Special thanks to everyone involved in our very successful ALVA DC Expo, Jobs Fair and Awards Reception last week, in partnership with ALPFA’s Washington, DC Chapter!

We are so grateful for all our wonderful partners, sponsors, speakers, volunteers, and supporters! Huge congratulations to our amazing award honorees who spoke with passion and authenticity!

• Familia Award: Roberto Clemente Family (represented by Suzanne Brick)

• Entrepreneur Award: Francisco Cortes

• Community Service Award: Ernesto Hernandez III

• Military Service Award: Vice Admiral Yvette Davids (Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy)

• Role Model Award: Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez

Pictures can be found in the links below thanks to our phenomal photographer Andrés Mejia.

Afternoon Expo: Click here to view photos

Evening Awards Reception: Click here to view photos

Videos of the day’s activities are found below:

Afternoon Expo: Click here to view videos

Evening Awards Reception: Click here to view videos

Huge thanks to our host AT&T, our sponsors PMI, JPMorganChase, T-Mobile, Wells Fargo, and a special shoutout to Dr. Valery Maya, for being a great partner for this event!

Please visit our website www.alvavets.org and follow us on social media @alvavets to learn more about our other programs and future events.

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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The latest episode of the Attention, ALVA! podcast (hosted by ALVA Chairman/CEO Danny Vargas) is available! Our special guest is Jean Ibañez-Payne. We discuss her upbringing in Colombia, her time in the Navy (surviving military sexual trauma), her business career, and her new book “Reclaim Your Worth”.

For more information on her book and her company, visit www.reclaimyourworthnow.com and www.tiverbatim.com

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO

Podcast Sponsors:
JPMorganChase, PMI, Wells Fargo, AT&T, T-Mobile, Accenture

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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Please register today for the ALVA Expo and ALVA Awards Reception on November 6th in Washington, D.C.!

We are honored to partner with ALPFA – DC for this event!

There will be an Expo from 12:45pm – 6:00pm, including informative panels on transitioning from military to civilian life, accessing veterans benefits, financial literacy and more. (registration begins at 12:15pm)

There will be a job matchmaking session from 4:15pm – 6:00pm.

The Awards Reception will follow from 6:30pm – 9:00pm (registration opens at 6:00pm)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR EXPO/RECEPTION

CLICK HERE FOR JOB MATCHMAKING

The venue will be:

AT&T Forum, 601 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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The latest episode of the Attention, ALVA! podcast (hosted by ALVA Chairman/CEO Danny Vargas) is available! Our special guests are leaders of the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino. Estuardo Rodriguez is the President/CEO and Lili Gil Valletta is the Chair.

We discuss the initiative to create a new Smithsonian American Latino museum, from its origins to the current status.
For more information, visit www.americanlatinomuseum.org or follow them on social media @latinomuseum

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO

Podcast Sponsors:
JPMorganChase, PMI, Wells Fargo, AT&T, T-Mobile, Accenture

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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Herndon, VA – Mr. Raul “Danny” Vargas (a nationally recognized business, community, and board leader) was honored with the prestigious Eagle Leadership Award by the Latino Leaders Network during their 2024 Convention Series Reception in Milwaukee on July 16th. The event took place at the headquarters of Michael Best Strategies. The event included remarks from George P. Bush (former Texas Land Commissioner).

Vargas was recognized for his efforts in business and the community, including creating VARCom Solutions (an award-winning marketing, public relations, and professional services firm), founding the American Latino Veterans Association (a national 501c3 non-profit helping Latino veterans thrive and recognizing their indispensable contributions), Chairmanship of the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (leading the efforts to pass the authorization bill in Congress), his military service in the U.S. Air Force and his leadership roles in workforce development, economic development, civil rights, and more.

A video of Vargas’ remarks can be found HERE

Photos from the event can be found HERE

Prior recipients of the Eagle Leadership Award include Sheila E. (musician), Miguel Cardona (Secretary of Education), U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Danny Trejo (actor), George P. Bush, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Tom Flores (NFL coach/player), Gov. Brian Sandoval, Cheech Marin (actor), Edward James Olmos (actor), U.S. Senator Ken Salazar, Carlos Gutierrez (Secretary of Commerce), Emilio Estefan (music producer), Jose Hernandez (astronaut), U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, Eva Longoria (actor), Alberto Gonzales (U.S. Attorney General), and many more.

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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The latest episode of the Attention, ALVA! podcast (hosted by ALVA Chairman/CEO Danny Vargas) is available! Our special guest is former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Alberto R. Gonzales served as the 80th Attorney General of the United States during the George W. Bush administration. Before entering public service Gonzales practiced business law at the Houston law firm of Vinson & Elkins. In 1995 he resigned his law partnership to serve as General Counsel to the Governor of Texas. After three years the Governor appointed Gonzales as Texas Secretary of State. He was subsequently appointed as a Justice on the Texas Supreme Court and elected by the citizens of Texas to serve a full six-year term in the November 2000 general election. He served in the White House as Counsel to the President from 2001-2005.

Gonzales is an Air Force veteran and attended the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is a graduate of Rice University and Harvard Law School. Presently he is the Dean and Doyle Rogers Distinguished Professor of Law at Belmont University College of Law in Nashville, Tennessee.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO

Podcast Sponsors:
JPMorganChase, PMI, Wells Fargo, AT&T, T-Mobile, Accenture

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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The latest episode of the Attention, ALVA! podcast (hosted by ALVA Chairman/CEO Danny Vargas) is available! Our special guest is Roberto Clemente, Jr. – philanthropist, entrepreneur, producer, former broadcaster, and professional baseball player. And the son of legendary baseball Hall of Famer, U.S. Marine Corps Reserves veteran and humanitarian Roberto Clemente.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO

For information on Mr. Clemente and the Roberto Clemente Foundation visit:

www.robertoclementefoundation.org
www.robertoclementejr.com

Podcast Sponsors:
JPMorganChase, PMI, Wells Fargo, AT&T, T-Mobile, Accenture

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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Conversation with Cassandra Alvarez with NYC Department of Veterans Services on the services they provide as well Fleet Week in NYC.

[CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO].

https://www.nyc.gov/site/veterans/index.page

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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Dear Latino Veteran Entrepreneur,

We’re embarking on an important journey to better understand and support Latino/a/e entrepreneurs like you, particularly with business transfers (buying and selling businesses). Your perspective is invaluable, and by sharing it through our brief survey, you will contribute to shaping strategies that directly address the needs and challenges you might face.

This is your opportunity to make your voice heard and to contribute to meaningful change. Please take just a few moments to complete our survey.

[CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY].

Your insights will help guide us in creating more inclusive and effective support for entrepreneurs.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to impact the future of Latino/a/e business ownership.

Warm regards,
Danny Vargas
ALVA Chairman/CEO

ALVA Membership is free to all veterans (including guard and reserves), active-duty personnel, and their families. We recognize that military service is not an individual exercise, but rather a family endeavor. Visit the website to join and become a member of ALVA today.

About American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA):
The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) is a registered 501c3 that exists to help American Latino veterans thrive after their military service, access the benefits they have earned, and enhance recognition of Latino contributions to our nation’s defense since before its inception. For more information on ALVA visit https://www.alvavets.org or follow us on our social media channels @alvavets

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