanted to go next.

The result, Perry believes, has brought the organization closer together.

“We know what our purpose is. We know what the vision is, and we know what the next step is, because we are being strategic about how we move forward.”

More Than a Real Estate Transaction

Perry’s perspective on homeownership is particularly relevant to the work NHORA is doing.

Real estate professionals spend their careers around transactions.

Buyers. Sellers. Financing. Properties. Contracts.

But Perry remembers the experience from the other side of the table.

She remembers becoming a homeowner before she became a Realtor.

That distinction matters.

For a first-generation homeowner, purchasing a house can represent something much larger than acquiring property. It can change how a family thinks about stability, opportunity and its financial future.

Perry lived that experience herself.

Today, she wants NHORA professionals to help others understand the homebuying process and the possibilities that can come with it.

She also sees the organization’s responsibility extending beyond homeownership education.

Perry talks about building wealth and leaving a legacy.

That means creating relationships with people and organizations capable of providing knowledge and resources within the communities NHORA serves.

It also means showing up in other ways.

Perry points to activities such as backpack drives, scholarships, nonprofit support and educational programs as examples of how local chapters can become part of their communities.

The objective is for NHORA members to become people their communities know and trust whether someone is trying to understand the homebuying process or simply looking for information and resources.

Building a Legacy

That brings Perry to what comes next.

She envisions NHORA continuing to expand into additional communities and states while maintaining the local relationships that have helped define the organization.

“We want it to expand into communities where they know that we are the trusted advisor,” she said.

Partnerships will be an important part of that expansion.

This year, NHORA introduced what Perry describes as its Legacy Partnership, creating deeper relationships with organizations supporting its mission. NHORA’s current national partnership structure includes Legacy, Impact, Community and Supporting Partner levels, with its Legacy Partners positioned for long-term participation in the organization.

But when Perry discusses those relationships, she doesn’t speak about them simply as sponsors.

“They’re part of our family now,” she said.

It reflects the same theme we heard during the leadership retreat the previous day.

For Perry, growth is ultimately about collaboration.

“That’s how we move forward,” she said. “It’s with collaboration, partnerships, and building futures for more than just ourselves, for giving back to our communities.”

A Story Worth Continuing

Our conversation with Michelle Perry was one of several we captured during our time with NHORA in San Jose.

We arrived wanting to learn more about an organization that was relatively new to us. We left with a better understanding of its leadership, its chapters and the people working within real estate and financial services to address homeownership and economic opportunity in their communities.

There are more of those stories to share.

For Hispanic Heritage Month, however, Michelle Perry provides a fitting place to begin.

She is a real estate professional who remembers what it felt like to become a first-generation homeowner.

A national president who believes leadership begins with communication.

And a Latina leader whose definition of success extends beyond what she can build for herself to what she and others can help build for the people who come next.

That is where leadership becomes legacy.

Learn more about the National Hispanic Organization of Real Estate Associates at NHORA.org.

EDITOR NOTES 

HL Media Network was invited to attend the 2026 NHORA National Conference in San Jose, California, including a leadership retreat held the day before the conference. It was our first opportunity to spend meaningful time with the organization, its national leadership and representatives from several of its chapters.

What began as an introduction quickly became an opportunity to listen, learn and document. During our time in San Jose, we conducted several interviews exploring leadership, homeownership, financial education, community service and the work being done by professionals serving their communities.

Our conversation with NHORA National President Michelle Perry is the first of several stories we look forward to sharing from that experience.

 

Beyond Success: What Comes Next?

Beyond Success: What Comes Next?

Aug 28, 2026 | Culture and Influence, Women and Leadership

HL | Culture and Influence

Beyond Success: What Comes Next?

Dr. Betty® Uribe’s ELEVATE program brings accomplished women together to examine leadership, purpose and what comes after professional success.

