Miami, FL- The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) held its Community Leadership Reception on Thursday, February 19, 2026, ahead of its Annual Strategic Planning Meeting. Special thank you to Miami-Dade College for hosting CHLI at the Freedom Tower.
The evening highlighted the importance of community leadership and the impact of community service by bringing together local elected officials, community advocates, and members of the CHLI Board of Directors, CHLI Advisory Council, and the CHLI Alumni Association South Florida Chapter.
The program began with opening remarks from our host and CHLI Partner, the President of Miami-Dade College, Madeline Pumariega.
The program continued with special remarks from CHLI Chairwoman, The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who reflected on the importance and impact of leadership at the local level, recognizing distinguished leaders in attendance, including Nathalie Rayes, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, and Alex Fernandez, Commissioner for the City of Miami Beach.
“Strong communities depend on strong local leadership — and tonight, we are proud to celebrate that commitment to service,” said CHLI Chairwoman, The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
The evening continued with remarks from CHLI Vice-Chairman Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (FL), who had the honor of introducing our keynote speaker, democracy advocate, human rights leader, and the 2020 CHLI Founders International Award Recipient, Rosa María Payá.
In her remarks, Payá reflected on the realities facing the Cuban people, the urgency of advancing democratic change across the hemisphere, and underscored the importance of international solidarity in defending freedom and human rights.
“The strongest allies of the Cuban people are the government and the people of the United States, because bringing an end to the Cuban regime is not only a moral imperative—it is a strategic necessity,” said Rosa María Payá.
Read Rosa Maria Paya’s speech.
The evening concluded with closing remarks from President and CEO Mary Ann Gomez Orta, who thanked the evening’s sponsors and partners for their continued commitment to CHLI’s mission.
“We are deeply grateful to our sponsor, Joanna Diaz Soffer with T-Mobile, for making this gathering possible and for investing in future Hispanic leaders,” said President and CEO Mary Ann Gomez Orta.
View more pictures of the event: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCLhqt
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.