Hispanic Powerhouses Unite for Premier Leadership Gala in Las Vegas

SAN DIEGO, CA – March 11, 2026 – In a landmark move set to consolidate and amplify Hispanic influence on a national scale, AVANCE Global and the We Are All Human Foundation have announced a strategic partnership. The two leading organizations will co-produce a new, high-profile event, “The Gala at AVANCE Global,” to honor Latino artists. The inaugural gala will take place on September 15, 2026, at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, serving as a capstone for AVANCE Global’s annual flagship conference, Proximo.

This collaboration marks a pivotal moment, uniting AVANCE Global’s powerful business and media platform with the advocacy-driven, UN-recognized prestige of We Are All Human. The partnership aims to create an unparalleled nexus for celebrating Hispanic achievement, fostering corporate engagement, and accelerating economic and professional mobility for the community at an unprecedented scale.

A Strategic Alliance of Influence

The union of these two entities creates a formidable force. AVANCE Global’s Proximo conference has rapidly established itself as a premier national gathering, convening over 6,000 executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers. With the backing of corporate giants like JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Morgan Stanley, Proximo has become a critical marketplace for ideas and capital, featuring a diverse roster of speakers from author Sandra Cisneros and former NFL coach Ron Rivera to Rocket Companies CEO Varun Krishna and champion boxer Oscar De La Hoya.

On the other side of the partnership is We Are All Human (WAAH), a foundation renowned for its high-impact advocacy and its own celebrated event, The Gala, typically held in New York City. WAAH’s galas are known for their elegance and purpose, attracting hundreds of leaders from business, media, and culture to honor luminaries such as pioneering astronaut Dr. Ellen Ochoa and business visionary Gabriel de Alba. The WAAH platform is dedicated to reframing the Hispanic narrative and mobilizing support for the community’s advancement.

“Each year, Claudia Edelman and her team at the We Are All Human produce one of the most elegant, advocacy-driven galas in the country,” said Gary Acosta, Co-Founder of AVANCE Global. “By aligning our platforms during Proximo, we get to support a cause we are both passionate about while providing an extraordinary experience for the Proximo and WAAH Guests.” The new joint venture, branded as The Gala at AVANCE Global, aims to leverage the distinct strengths of both organizations to create an event greater than the sum of its parts.

Fueling a $4.1 Trillion Economic Engine

The significance of this partnership is magnified by the immense and growing economic power of the community it serves. The U.S. Hispanic population is not just a demographic group; it is a formidable economic force. Recent reports value the U.S. Latino GDP at a staggering $4.1 trillion, an economy that, if it were a sovereign nation, would rank as the fifth largest in the world, surpassing India and the United Kingdom.

This economic output is driven by relentless entrepreneurial spirit and a robust labor contribution. With over five million Hispanic-owned businesses contributing more than $800 billion to the U.S. economy annually, Latinos are starting businesses at a rate faster than any other demographic group. Between 2019 and 2024, the number of Latino-owned employer businesses surged by 35%, a testament to their resilience and dynamism. Furthermore, Latinos are projected to account for 78% of all new workers entering the U.S. labor force between 2020 and 2030.

However, despite these impressive statistics, systemic barriers persist. Latino entrepreneurs are still 50% less likely to be approved for small business loans than their white counterparts and often face network disparities that limit access to mentorship and capital. The new partnership between AVANCE Global and WAAH is strategically positioned to address these gaps by creating a central hub for connection, visibility, and opportunity, directly connecting corporate America with this vital economic engine.

Culture as a Catalyst for Transformation

Crucially, the new gala’s specific focus on honoring Latino artists underscores a core belief shared by both organizations: that economic advancement is inextricably linked to cultural recognition and narrative change. By placing a celebration of the arts at the heart of a major business conference, the partnership elevates the conversation beyond pure metrics, championing a holistic view of the Hispanic community's contributions.

This approach recognizes that art and culture are not just ancillary to business; they are powerful economic drivers and essential tools for shaping perception. The gala aims to move the Hispanic community from being seen as a mere consumer market to being recognized as a source of immense cultural capital, creativity, and innovation.

“At We Are All Human, we believe narrative drives transformation,” said Claudia Romo Edelman, Founder and Executive Chair of We Are All Human. “Partnering with AVANCE Global during Proximo allows us to elevate Hispanic Star and our broader mission on one of the most influential national stages. Together, we are celebrating achievement while building tangible pathways for future generations.” This sentiment reflects a sophisticated understanding that changing how a community is seen is fundamental to changing its economic and social reality.

The Must-Attend Convening in Las Vegas

The joint event is being positioned as the indispensable annual gathering for anyone invested in the future of Hispanic leadership in America. The integration of the prestigious WAAH Gala into the already powerful Proximo conference creates a multi-day experience that offers unparalleled value—from deep-dive industry sessions and curated networking to high-level advocacy and cultural celebration.

Proximo itself is more than a series of keynotes; it is a dynamic marketplace featuring specialized content tracks from powerhouse organizations like the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) and the Hispanic Wealth Project. The conference is designed to foster what co-founder Gary Acosta calls “genuine connections and actionable next steps” for attendees to advance their businesses and careers.

With the addition of The Gala at AVANCE Global, the week in Las Vegas now promises not only to convene the brightest minds in Hispanic business, finance, and technology but also to honor the artists who shape the nation’s cultural landscape. This fusion of commerce and culture, of economic strategy and artistic celebration, signifies the scale, sophistication, and undeniable impact of Hispanic leadership in America today. The road to Las Vegas this September is set to be a pilgrimage for leaders across all sectors who are committed to being part of this transformative movement.