The Latino Impact Summit, organized by the PVBLIC and Ismael Cala foundations, took place recently at the United Nations. The event is one of the few forums held in Spanish at UN headquarters and discussed alliances in Latin America that are centered on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are a universal call for action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
Mexican singer, actress, and entrepreneur Thalía received the 2017 Latin Impact Summit Award, in recognition of her humanitarian work in support of children, women, and health campaigns throughout her 35+ year career.
“Hosting the Latino Impact Summit is a clear manifestation of our commitment creating awareness in Latin America in view of the challenges the world is facing and our potential to achieve change. Through the new agenda, the 193 participating countries and the UN can make a greater impact by using our combined resources and connecting with each other through media and advanced technology,” said Sergio Fernández de Córdova, president of the PVBLIC Foundation.
Ismael Cala, president of the Ismael Cala Foundation, added: “With three root problems on our shoulders −selfishness, greed, and apathy−, the world is torn between poverty, climate change, social inequality and the poor quality of education. Let’s call upon leaders in all areas to promote life and peace, in order to guarantee a better future for new generations.”
The Latino Impact Summit announced that it will work with the Scholas Occurrentes educational program, created by Pope Francis.
Scholas Occurrentes is an international public interest entity that has worked with schools and communities since 2001, implementing the culture of encounters for peace through education.
“We Latinos are proud of the Pope’s humility, service, and example,” Cala added.
Fernández de Córdova, the main event organizer, announced that the third edition of the event in 2018 will be dedicated to Mexico, although matters pertinent to the entire continent will be discussed.
The “Latino Impact Summit allowed us once again to confirm that together we can increase our impact and that the road to development in the region is paved by alliances. Next year we hope to celebrate major results from the commitments acquired, and that the alliances that were made will help us progress in fulfilling the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda,” Fernández de Córdova said.
During the summit singer, actress, and Mexican businesswoman Thalía received the Latino Impact Summit 2017 Award for her humanitarian work.
Also recognized was Cuban-American businessman Carlos Gutiérrez, president of Albright Stonebridge Group and the former Secretary of Commerce of the United States, who received the Award for Latin American Excellence for promoting economic relationships and contributing to eliminating commercial barriers.
“To help our people, we must get it into our heads that it is not enough to be represented. We Latinos want to be leaders, to manage people. I will continue doing my part so that these generations of Latinos have opportunities in the United States,” said the former official in the George W. Bush administration.
Other personalities from the region who were honored include:
Celia Daniel de Mizrahi – Latino Philanthropist of the Year Award
Facundo Garreton – Millennium Latino Leader of the Year Award
Bettina Bulgheroni – Latin American Social Leadership Award
Palmas de Ixan – Latin American Sustainability Award
Cementos Progreso – Business Product Innovation Award
Marcos Galperín – Latin American Businessman of the Year Award
Carlos Gutiérrez – Latin American Excellence Award
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked with…
Brown and Caldwell, a leading environmental engineering and construction firm,…
Humboldt State University, one of four campuses within the California…