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

n a Saturday at Pepperdine University, eight women stood before an audience to share presentations representing the culmination of months of work as participants in Dr. Betty® Uribe’s ELEVATE program. Their subjects were as varied as their professional and personal experiences. There were conversations about leadership and artificial intelligence, reflections on childhood and family, and candid stories about navigating personal challenges, loss and change. One participant spoke about overcoming ADHD and the challenges associated with preparing and delivering presentations.

There was no single definition of leadership offered that afternoon. Instead, each woman approached the subject through the experiences that had shaped her, providing a glimpse into not only what she had learned through the program, but also what she had learned about herself.

HL Media Network was invited to document the final presentations and graduation ceremony. As we recorded the participants and listened to their stories, another part of the experience became increasingly interesting. These were not women at the beginning of their professional journeys searching for their first opportunity. They were educated and accomplished women business owners, managers and professionals who had already assumed significant responsibilities within their respective careers.

Yet each had made an intentional decision to invest months of her time, along with the financial commitment required to participate in an executive development program, to become a better communicator and leader.

That decision may say as much about leadership as anything presented from the stage.

ELEVATE participants and program leaders gathered at Pepperdine University in Malibu to celebrate the completion of the program. Pictured: Stephanie Paul, Maggie O’Sullivan, Diana Jundi, Teresa Razo, Dr. Betty® Uribe, Carolyn Ebersole, Lina Safa, Marisa Sato, Maryl Petreccia, Carolina Chavez and Dawn Robinson.

Creating the Conditions to ELEVATE

For Dr. Betty® Uribe, the program grew from a question she says she has spent much of her life studying: What causes human beings to transcend and how do we create the conditions for that to happen?

Throughout her career working with accomplished leaders and organizations, Uribe says she repeatedly observed that sustainable success begins with alignment understanding who you are, what you value and what you uniquely bring to the world, and then allowing those principles to become the foundation from which you lead.

“I developed ELEVATE to give accomplished leaders space to step away from external demands and examine their lives and leadership more deeply,” Uribe explained.

The program was designed to address a broad range of areas affecting modern leadership, including values, identity, strengths, trust, relationships, negotiation, executive presence, communication, storytelling, branding, technology and artificial intelligence, strategy and legacy. Importantly, Uribe says the objective is to move beyond simply acquiring knowledge and toward putting that knowledge into practice.

“My hope was that each leader would leave with greater clarity about who they are, what they uniquely bring to the world, and how they want to use their influence in this next season of life.”

That idea the next season was particularly relevant as we listened to the women present.

The Investment in Yourself

Success has an interesting way of changing the questions we ask ourselves. Early in a career, the goals can appear relatively straightforward: find an opportunity, develop experience, earn a promotion, build a business or establish yourself professionally. Eventually, however, many accomplished professionals reach a point where the next move is less obvious.

The skills that helped someone become a successful manager may not necessarily be the same skills required to become an executive vice president. Building a successful business does not automatically prepare its founder to lead a significantly larger organization. Professional knowledge and experience can open doors, but increased responsibility brings new expectations surrounding communication, negotiation, decision-making, strategic thinking and leadership.

Throughout the ELEVATE presentations, we heard a great deal about what the participants had experienced and what they had discovered about themselves. There were moments of vulnerability and stories of perseverance. Some reflected on difficult personal chapters, including divorce, the death of loved ones and periods when life’s circumstances required them to regain their focus.

Their stories were reminders that professional development rarely occurs independently of everything else happening in someone’s life. Leadership is shaped by all of it.

Uribe describes one of the most significant outcomes of the inaugural ELEVATE cohort as “clarity accompanied by agency.”

“These leaders entered ELEVATE already accomplished,” she said. “Through the experience, they became more intentional about how they wanted to lead, make decisions, communicate, negotiate, build relationships, and invest their time.”

Their reflection papers and final presentations, according to Uribe, demonstrated greater clarity surrounding values and identity, stronger executive presence and communication, increased confidence in negotiation and decision-making, and a greater ability to recognize both patterns that needed to be released and opportunities worth pursuing.

