Keynote Speakers / Presentadores principales

REYNA GRANDE, STUDENT CENTER STAGE, 12 PM

Reyna Grande is the multi-awardwinning author of the bestselling memoir The Distance Between Us, and the sequel, A Dream Called Home. Her other works include the novels Across a Hundred Mountains, Dancing with Butterflies, and A Ballad of Love and Glory. Her newest book is her young reader’s adaptation of Spare Parts: The True Story of Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and an Impossible Dream, by Joshua Davis.

Reyna Grande es la autora multipremiada de la memoria bestseller La distancia entre nosotros, y la segunda parte, La búsqueda de un sueño. Sus otras obras incluyen las novelas A través de cien montañas, Dancing with Butterflies y Corrido de amor y gloria. Su libro más reciente es su adaptación para lectores jóvenes de Spare Parts: The True Story of Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and an Impossible Dream, por Joshua Davis.

JIMMY FIGUEROA, STUDENT CENTER STAGE, 1:30 PM

Jaime (Jimmy) Figueroa is the Executive Director of Operation HOPE-North County, a homeless shelter for families with children and single women. From 2018–2022, Jimmy helped develop and implement the juvenile reentry program Resilience Community Mentoring, created in partnership with the San Diego County Probation Department and the Vista Community Clinic. Prior to that, he worked with Oceanside Promise creating a Pilot Initiative for Latinx youth and as Program Supervisor for Project REACH Libby Lake.

Jaime (Jimmy) Figueroa es el director ejecutivo de Operation HOPE-North County, un albergue para las familias con niños y las mujeres sin hogar. De 2018 a 2022, Jimmy ayudó a desarrollar e implementar el programa para jóvenes en reintegración llamado Resilience Community Mentoring, creado en conjunto con el Departamento de Libertad Condicional del Condado de San Diego y Vista Community Clinic. Antes, trabajaba con Oceanside Promise, donde creó una iniciativa piloto para jóvenes latinx como director del programa Project REACH Libby Lake.

VICTOR VILLASEÑOR, LITTLE THEATER (ROOM 3601), 1 PM

Victor Villaseñor is the author of four national bestsellers and has been nominated for the Pulitzer Price three times. He was also the Founding Chair of the Steinbeck Institute in Salinas. He has written several screenplays, including the award-winning The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, as well as beautifully illustrated bilingual children’s books. Victor is an advocate for literacy, especially among the Latino community.

Victor Villaseñor es el autor de cuatro bestsellers a nivel nacional y ha sido nominado por el Premio Pulitzer en tres ocasiones. También fue el presidente del consejo del Instituto Steinbeck en Salinas. Ha escrito varios guiones, entre estos el galardonado trabajo The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, así como libros bilingües para niños, con ilustraciones hermosas. Victor lucha a favor de la lectura, sobre todo entre la comunidad latina.

SABROSAS LATIN ORCHESTRA, EAST STAGE, 12:30 PM

Established in 2019, Sabrosas Latin Orchestra, a 501(c)(3) organization, is proud to be the first all-female salsa band in San Diego. The orchestra brings together a diverse group of talented musicians to play salsa and Afro-Cuban-influenced music. Sabrosas Latin Orchestra seeks to bring the joy of music and dance to people of all ages and backgrounds and to encourage women to grow their talents in music for generations to come.

Fundada en 2019, Sabrosas Latin Orchestra, una organización 501(c)(3) sin fines de lucro, se enorgullece en ser la primera banda de salsa de puras mujeres en San Diego. La orquesta reúne un grupo diverso de artistas talentosas que tocan música con influencia salsa y afrocubana. Sabrosas Latin Orchestra busca acercar la alegría de la música y del baile a gente de toda edad y origen y alentar a las mujeres a fomentar su talento en las generaciones por venir.