LANCASTER, PA — September 9, 2026 — The Pennsylvania Latino Convention (PALC) has announced its 2026 class of 20 Under 40 Latino Emerging Leaders, recognizing 20 young professionals and community leaders whose work is making an impact across Pennsylvania.
The honorees represent Latino communities throughout the Commonwealth and work in a wide range of fields, including education, government, business, mental health, design, social services, civic engagement and the arts and culture.
Among this year’s honorees are several leaders from the Pittsburgh area, including Melanie M. Boyer, CEO of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Rosamaria Cristello, Executive Director of the Latino Community Center; Brenda Garcia, Founder of Latinas en Pittsburgh; Jorge Palmas, Legal Services Coordinator at Casa San Jose; and Jesus Torres, Founder and President of La Promesa Foundation.
The honorees will be formally recognized during the State Official Hispanic Heritage Month Masquerade Theater Gala on Tuesday, September 22, at the historic State Theater in Easton, as part of the Pennsylvania Latino Convention.
The evening’s schedule includes a VIP Reception at 6 p.m., the Award Ceremony at 7 p.m., a dance with a live band at 8 p.m., and the Gala 2.0 Afterparty at 10 p.m.
2026 “20 Under 40 Latino Emerging Leaders”
- Jassinya Alvarado, 36 — Director of Educational Access and Student Services, School District of Lancaster — Lancaster
- Carlos Aponte, 36 — Executive Director, We Love Philly — Philadelphia
- Jaime Arroyo, 36 — Mayor — Lancaster
- Amanda Batista, 37 — External Outreach Coordinator, Reach Cyber Charter School — Harrisburg
- Melanie M. Boyer, 38 — CEO, Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce — Pittsburgh
- Victor Cabral, 38 — Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Therapist & Speaker — Reading
- Angela Capeles, 32 — Founder & CEO, Capeles Agency — Lancaster
- Zoraida Cordero, 34 — Executive Director, Sustainable Business Network — Philadelphia
- Rosamaria Cristello, 37 — Executive Director, Latino Community Center — Pittsburgh
- Mariel de la Cruz, 30 — Director of Victim Services, District Attorney’s Office — Philadelphia
- Giovanni Fuentes, 34 — Architectural Designer, ALLOY5 — Macungie
- Karina Fuentes, 33 — Associate Director of Admissions & Enrollment, Moravian University — Bethlehem
- Brenda Garcia, 35 — Founder, Latinas en Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh
- Magdalis Melo Caceres, 39 — CEO/Owner, Magda Green Design — Philadelphia
- Jorge Palmas, 25 — Legal Services Coordinator, Casa San Jose — Pittsburgh
- Geraldine Peña, 32 — Founder, Live Truthfully Counseling; Therapist; Adjunct Professor, UPenn & LaSalle — Philadelphia
- Sully Pinos, 36 — Executive Director, Bloom Business Empowerment Center — York
- TaLisa Ramos-Watts, 38 — Boricua Social Worker; Community-Rooted Storyteller; Decolonial Mental Health Clinician; Trauma-Informed Leadership & Cultural Arts Practitioner — Reading
- Julia Rivera, 34 — Chief External Affairs Officer, Congreso de Latinos Unidos — Philadelphia
- Jesus Torres, 37 — Founder & President, La Promesa Foundation — Irwin
Recognizing Latino Leadership
“The 20 Under 40 honorees represent the brilliance, leadership, and unstoppable momentum of Latino Pennsylvania,” said Norman Bristol Colón, Founder and Chair of the Pennsylvania Latino Convention. “Their work is transforming communities, strengthening institutions, and redefining what leadership looks like in our Commonwealth.”
According to PALC, the 2026 class highlights the contributions of Pennsylvania’s growing Latino population to the state’s civic, economic and cultural life.
About the Pennsylvania Latino Convention
The Pennsylvania Latino Convention is a statewide gathering of Latino leaders, advocates, professionals, students and community organizations. PALC focuses on advancing policy, strengthening civic participation, promoting economic mobility and highlighting the voices and contributions of more than 1.3 million Latinos across Pennsylvania.
