PODER to host 17th annual Hispanic Heritage Month Breakfast & Summit in Salem
Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) --- PODER, Oregon's Latino Leadership Network, will host its 17th annual Hispanic Heritage Month Breakfast & Summit on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, at the Salem Convention Center in Salem, Ore.
The theme for this year's event is “Built on Hope. Carried Forward by Community,” which focuses on honoring past generations while supporting current leaders across the state. Anthony Veliz, founder and executive director of PODER, emphasized the importance of bringing community members and leaders together.
“For 17 years, this gathering has created a space for Oregon's Latino community to celebrate our heritage, recognize leadership and build relationships that move our communities forward,” Veliz said. “Latino Oregonians are an important part of Oregon's story and we are helping shape what comes next.”
The event runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, breakfast, community resource fair, leadership networking lunch, community awards ceremony and an afternoon leadership summit.
Dr. Juana Bordas, an author, leadership expert and founder of the National Hispana Leadership Institute, will deliver the keynote address titled “The Vision, Power and Inclusiveness of Latino Leadership.” Bordas was the first Latina recipient of the International Leadership Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.
During the awards presentation, PODER will recognize three Oregonians for their contributions to local communities. Jaime Miranda, owner of M&M Marketplace in Hillsboro, will receive the Heart of the Community Award. Leda Garside, a bilingual and bicultural nurse, will receive the Legacy Leadership Award. Diane Bocking-Byrd, a licensed professional counselor, will receive the Ally of the Year Award, presented by OYEN Emotional Wellness Center.
The afternoon summit includes six concurrent sessions focusing on technology, government, sports, civic leadership and family well-being. A panel on Latinas in technology will feature engineers from Nike and Microsoft. The civic leadership session will feature elected and aspiring officials, including State Rep. Lesly Munoz of District 22, Hillsboro City Councilor Olivia Alcaire and state Senate candidate Myrna Munoz. Additional sessions will cover public service partnerships with state agencies, leadership lessons from sports and generational well-being in Latino families.
