#America Ferrera Among Honorees at The Hollywood Reporter’s Latin Power Event: “Our Wish Is That the Next Generation of Latinos Know Their Worth”

The Hollywood Reporter celebrated Latin leaders across film, television and music at its inaugural Latin Power Event, held Wednesday afternoon at Soho Beach House in Miami. Created in conjunction with the release of THR’s Latin Power Issue, the event honored actress America Ferrera, who received the award for advocacy and representation; Cris Abrego, chairman of Banijay America Group and president and CEO of Endemol Shine Holdings and co-founder and CEO of Hypenate Media Group, who was recognized in the area of executive leadership; actor and restauranteur Danny Trejo, who was honored for entrepreneurship and philanthropy; and Emilio and Gloria Estefan, who received the award for lifetime achievement in the arts. 

During a panel discussion moderated by Noticias Telemundo anchor Johana Suárez, honorees shared their experiences navigating the entertainment industry, with each paying respect to the Estefans, who were both born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States where they later met, as “the first family of Miami.”

“I don’t know a power couple that has done more to break down those barriers for everybody, especially in the music business than you, Gloria and Emilio, Estefan,” said Suárez. “You changed the landscape of the music scene in the ‘80s.”

Ferrera opened up about being discouraged to pursue her love of the arts as a teenager. “I grew up being told by just about everybody that everything about who I was was standing in the way of me getting to achieve my dream,” she said. “That I was too this or too that or not enough of this and not enough of that, and that there was no place for me in my dream, in my love and passion for performing and telling stories and wanting to be a part of culture and making meaning. Somehow, I found a way to believe in myself despite that and keep going.”

The actress became emotional when Trejo shared his journey as a Mexican-American actor in Hollywood, remarking, “Our collective wish for our community is that the next generation of Latinos know their worth and they know that their lives matter, that their dreams matter, that their families matter, that the sacrifices that their families and they have made matter and are contributing to this country.

“We’re all trying to battle so many negative narratives that are disempowering our youth and making us feel despondent. And whether we do that through music or television or film or business or counseling or all the amazing industries and jobs that are represented here today, we’re trying to write a new story,” Ferrera continued. “I’ve stopped thinking of myself as an actress and an activist. Those are labels that fall short. I’m a human being. I’m a person in this world who cares about the world I live in and who cares about people. And I care about our country and what’s possible for us.”

In closing out the panel, Suárez asked the honorees for an actionable way to increase Latin power in the entertainment industry, and the responses boiled down to creating and investing in community.

“I say unity is very important, that we feel like a whole family,” Emilio said. “I wrote a song for Elvis Presley in which I say, ‘One flag, one color,’ and that’s the way Latinos should be represented.”

“We need to make things happen,” Gloria said, echoing her husband’s sentiment. “We have to believe in ourselves and believe in each other as well, because when we don’t have the people that we’re able to convince, at least we all know our worth.”

The thought-provoking panel was introduced by Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter’s senior editor of diversity and inclusion, who emphasized that “Miami is the future of the United States because here is the center of Latin power.” Victoria Gold, THR executive vp and publisher, opened the program and praised the listmakers and honorees, saying, “Your collective talents, contributions, hard work and influence have literally changed the way we do business in film, TV, music and beyond. We are honored to stand alongside you today. It’s especially meaningful for us to be celebrating with you in Miami, one of the world’s greatest hubs of Latin culture, business, music, and most important, food.”

Building on those remarks, Marco Giron, Miami-Dade County’s first Latino film and entertainment commissioner, teased plans for an incentives program geared toward attracting companies to film their productions in the south Florida city. An announcement is expected to be made in January. “Our goal here in Miami-Dade is to make us a global destination for the film and entertainment industry,” said Giron. “That is top priority.”

The event was sponsored by Paramount+, United Airlines, First Horizon Bank and Miami-Dade County Film and Entertainment Commission.