That last point deserves attention.

Confidence at this stage of a professional career isn’t simply the ability to deliver a presentation or speak comfortably before an audience. At increasingly higher levels of leadership, confidence can mean trusting your judgment when the consequences of a decision become larger. It can mean expressing an opinion in a room filled with accomplished people, pursuing an executive position before someone else tells you that you are ready, expanding a business beyond its comfortable boundaries or recognizing that years of experience have earned you a place at the table.

The women participating in ELEVATE had already demonstrated that they possessed many of the tools necessary to succeed. Their professional accomplishments were evidence of that. Their participation suggested something equally important: successful people can recognize that there are still tools they need to acquire. 

From Success to Stewardship

Something else happened as the cohort progressed. Uribe saw the participants begin thinking beyond their individual success.
She points to the trust developed among the women as an important part of the experience. That community created an environment for vulnerability, accountability, encouragement and learning that extended beyond the formal curriculum.

More significantly, she said their thinking began shifting toward stewardship and legacy.

“What have I been entrusted with? Who can benefit from what I know? What do I want my leadership to produce beyond my own success?”

For Uribe, that is the point where personal transformation has the potential to become something larger.

“That is where transformation becomes multiplication.”

It also presents an interesting evolution in the way we think about professional success. At some point, the question may no longer simply be how much someone can accomplish personally. The question becomes what their experience, knowledge, relationships and influence can create for other people.

Dawn E. Robinson, MBA, served as Master of Ceremonies for the ELEVATE graduation ceremony at Pepperdine University in Malibu.

Graduation Is a Milestone, Not an Ending

As the presentations concluded and the women were recognized for completing the program, I found myself thinking less about graduation and more about what happens afterward.

It turns out Dr. Betty® was thinking about the same thing.

“The inaugural cohort taught us something important: ELEVATE cannot end at graduation,” she said.

Uribe is now developing ELEVATE as what she describes as an ecosystem—a continuum intended to support leaders through discovery, executive development, application, accountability, integration and eventually legacy.

The journey begins with Discovery Foundations™, where participants examine their values, strengths, identity, purpose and areas requiring greater alignment. Leaders can then move into the Executive Leadership Master Certification™, an intensive experience incorporating values-centered leadership, negotiation, executive presence, storytelling and branding, trust and belonging, strategic thinking, ethical AI and real-world application.

Graduates can continue their development through the Impact Circle™, designed around ongoing reflection, accountability, peer learning and leadership development. Uribe is also building Integration & Expansion™, which will include immersive global experiences intended to deepen the work by removing participants from the pressures and routines of everyday life.

Over time, selected graduates may also return as Fellows, faculty collaborators, mentors or understudies, allowing the lessons and methodology to move from one generation of participants to another.

This begins to redefine what graduation represents.

Instead of being the conclusion of an educational experience, graduation becomes one marker along a much longer leadership journey.

What Comes Next?

That idea also raises a broader question about women and leadership.

For decades, HL has had the opportunity to meet, interview and recognize accomplished women across numerous industries and at virtually every stage of their careers. Many no longer need someone to convince them that they are capable. Their résumés demonstrate their abilities. They have built companies, managed employees, led organizations, raised families, survived difficult circumstances and established themselves professionally.

For this group of women, the conversation may need to evolve beyond simply encouraging them to succeed. The more interesting question is what they need to reach the next level.

For one woman, that may mean stronger executive communication skills. For another, it could be financial education, understanding artificial intelligence, developing strategic relationships, learning how to negotiate at a higher level or preparing to serve on a corporate board. A successful entrepreneur may need to understand capital and scaling. An experienced corporate executive may need greater visibility and relationships outside her organization before she can realistically compete for a CEO position.

There isn’t one missing skill because there isn’t one definition of what comes next.

Perhaps that is one of the most valuable lessons from spending an afternoon listening to the ELEVATE participants. Professional development doesn’t end when someone becomes successful. In many respects, success simply creates another set of questions.

