Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI)

Non-partisan 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to advancing the Hispanic community’s diversity of thought.

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

NBC News/@Telemundo Poll: What Matters Most to Latino Voters Right Now: https://t.co/qlbxzhhVgn

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

We are honored to welcome @RepJimmyPanetta to CHLI's Board of Directors: https://t.co/tz7gGJ5LSd

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

@RosLehtinen: "Can freedom come to Cuba without the full removal of regime officials?"

@OGutierrezCuba: "No. I don't think there can be freedom in Cuba without the Castro family, the entire mafia being removed from power and the dominating structures of that regime, which are the communist party and the intelligence sector being taken apart."

#CHLICubaBriefing

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

"Knowing firsthand the criminal nature of the communist regime, it certainly takes a great deal of courage for Cubans resisting in the island to stand up for freedom in spite of the brutal abuse and violation of their fundamental human rights" - @MARporCuba's Sylvia Iriondo

#CHLICubaBriefing

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

@MarioDB: "If you talk to every democracy in this hemisphere, they will tell you that the Cuban regime is a source of problems, of infiltration, of destruction for every democracy in this hemisphere."

#CHLICubaBriefing

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

We are two hours away!

Join us for the Voices of Courage: The Cuban People's Fight for Freedom where the CHLI Congressional Briefing will elevate the voices of those advocating for a free Cuba, explore the ongoing challenges facing the Cuban people, and discuss the path toward democracy.

You can register to attend in person or watch via our livestream here: https://t.co/9Lh2D0iH0F

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

CHLI celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by recognizing the voices, contributions, and diversity of thought that strengthen our communities and our nation.

As we honor the rich heritage and leadership of the Hispanic community, we remain committed to preparing, connecting, and honoring the next generation of leaders.

More information on Hispanic Heritage Month can be viewed here: https://t.co/m1btVbOJx7

#HispanicHeritageMonth #CHLI #Leadership #DiversityOfThought

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

There's still time 🕰️

For you to register for tomorrow's Voices of Courage: The Cuban People's Fight for Freedom where the CHLI Congressional Briefing will elevate the voices of those advocating for a free Cuba, explore the ongoing challenges facing the Cuban people, and discuss the path toward democracy.

You can register to attend in person or watch via our livestream here: https://t.co/9Lh2D0iH0F

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

Two more days until CHLI hosts the Voices of Courage: The Cuban People's Fight for Freedom Congressional Briefing. Register here: https://t.co/cNzFVgnRio

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

CHLI celebrates the @smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino securing a permanent home on the National Mall. Read our statement here: https://t.co/Uj9BWLiEdv

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

CHLI celebrates this Labor Day by highlighting the contributions, dedication, and perseverance of workers who are strengthening our communities and moving our nation forward. Labor Day is a day to recognize the achievements of American workers and honor the dignity and value of hard work.

As we celebrate, we are reminded that opportunity and leadership are built on the contributions of generations who have paved the way for those who follow. From all of us at CHLI, we wish you a safe, meaningful, and happy Labor Day!

#LaborDayCelebration #LaborDayHonors #AmericanWorkers

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

Non-profit leaders will discuss how, for generations, the Cuban people have demonstrated extraordinary courage and resilience in the pursuit of freedom, democracy, and fundamental human rights at CHLI's Voices of Courage: The Cuban People's Fight for Freedom Congressional Briefing on Wednesday, September 16.

For more information and to register, click here: https://t.co/bFDnuFCDnD

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

Leadership Starts With the Example We Set

We often learn how to lead by watching others. Our parents, professors, mentors, and supervisors 👨‍🏫 show us how to communicate, make decisions, handle challenges, and treat others, sometimes without realizing they are teaching us.

The same is true for the college students 👨‍🎓 and junior professionals 👨‍💼 watching us today.

When I was in college, I interned for the Alumni Relations Director. She would call me into her office before making a phone 📞 call and putting the other person on speakerphone (yes, I was in college in the 80s) so I could listen to their conversation about an upcoming event. She shared the topic before she dialed the phone number, and then after the call we would discuss the next steps ✏️ 🗒️ - and of course some of those next steps were for me, so good thing I was in the meeting. 🙂 I treasured those times and lessons from her because I learned how to run an office and speak with the University president, vice presidents, distinguished alumni, students, and contributors. She always gave me the opportunity to shadow her.

So I encourage you to take the time to model the leadership you hope to see in others.

Invite a student 👨‍🎓 into the conversation. Give a junior colleague 👩‍💼 an opportunity to contribute. Share what you’ve learned. Offer guidance when you can. 🤝

Small moments can shape future leaders.

What example are you setting for the future leaders around you?

-Mary Ann Gomez Orta, CHLI President & CEO

#Leadership #FutureLeaders #LeadershipDevelopment

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

The CHLI Alumni Association recently held a Virtual Alumni Cafecito with 12 alumni that featured @cryptolisbeth (CHLI Alumna, Class of 2011) sharing insights on AI and its use for professional development.

Thank you Soribel Feliz for sharing your insights and expertise with CHLI's alumni community!

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

NEW EPISODE🚨

Check out this week’s episode of The Purple Line Podcast as our host Mary Ann Gomez Orta sits down with Dr. Paule Valery Joseph, a tenured Senior Investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she leads the Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism and co-directs the National Smell and Taste Center.

