“MI Voz | MI Pueblo” Summit will bring Latino/é leaders, community members, elected officials, advocates, business and workforce leaders, youth and allies together to advance civic participation and policy change across Michigan

LANSING, MI — The Latino Leaders for the Advancement and Development of the Latino Community (LLEAD) will convene its Biennial Summit on Friday, October 9, 2026, in Lansing under the theme “MI Voz | MI Pueblo: Advancing Civic Participation & Policy Change” featuring nationally recognized civic leader and democracy advocate Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez as the summit’s keynote speaker. The gathering will bring together people from across Michigan to explore the growing influence, voice and civic participation of Michigan’s Latino/é community.

Tzintzún Ramirez is a Senior Advisor for Democracy Power Project and an ABC News contributor. A nationally recognized organizer and advocate, she previously served as president of NextGen America and founded Jolt, a Texas-wide organization focused on elevating the voice, vote and issues impacting Latinos. She also co-founded Workers Defense Project, an immigrant workers’ rights organization, and is the co-author of Presente! Latino Immigrant Voices in the Struggle for Racial Justice. Her work on race, gender, immigration and civic engagement has been featured by NPR, Vogue, The New York Times, The Washington Post, MTV, USA Today, Univision and MSNBC.

The 2026 LLEAD Summit comes at an important moment for Michigan’s Latino/é community and the state’s civic landscape. “MI Voz | MI Pueblo” will center the power of community voice and collective action, with conversations spanning civic engagement and policy, youth and mentorship, business and skilled trades, health and mental health, and arts and culture. The summit is designed not only to recognize the contributions of Michigan’s Latino/é community, but to create space for participants to build relationships, strengthen leadership and translate community priorities into meaningful civic and policy action.

“Today, one in four children in the United States is Latino/é. Investing in the leadership and voting power of Latinos is critical for the future of our country. Michigan is a critical battleground state and Latinos are a growing political force that no elected official can take for granted” said Tzintzún Ramirez. MI Voz | MI Pueblo is an invitation to come together across generations, communities and sectors to recognize our power, build relationships and move from participation to meaningful influence.”

About LLEAD

LLEAD is a Michigan-based organization committed to advancing Latino leadership, civic participation and community development. LLEAD brings together Latino individuals and partner organizations across Michigan to develop and advocate community-led solutions that reduce disparities in civil and human rights, health, housing, education, employment, and economic opportunity. We are a non-partisan organization whose purpose includes informing and educating Michigan communities and public servants alike about their neighbors’ and constituents’ rights and responsibilities.