Dr. Betty® sees an even longer horizon for the program. While the graduation HL documented predominantly featured women, ELEVATE itself is not exclusively a women’s leadership program. The founding cohort included one male participant who joined from Croatia, and Uribe says the next cohort, planned for this fall, will bring together a more balanced representation of accomplished women and men.

“It was an extraordinary honor to lead this founding cohort of remarkable leaders,” Uribe said. “There was something very special about watching this group challenge themselves, support one another, and ultimately discover that ELEVATE is about far more than professional success—it is about who we become, the impact we are called to make, and the legacy we are leaving behind for a time we will never see.”

As she looks toward the next cohort, Uribe believes bringing together a broader range of perspectives, experiences and leadership styles will add another dimension to the experience. Her larger vision is for ELEVATE to eventually become a global community of values-centered leaders who understand leadership as stewardship. Success, she believes, should ultimately be measured by what happens beyond the classroom: the organizations participants strengthen, the people they develop, the families and communities they influence, the decisions they make when nobody is watching and the opportunities they create for those who follow.

“That is what I believe ELEVATE can become: transformation that multiplies from one leader to another, to an organization, to a community and ultimately across generations.”

At HL, we have always been interested in asking people a deceptively simple question: What’s next?

For these eight women, we now have another reason to ask it.

They invested in themselves. They challenged themselves. They completed ELEVATE. Their graduation at Pepperdine University marked an accomplishment worth celebrating, but both the experience we witnessed and Dr. Betty® Uribe’s vision for the program suggest that graduation isn’t where this story ends.

It may be where the more interesting story begins.

Now we look forward to discovering what they do next.

Exclusive photos taken at the ELEVATE graduation ceremony at Pepperdine University in Malibu. Photos by HL Media Network.

2026 Elevate Executive Certification Program | Pepperdine University

EDITOR NOTES 

HL Media Network was invited to document the ELEVATE final presentations and graduation at Pepperdine University in Malibu. What began as an opportunity to capture an important milestone became an opportunity to listen to accomplished women sharing their experiences, challenges and ambitions for what comes next.

Their stories reinforce our belief that leadership development does not end with professional success. We look forward to following their journeys and continuing the conversation about the skills, relationships and opportunities that help accomplished women reach their next level.

MORE STORIES

Summer Vacation 2026

Summer Vacation 2026

Aug 19, 2026 | Culture and Influence, The Way We Travel

ISSUE 02 | August 2026

SUMMER VACATION

Message from Richard Sandoval

Looking Back. Looking Around. Looking Forward.

ne of the things I have always enjoyed about what we do is that you never quite know where the next story will take us.

 In this edition of HL | Culture & Influence, we recognize the career and contributions of Patricia Pérez as she begins her next chapter. We travel to Los Cabos, not looking for a story, but discovering one during a summer family vacation. We consider what happens to our communities when familiar local voices suddenly go silent. We reach into the Hispanic Lifestyle archives to revisit Halloween memories from Disneyland that, more than a decade later, continue to find a new audience.

Leadership. Travel. Media. Culture. Memories.

On the surface, they may seem like very different stories. I believe that is precisely the point.

This edition gives us an opportunity to look back at the people and moments worth remembering, look around at the places and changes shaping our experiences today, and look forward to the stories still waiting to be discovered.

For more than 30 years, Hispanic Lifestyle has been about discovering, documenting and sharing the people, places, organizations and experiences that define our communities. Culture & Influence brings those stories together some new, some rediscovered, and all worth sharing.

We invite you to settle in and enjoy the stories.

Richard Sandoval
Publisher
HL | Culture & Influence – HL | Media Network

About the Cover Photograph

Los Cabos, Mexico
Photographed by Richard Sandoval | August 2026

While walking through Hilton Los Cabos, I noticed several hallways and passageways that opened to magnificent views of the property and the landscape beyond. It was not lost on me what the architects and designers were trying to accomplish. The architecture seemed to intentionally frame each view, allowing the artwork, furnishings, natural light and surrounding landscape to complement one another.

