American Latino Veterans Association

ALVA wishes everyone a very happy holiday season and a joyous New Year! May 2025 be filled with peace, love, and joy. Let us please keep in our hearts and prayers all the service members stationed overseas who are unable to spend the holidays with their families and may we pledge to do more to support our veterans in the new year.

The American Latino Veterans Association (ALVA) had the distinct pleasure of honoring five incredible Latino Veterans at a reception on Monday, December 9th at the beautiful Central Park Boathouse in New York City. This was ALVA’s first event in NYC and it was a tremendous success.
The event was sponsored by JPMorganChase (represented by William Jaramillo) and included remarks from Iris Rodriguez-Rosa (First Deputy Commissioner for the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation), James Hendon (Commissioner for the NYC Department of Veterans' Services), Cassandra Alvarez (Chief of Staff, NYC DVS), SFC Ricardo Garcia, US ARMY Retired (Hostos Community College), and Francisco Cortes (Setroc Group).
The honorees were:
– Veteran Entrepreneur Award: Rudy Cazares
– Community Service Award: Lucy C. Del Gaudio
– Military Service Award: Julio Feliu and Jose Rivera (Borinqueneers)
– Role Model Award: MGySgt John Escalante
Photos from the events can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBUE43
Video from the events can be found here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAEx8VCAZSimvOvLma5o-phhZGhwqvJHm&si=y3NEiu6rmiJNJiEi
Profiles for the honorees can be found here: https://alvavets.org/alva-awards-honorees/
“What a great honor it was to celebrate the service, sacrifice, leadership and resilience of our awardees and their families. And it was truly humbling to present an award to a living legend, Julio Feliu, a 94-year-old Bronze Star recipient who fought in the Korean War and is a surviving member of the Borinqueneers,” stated ALVA Founder/Chairman & CEO, Danny Vargas. He continued, “We greatly appreciate our sponsors, partners, supporters, and friends who made these events possible and who believe in our mission to help Latino veterans thrive and recognize their indispensable contributions.”
Press release can be found here: https://alvavets.org/2024/12/19/alva-honors-stellar-latino-veterans-in-new-york-city/

ALVA is very much looking forward to honoring these well deserving awardees tonight at the ALVA NYC Awards Reception at the Central Park Boathouse. Please join us in congratulating them!
Entrepreneur Award: Rudy Cazares
Community Service Award: Lucy C. Del Gaudio
Military Service Awards: Julio Feliu and Jose Rivera
Role Model Award: John Escalante

MEET OUR HONOREES at our upcoming ALVA Awards Reception on December 9th (6-8pm) at the Central Park Boathouse in New York City.
Today we highlight the recipient of the Role Model Award, MGySgt John Escalante. Please join us in congratulating John!
Visit our website (www.alvavets.org) to learn more and to register. Space is limited.
John Escalante served over 30 years as an enlisted Marine, with multiple deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was a longtime fixture in the New York City veteran/military community even before his retirement as a Master Gunnery Sergeant in 2023. Today, John continues his work and advocacy on behalf of veterans and service members with the United War Veterans Council, Travis Manion Foundation, Team Red White and Blue, and other organizations.

Let us give thanks for the millions of brave women and men who have worn the cloth of our nation for the past 248 years to defend our freedoms and secure our liberties.

MEET OUR HONOREES at our upcoming ALVA Awards Reception on December 9th (6-8pm) at the CENTRAL PARK BOATHOUSE, LLC in New York City.
Today we highlight the recipient of the Veteran Entrepreneur Award, Rudy Cazares. Please join us in congratulating Rudy!
Visit our website (www.alvavets.org) to learn more and to register. Space is limited.
Rudy Cazares is a Marine veteran, serial entrepreneur, and business coach who has built six thriving companies since 2020, employing over 150 people and managing a fleet of 100+ vehicles. Born in Queens, NY to parents who immigrated from Mexico, Rudy served 15 years in the Marines, including three tours in Iraq, earning multiple honors. Now, he leads partnerships with Amazon, FedEx, and NYC organizations, delivering over 30,000 meals to veterans and service members since 2023. Through Blackhearts Consulting, Rudy empowers small business owners to achieve vision, traction, and leadership excellence. His journey exemplifies resilience, service, and community impact.

