Mexayuno 2025 Program

MEXAYUNO AGENDA

8:00am Doors open Sign-in/Registration Pre-event networking

Musical Performance, Mariachi Mexico Vivo 8:45am

Breakfast Served

9:00am

Program begins

10:20am Program ends Event concludes

ABOUT MEXAYUNO

In Chicago, where 1 in 5 people identify as Mexican, Latinos Progresando has built Mexayuno, an advocacy-focused breakfast (desayuno) to take place annually on Mexican Independence Day. Mexayuno is a platform for Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and the community at large to elevate important topics and forge a path to shared prosperity.

Our mission is to elevate the well-being of the Mexican community.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here. Welcome letter from Luis to go here.

Luis Gutierrez Founder & CEO, Latinos Progresando

ROBERT AGUILAR

President, Cabrera Capital Markets & Cabrera Capital Partners

Robert Aguilar is President of Cabrera Capital Markets (CCM), a global investment bank and brokerage firm, and Cabrera Capital Partners (CCP), a real estate development and investment firm. He helped start CCM in 2001, officially joined in 2003 as COO and CFO, and became President of both companies in 2023. Over two decades, Robert has driven growth, expanded the client base, diversified services, and built a global presence. Under his leadership, CCM has excelled in investment banking and brokerage, surpassing targets through innovative products and strong client relationships. CCP has also thrived, launching transformative projects such as a 33-acre redevelopment on Chicago’s Southwest Side.

A Chicago native and public school graduate, Robert is deeply committed to service. He serves on the Chicago Public Media Board of Directors and the Chicago Blackhawks Society, and has previously been part of the SEC’s Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies and the boards of La Rabida Children’s Hospital, Chicago United, and the Chicago Parks Foundation.

Named a Chicago United Business Leader of Color in 2011 and one of Crain’s Notable Latino Leaders in 2024, Robert earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a finance degree from Northern Illinois University. His work has appeared in outlets including The Chicago Tribune, Bloomberg, and Negocios Now.

TONANTZIN CARMONA Fellow, Brookings Institute

Tonantzin Carmona is a Fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Metro Program, where she focuses on wealth and inequality, financial and emerging technologies, and state and local policy implementation.

She previously served as Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy at the White House National Economic Council and as Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Inflation Reduction Act Implementation Office. Carmona has also advanced federal policy and political strategy as Illinois Political Director for U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 presidential campaign and as Warren’s Deputy Press Secretary on Capitol Hill. At the local level, Carmona has led transformative citywide initiatives in Chicago.

As Chief of Policy for the City Clerk, she spearheaded the Chicago Fines, Fees & Access Collaborative, resulting in major reforms to regressive public finance policies, and launched the city’s municipal ID card program, integrating multiple services while protecting applicant data. As Director of the Office of New Americans, she developed immigrant integration policies including the city’s first language access ordinance, and as Deputy Policy Director in the Mayor’s Office, she led the CityCounty Collaboration that identified $70 million in savings and new revenue. She holds an M.P.A. from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a B.A. in political science from Northwestern University.

NORA GARCIA

Executive Director, The Coleman Foundation

Nora Garcia was named Executive Director of the Coleman Foundation in 2025 and was most recently the Director of Programs at the Healthy Communities Foundation (HCF). At HCF, she led the development and implementation of the foundation’s health equity grantmaking strategy and special initiatives by building partnerships with stakeholders that include community-based organizations, health institutions, government and residents. Prior to joining HCF, Nora was a philanthropic consultant to Chicago-based family and private foundations where she supported grantmaking, communication and strategic planning efforts. She also managed the Peace Grants Project, a fund established by the City of Chicago focused on youth violence prevention. For more than a decade, Nora worked on issues of educational equity, youth development, and immigration reform with roles at CIS of Chicago, BUILD, and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). She earned a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Nora has completed fellowships with Leadership Greater Chicago, Terrance Keenan Institute at Grantmakers in Health, Field Foundation and VoiceLab at Non-Profit Quarterly.

CELINA VILLANUEVA Illinois State Senator, 12th District

Celina Villanueva, born and raised in Chicago, is currently the State Senator for Illinois’ 12th District. Before joining the Senate, she served in the Illinois House of Representatives, as Civic and Youth Engagement Manager at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), Director of Organizing at Chicago Votes and as Outreach Director for then Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.

When Senator Villanueva was appointed to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2018, she brought the voices of her community to the state’s capitol. Since joining the Illinois legislature, she has worked hard to pass legislation to protect and expand reproductive rights, immigrant rights, workers rights and countless other bills that are now law to help improve the lives of all Illinoisans.

Senator Villanueva was sworn into the Illinois Senate in 2020 and currently serves as the Chair of the Revenue committee. She also sits on the following committees: Appropriations, Labor, Transportation, Criminal Law, and Appropriations - Public Safety & Infrastructure. Senator Villanueva remains a community organizer at heart and continues to uplift marginalized voices in Springfield.

NUBIA WILLMAN

Chief Programs Officer, Latinos Progresando

Nubia Willman is the Chief Programs Officer at Latinos Progresando, overseeing LP’s legal, community response, and investment programs.

Prior to this role, Nubia was Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the City of Chicago’s 56th mayor.

There, Nubia led city-wide community engagement and immigration policy for Chicago, including drafting a resettlement plan to receive the first phase of new arrivals. Nubia is a licensed attorney. Previously, she represented immigrant survivors of gender-based violence and precarious workers at Legal Aid Chicago.

Nubia’s career includes ten years as a digital content creator and writer discussing professional development, gender equity, and immigration. She is the founder Latinas Uprising, an online community for the modern Latina lawyer, reaching over 30,000 young professionals committed to social justice and increasing diversity within the legal profession.

She earned her JD from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

CATERING AND ENTERTAINMENT Today’s delicious breakfast was catered by Carnitas Don Rafa. With more than 40 years of experience you are guaranteed to be content. Carnitas Don Rafa Restaurants offer excellent Mexican Food with exceptional customer service at a reasonable price. Make sure to visit donrafarestaurants.com for more information about catering for your next event.

Entertainment was provided

by Mariachi México Vivo de Pilsen. Founded in 2001, Mariachi México Vivo are expert musicians with a unique blend of traditional and modern sounds. Mariachi México Vivo’s mission is to create memories. The mariachi music they perform takes them back in time to the place where they were born, even reminding them of loved ones.

Through music and family, memories are created that will live in our hearts forever. Visit mariachimexicovivo.com for more info.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Latinos Progresando

Korina Sanchez Board President Third Coast Hospitality Group Moises Hernandez, Esq. Board Vice President Hernandez Law Group, LLC Dimas Ortega Board Treasurer Sinai Chicago Savana Perez Board Secretary Health Care Service Corporation Oswaldo Alvarez Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation

Teresa Reyes Office of Illinois Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton

Chris Brown Chicago Public Library

Jim Ryan Retired Executive

Jesse Greenberg Kellanova

Catarina Salgado Finance Executive

Tasneem Khokha GrowthPlay

Maximiliano Uribe Chicago Police Department

Charles A. Krugel Labor & Employment Law, Human Resources Counseling on Behalf of Business

Giovanna Valdez Valdez & Vilim, LLP

Joshua Moreno Baker Tilly Amanda Navarro First Women’s Bank

Maria Zavala McDonald’s Corporation Luis Gutierrez CEO, Latinos Progresando

Making a monthly gift makes all the difference.

Visit latinospro.org/donate today

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS*

*As of August 27, 2025.