These are carefully designed commercial spaces, yet nothing felt accidental. Everything seemed to work together. This photograph captured one of those moments when architecture, art and the natural beauty of Los Cabos became part of the same composition.

FEATURED ARTICLES

COMMUNITY
When Local Voices Go Silent

FROM OUR ARCHIVES
Disneyland Halloween 2009

THE WAY WE TRAVEL
Los Cabos

SPOTLIGHT
Westchester County, NY

PATRICIA PÉREZ
Setting the Standard

SPOTLIGHT
Flour, Faith and Sugar

More Stories

Milestone | Patricia Pérez: Setting the Standard

Milestone | Patricia Pérez: Setting the Standard

Aug 14, 2026 | Culture and Influence

HL | Culture and Influence

Milestone | Patricia Pérez: Setting the Standard

HL Media Network congratulates longtime communications executive, community advocate and 2017 Hispanic Lifestyle Latina of Influence Patricia Pérez as she begins a new chapter following nearly four decades with VPE Communications.

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

ome moments deserve to be recognized as milestones. Patricia Pérez’s retirement from VPE Communications is one of them.

For nearly four decades, Patricia built a career in public relations and communications connecting major corporations, public agencies and organizations with the U.S. Hispanic market. Just as importantly, she remained actively engaged with the community-based organizations and causes serving many of those same communities.

As Patricia begins her next chapter, we want to say something very simple:
Congratulations on a job well done. You have built a career to be proud of and thank you for your many years of service to our community.

A Career Built on Relationships

My memories of Patricia go back many years.

I remember crossing paths with her at numerous community events over the years. Her name would often appear on the boards of organizations and community-based initiatives, and there would be many more events, meetings and opportunities to watch Patricia and VPE at work.

Her professional career put her in the company of major brands and organizations. VPE’s client history has included organizations such as Disneyland, McDonald’s, AT&T and Farmers Insurance, along with numerous government agencies and community organizations.

That professional record speaks for itself.

But when I think about Patricia, some of the things I remember most didn’t happen from a stage or in front of a camera.

I remember the conversations.

Patricia was one of those people with whom you could have a quiet conversation and walk away with a new perspective.

She might share an insight, make a suggestion or point out something you hadn’t considered. These were valuable pieces of information coming from someone with years of experience who was willing to share some of what she had learned along the way.

There was never much fanfare surrounding those moments.

It was simply good advice.

And I appreciated it.

Serving the Market and the Community

Patricia’s career also represents an important chapter in the evolution of communications with the U.S. Hispanic market.

Through VPE, she helped bring stories, information and campaigns to the attention of audiences that historically had often been underserved or overlooked.

That work required more than delivering a message. It required understanding the communities those messages were intended to reach.

Patricia understood that distinction.

She wasn’t simply communicating to the community. She was active in the community.

Throughout her career, she contributed her time, experience and leadership to community-based organizations, civic efforts and causes. That involvement provided a perspective that couldn’t simply be learned by studying demographics or reading a marketing report.

She knew the people. She knew the organizations. She understood the marketplace and she understood the value of relationships.

Pictured among Hispanic Lifestyle’s 2017 Latinas of Influence is
Patricia Perez (is standing in the back row).

Documenting the Journey

For more than three decades, our cameras, microphones and pages have documented the people and organizations influencing our communities.

Patricia and VPE are part of that history.

VPE Communications was recognized through Hispanic Lifestyle’s Business: Surviving to Thriving series, which celebrated businesses demonstrating longevity, adaptability and the ability to grow through changing economic conditions and marketplaces.

In 2017, Hispanic Lifestyle recognized Patricia Pérez as a Latina of Influence, acknowledging her professional accomplishments, leadership and commitment to community.

