Building U.S.–Mexico partnerships to expand opportunities for Latino communities

With the United States approaching its 250th birthday, 140 leaders from across business, government and academia in both the U.S. and Mexico gathered in downtown Los Angeles earlier this month to address timely questions about the two nations' relationship.

"America at 250: Mexican-American Leadership and the Future of the U.S.-Mexico Partnership," convened June 3 at the City Club by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute and the American Mexican Leadership Council focused on the deep economic, cultural and civic ties connecting the countries - and the communities that help sustain them.

The event opened with remarks from Sergio Gonzales, founding president and CEO of the AMLC, LPPI director Amada Armenta and UCLA Dean of Social Sciences Abel Valenzuela Jr.

"Any conversation about the future of the United States must include the U.S.-Mexico relationship and the contributions of Mexican Americans, who shape the economic, civic, [and] cultural wealth of the state and nation," Valenzuela said.

The event featured two panels and a fireside chat exploring the binational ties and how Latino communities are essential to the economic power, mobility, culture, food and identity that define that relationship. Highlights included a presentation from Rafael Fernández de Castro, a professor and U.S.-Mexico relations expert at UC San Diego, who reframed the binational relationship not as a foreign policy challenge but as the management of a deep and durable economic partnership.

The second panel, "Building Prosperity in Uncertain Times: Mexican-American Economic Power and the Road Ahead," featured remarks from UCLA alumnus Rudy Espinoza, who is president and CEO of the nonprofit Inclusive Action for the City, alongside other LA leaders in business and advocacy. The panel included a discussion of the upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 and the importance of uplifting Latino small businesses during that pivotal moment for the city, ensuring communities are included in the economic growth the Games will bring.

A fireside chat complemented the event with a conversation featuring panelists from the food, entertainment and fashion worlds. Actress, producer, advocate and entrepreneur Jessica Alba shared her experience in entertainment and business and how it is important to invest in Latino communities. Karla Martínez de Salas, head of content for Vogue Mexico and Latin America, spoke to the power of representation in media and how telling Latino stories through platforms like Vogue is itself an act of shifting who gets to be seen, celebrated and heard.

Reflecting on the goal of the convening, Armenta said, "At LPPI, our work is rooted in bringing leaders together, elevating Latino stories and using data to inform the public conversations that shape our communities' future."