On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) hosted a reception in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the graduation of the Spring 2025 Global Leaders cohort and the inaugural CHLI Lincoln Diaz-Balart Public Service Fellow. The event was hosted by CHLI Board Member and Chairwoman of the Internships Committee, Debbie Marshall, Senior Manager of Corporate Affairs at Chevron.
(Pictured from left to right) Back Row: Melody Moreno, Sebastian Lopez; Rep. David Valadao (CA), CHLI Board Member; Eduardo Bolaños, Luis Lopez; María Luisa Boyce, UPS; Diego Zambrano, PMI; and Omar Franco, Becker. Front Row: Debbie Marshall, Chevron; Tristan Hernandez, Emely Hernandez, JJ Sanabria Jr., Lydia Núñez De La Torre; Rep. Darren Soto (FL); Mariana Sanchez, Chevron; Ashley Marte; The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, CHLI Chairwoman; Mary Ann Gomez Orta, CHLI President & CEO; and Mark Williams, Ferox Strategies.
The evening began with opening statements from CHLI Chairwoman, The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, followed by inspiring remarks from CHLI Board Members, Congressman Darren Soto (FL) and Congressman David Valadao (CA), who offered words of encouragement as the graduates prepare to embark on their professional journeys.
The Spring 2025 cohort gave gratitude for the support and mentorship they received, highlighted how the program helped them grow personally and professionally, and spoke about their renewed commitment to making a positive impact in their communities:
“What I value most from this experience is the pathway it has created, connecting me with mentors, knowledge, and practical skills that will guide my future work.” -Ashely Marte
“I don’t just want to build a career; I want to make an impact and continue supporting others, just as I’ve been supported here.”- Eduardo Bolaños
“Most of the impact this program creates will never be seen on a resume, but if you’re wondering whether it matters, I’m standing here because it does.”– Luis Lopez
“This program has been a steppingstone for all of us…to the donors and supporters who make this program possible, thank you for believing in us and for investing in our futures.” – Emely Hernandez
“Those experiences, and the people behind them, didn’t just help me grow professionally. They helped shape the person standing here today.”– Jorge “JJ” Sanabria Jr.
“CHLI challenged me to embrace perspectives unlike my own, helping me better understand what kind of leader I want to be…thank you for investing in our futures.” – Melody Moreno
“The trajectory of my life has changed for the better because of CHLI, and I will never take for granted the doors it has opened. Thank you to everyone who helped me get to this moment.”– Sebastian Lopez
“If you are ever wondering whether the partnerships or collaborations you are doing with CHLI are making a difference, just look at us and you will see that you are having an impact on our lives.” – Tristan Hernandez
The evening continued with special remarks from the first Lincoln Díaz-Balart Public Service Fellow, Lydia Núñez De La Torre:
“As we each prepare to take our next steps…I hope we carry with us the example that Lincoln Díaz Balart set: to lead with courage, serve with integrity, and uplift others as we progress.” – Lydia Nunez De La Torre
The reception concluded with Paola Arellano, CHLI Global Leader Class of 2022 and Vice President of Communications of the CHLI Alumni Association, welcoming all interns to the CHLI Alumni Association.
Thank you to our sponsors: Altria Client Services, Amazon, Chevron, Coca-Cola Foundation, Comcast| NBC| Universal, Corteva Agriscience, DoorDash, FedEx, The Gates Foundation, T-Mobile, Ford Motor Company, The Home Depot, UPS, and Walmart.
To view more pictures of the Spring 2025 Global Leaders Graduation reception, click here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCd7kB
To learn more about the CHLI Global Leaders Program, click here: https://chli.org/global-leaders/
To learn more about the CHLI Lincoln Diaz-Balart Public Service Fellowship Program, click here: https://chli.org/lincoln-diaz-balart-public-service-fellowship/
ABOUT CHLI:
The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) is the premier organization founded by former Members of Congress to advance economic prosperity with a focus on social responsibility and global competitiveness. CHLI is dedicated to advancing the Hispanic community’s diversity of thought and fostering a broad awareness of the heritage, interests, and views of Americans of Hispanic and Portuguese descent.