That year, we also sat down with Patricia for an interview, giving her an opportunity to share some of her experiences and perspective in her own words.

Setting the Standard

There is another part of Patricia’s career worth recognizing.

She demonstrated that it was possible to operate at the highest levels of the communications industry, work with major corporate and institutional clients, and remain genuinely connected to the community.

That matters.

Influence isn’t simply about having access to important rooms. It’s also about what you bring into those rooms, the perspectives you represent and what you do with the opportunities you’ve earned.

Patricia helped set that standard.

Her retirement also represents another measure of professional success:

What she helped build continues.

VPE Communications now enters its next chapter under the leadership of longtime VPE professionals Maricela Cueva and Lorena Alamillo. Their opportunity is to build upon a foundation developed over nearly four decades while defining what comes next for the organization.

We look forward to documenting that journey.

A Milestone Worth Recognizing

We often talk about standing on the shoulders of the people who came before us.

People like Patricia helped create a foundation upon which others can continue to build.

They opened doors. They developed relationships. They demonstrated the importance and economic influence of the U.S. Hispanic market. They gave their time and experience to organizations and communities.

And sometimes, away from the cameras and microphones, they quietly shared what they had learned with someone else who could benefit from their experience.

The responsibility for those who follow isn’t simply to admire what was built.

It is to build upon it.

That’s how influence continues.

That’s how a legacy grows.

And that’s why Patricia Pérez’s retirement deserves to be recognized as a milestone.

Patricia, from all of us at HL Media Network, congratulations on a job well done.

Thank you for your service to our community, for the conversations and insights shared along the way, and for helping create a foundation upon which others can continue to build.

You have set a standard and built a career to be proud of.

We wish you much happiness and success in whatever comes next.

EDITOR NOTES 

Culture & Influence is about more than documenting what is happening today. It is about preserving the stories of the people who helped create the opportunities we experience today and documenting those who will build upon them tomorrow.

Our history with Patricia Pérez and VPE Communications spans many years. We recognized their accomplishments, recorded their perspectives and watched their influence within the community.

Today, HL Media Network has the privilege of returning to that archive to recognize another milestone.

That is why we document.

Because today’s interview, photograph or conversation eventually becomes part of the record of who we were, who helped shape our communities and how the next generation moved the story forward.

What’s Next for VPE

As VPE Communications begins its next chapter under the leadership of Maricela Cueva and Lorena Alamillo, HL Media Network looks forward to continuing the conversation. In an upcoming Culture & Influence feature, we’ll introduce VPE’s new leadership and explore their vision for building upon the organization’s legacy and what’s next.

Video interview with VPE posted in 2014

Imagen Foundation to Honor Andy Garcia

Imagen Foundation to Honor Andy Garcia

Jul 9, 2026 | Culture and Influence, Entertainment

HL | Culture and Influence

Imagen Foundation to Honor Andy Garcia

The acclaimed actor, filmmaker, producer, and musician will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 41st Annual Imagen Awards, recognizing more than four decades of artistic excellence and a lasting commitment to authentic Latino storytelling.

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

Why This Matters

For more than four decades, the Imagen Foundation has celebrated authentic Latino representation in film, television, and, more recently, streaming media. At a time when conversations about representation continue to evolve, the Imagen Awards remain one of the few national entertainment awards dedicated to recognizing Latino excellence both in front of and behind the camera.

This year, the Foundation will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to acclaimed actor, filmmaker, producer, and musician Andy Garcia during the 41st Annual Imagen Awards, to be held on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the The Beverly Hilton.

For audiences who have followed Garcia’s career over the past four decades, the recognition honors not only an accomplished body of work, but also an artist whose integrity and commitment to authentic storytelling have inspired generations of filmmakers and performers.

A Career Defined by Excellence

From his Academy Award-nominated performance in The Godfather Part III to memorable roles across film and television, Garcia has built a career grounded in artistic excellence and cultural authenticity.