Born in Venezuela to Haitian professionals, Dr. Joseph came to the United States alone at 16, finding her footing first in Miami and later in New Jersey.

Her journey began humbly — at Hostos Community College in the Bronx, where she earned her first nursing degree — and reached all the way to a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, alongside a family nurse practitioner degree and an executive MBA. She speaks of adversity and opposition not as things that break us but as forces that shape us “at a cellular level,” a conviction deepened by watching her home country’s turbulence during the Chávez years from afar.

Her NIH career began, fittingly, with an internship. Today she is a leading authority on the science of smell and taste — and how these senses shape metabolism, memory, and health — a power she knows firsthand, having once teared up at the aroma of a classic Venezuelan dish far from home.

🎧 Stream on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/THpSn9nWjd

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

Voting matters. It is one of the most direct ways we can make our voices heard and help shape the future of our communities and our country. Civic engagement also means staying informed, having conversations with our families and neighbors, understanding the issues, and recognizing the importance of every community's participation.

For the Hispanic community, that participation is especially important. Hispanic Americans are students, parents, entrepreneurs, educators, and community leaders who contribute to our neighborhoods and economy every day. Yet too many eligible Hispanic voters still do not participate at the ballot box.

The Hispanic vote should matter to everyone. Our community represents diverse backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints, and understanding those perspectives is increasingly important for anyone seeking to understand America's voters and its future.

As November approaches, let's encourage one another to show up prepared, informed, and engaged.

Every voice matters. Every vote matters. And every community deserves to be heard.
#CHLI #HispanicLeadership #CivicEngagement #HispanicVoices #Election2026

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

Last week, South Florida honored one of its greatest champions. On Thursday, August 13, what would have been his 72nd birthday, a stretch of the iconic "Calle Ocho” in Miami was officially designated the “Congressman Lincoln Díaz-Balart Memorial Highway.” The same week, Hialeah Elementary School was renamed the Lincoln Díaz-Balart Hialeah Elementary School — a fitting tribute for a man who began his own American journey in a South Florida public school classroom.

"As Lincoln’s legislative sister and lifelong friend, I am deeply moved. He was the intellectual giant among us - a fearless advocate for freedom, democracy, and the celebration of the diversity of thought in our Hispanic community. When Lincoln founded CHLI in 2003, he believed that Hispanic voices deserved a permanent seat at the table in Washington. Today, hundreds of young Hispanic leaders carry that legacy forward," said CHLI Chairwoman, The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

She added, "Seeing his name on the streets and schools of the community he loved is nothing short of poetic justice. Lincoln, we miss you — but Miami has made sure you will never be forgotten.”

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

Congratulations to CHLI's Summer 2026 Law Fellows on completing an incredible summer of growth and leadership! Over the past two months, the Law Fellows gained hands-on legal experience within legal and advocacy environments.

During the graduation reception, CHLI also recognized Communications Fellow Adriana Serrano Matsumoto and Administrative Intern Sofia Reyes for their contributions and welcomed the graduating fellows into the CHLI Alumni Association.

Join us in celebrating our Summer 2026 Law Fellows:

Philip Brooks — CHLI Law Placement: Recording Industry Association of America (@RIAA)

Vanessa Carter — CHLI Law Placement: TSG Advocates

We also extend our congratulations to our graduating CHLI Fellow and Intern:

Adriana Serrano Matsumoto — CHLI Communications Fellow

Sofia Reyes — CHLI Administrative Intern

A special thank you to @TSGAdvocatesDC for hosting our Summer Law Fellowship Graduation Reception and to our sponsor, @CapitalOne, for investing in programs that prepare the next generation of leaders. Your partnership makes opportunities like the CHLI Summer Law Fellowship possible.

🔗 Click here to read the full event recap and view more photos from the celebration: https://t.co/LcdK6AN4V9

#CHLI #LawFellowship #FutureLeaders #Leadership #LegalProfession #PublicService

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

Through its leadership development programs, CHLI provides students and emerging professionals with the skills needed for future success.

In her recent post, CHLI President & CEO @mgomezorta highlights the importance of lifelong learning and the value of documenting the skills developed beyond the classroom. Through our partnership with Katch Skills, CHLI is proud to support tools that help individuals showcase their growth and continued development.

Read the full post here: https://t.co/SwimYVmq3B

[Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) @TheCHLI]

CHLI alumni, partners, and friends recently came together in Los Angeles for an evening celebrating the growing CHLI network of leaders making an impact across the country.
In attendance were CHLI alumni Carleen Jimenez, Jahselyn Medina, Lydia Nunez De La Torre, and Tony Flores, alongside a future Member of Congress and a future local elected official.

A special thank you to CHLI Board Member Jennifer Zinicola and The Coca-Cola Company (@CocaColaCo) for graciously hosting the reception and alumni dinner. We also thank CHLI President & CEO Mary Ann Gomez Orta, CHLI Advisory Council member Ruben Barrales of Wells Fargo, Erica Jacquez, Mark Magaña, and Jaime Rojas for joining us and supporting the continued growth of the CHLI Alumni Association.

To everyone who joined us, thank you for making the evening so memorable!

#CHLI #CHLIAlumni #FutureLeaders #Leadership #PublicService