Most recently, Garcia premiered his latest feature film, Diamond, which he wrote, directed, and stars in, at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a nine-minute standing ovation. He also stars in the Paramount+ series Landman and continues developing projects through his production company, CineSon Productions.

Throughout his career, Garcia has earned Academy Award®, Golden Globe®, and Emmy® nominations while also receiving Grammy® and Latin Grammy® honors for his musical work. Just as significant has been his dedication to creating opportunities for authentic Latino stories and voices within the entertainment industry.

From the HL Archive

One of the advantages of covering our community for more than three decades is the opportunity to build lasting relationships with the people whose work shapes culture and inspires audiences.

Over the years, HL has had the privilege of interviewing Andy Garcia on multiple occasions, documenting not only his accomplishments as an actor and filmmaker, but also his reflections on storytelling, creativity, and the importance of authentic representation.

Those conversations continue to resonate today and provide additional perspective on the career being recognized by the Imagen Foundation.

WATCH HL’S CONVERSATION WITH ANDY GARCIA

Andy Garcia and Tony Plana share their thoughts on the arts being tought in schools

Antonio Banderas and Andy Garcia at the 2006 Imagen Awards

Recognition From the Imagen Foundation

Announcing the honor, Helen Hernandez, Founder and President of the Imagen Foundation, reflected on Garcia’s decades of artistic achievement and his commitment to advancing Latino representation in entertainment.

She noted that from hosting the fourth annual Imagen Awards in 1989 to his continued work today, Garcia has built an extraordinary career while inspiring generations of storytellers through both his work and his leadership.

Accepting the recognition, Garcia shared his thoughts on receiving the Imagen Foundation Achievement Award:

“I’m deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Imagen Foundation, an organization that has championed Latino talent and authentic representation for more than forty years. This award is especially meaningful because it celebrates not just my journey, but the many artists, mentors, and audiences who have been part of it and have inspired me. Our common Hispanic culture has many important and inspirational stories that can reflect the richness of who we are and our contributions to the world.”

Moments like these remind us why HL continues to create experiences that bring accomplished leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators together. While our events recognize achievement, they also create an environment where conversations can happen naturally where questions are welcomed, ideas are exchanged, and inspiration is often found in the most unexpected places.

As both a father and a storyteller, watching that exchange reaffirmed something I have believed for many years: some of life’s greatest lessons begin with a simple question.

Looking Ahead

The 41st Annual Imagen Awards will recognize more than 30 individuals and productions representing excellence in film, television, and streaming. For more than forty years, the Imagen Foundation has remained committed to encouraging authentic portrayals of Latinos while expanding opportunities for creative professionals throughout the entertainment industry.

The Foundation also enters an important chapter in its history. While Helen Hernandez continues to lead the organization and remains actively engaged in its mission, Director Esteban Melendez has assumed a growing leadership role as part of the Foundation’s long-term succession planning. The transition reflects a thoughtful commitment to preserving the Foundation’s legacy while preparing the next generation of leadership.

EDITOR NOTES 

One of the privileges of producing HL for more than three decades is witnessing careers that stand the test of time.

Andy Garcia’s career has never been defined simply by the roles he has played, but by the integrity he has brought to his craft and the example he has set for generations of artists who followed. His work reminds us that great storytelling begins with authenticity and that representation is strongest when stories are told with honesty, depth, and respect.

The Imagen Awards continue to recognize those values, making this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award a fitting tribute to one of entertainment’s most enduring voices.

At HL, we also recognize the organizations whose commitment makes these moments possible. For more than four decades, Helen Hernandez has guided the Imagen Foundation with purpose and vision. As Director Esteban Melendez assumes an expanded leadership role, the Foundation is thoughtfully preparing for its future while remaining grounded in the mission that has defined it since its beginning.

As HL continues documenting the people, organizations, and ideas shaping culture and influence, we look forward to celebrating this milestone and sharing more stories that inspire future generations.