MEET OUR HONOREES at our upcoming ALVA Awards Reception on December 9th (6-8pm) at the Central Park Boathouse, LLC in New York City.
Today we highlight the recipient of the Community Service Award, Lucia Del Gaudio. Please join us in congratulating Lucy!
Visit our website (www.alvavets.org) to learn more and to register. Space is limited.
She is a United States Army Veteran. A native New Jerseyian, Lucy is a strong advocate for veterans within the state and nation. She serves as the Co-Chair for the New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Women Sub Committee. Under her tenure, the Sub Committee was instrumental in New Jersey establishing June 12th as Women Veteran Appreciation Day. Lucy was part of the efforts in New Jersey establishing September 20th as LGBTQ Veterans Day in honor of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. Lucy is currently serving as the Volunteer Coordinator of the YWCA Northern New Jersey Operation Sisterhood – a comprehensive new program designed to meet the unique needs of women veterans transitioning from military service. Operation Sisterhood provides vital support, helping our women veterans as they embark on their next chapter. Lucy serves as a veteran advocate for the Minority Veterans of America and the Pink Berets. She is part of the grassroots hashtag movement started at the height of the death of Specialist Vanessa Guillen. On July 29, 2020, she testified in front of the House Armed Services Committee: The Military MeToo Movement. She was featured in the NETFLIX documentary, “I Am Vanessa Guillen”. She was later appointed by Veteran Affairs Secretary Dennis McDonough to the Workgroup for Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault and appointed to New Jersey’s Commission for Women Veterans by Governor Phil Murphy. Lucy is a member of the Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Lucy lives in Belleville, New Jersey with her husband, four children and proud grandmother.

ALVA is honored to announce our first ALVA Awards Reception in NYC! Huge thanks to JPMorganChase for sponsoring this event! The event will take place on Monday, December 9th, 2024, from 6 to 8pm at the Central Park Boathouse. Honorees will be announced soon. Space is limited, so register now and only if you are sure you can make it.
Register via the link below or visit our website at www.alvavets.org
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1078943853109?aff=oddtdtcreator

Special thanks to everyone involved in our very successful ALVA DC Expo, Jobs Fair and Awards Reception this week, in partnership with ALPFA - 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
- Military Service Award: Vice Admiral Yvette Davids (Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy)
- Role Model Award: Lester Martinez-Lopez
Here are a few photos and please enjoy all the pictures in the links below thanks to our phenomal photographer Andrés Mejia
Afternoon Expo: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBQVRZ
Evening Awards Reception: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBR1VV
Thanks very much to Kate Talbert Elaine Coronado and the crew at Argus Events + Marketing and the volunteers from The CHLI!
Please visit our website www.alvavets.org and follow us on social media American Latino Veterans Association to see photos and videos from the event and to learn more about our other programs and future events.
Huge thanks to our host AT&T (Celeste Carrasco), our sponsors Philip Morris International, JPMorganChase T-Mobile Wells Fargo and a special shoutout to Dr. Valery Maya, for being a great partner for this event!
Danny VargasRuben BarralesJean Ibañez PayneMarie J. RoblesJeyben CastroJoanna Diaz SofferDiego Zambrano RodriguezJoanna HarveyJustin Vélez-Hagan

Check out the latest episode the Attention, ALVA! Podcast with special guest Jean Ibañez Payne. We discuss her upbringing in Colombia, her time in the US Navy, her business career, and her new book "Reclaim Your Worth".
Video: https://youtu.be/KWdPAryW47g
Audio: https://rss.com/podcasts/alvavets/1706583
For more information, visit www.reclaimyourworthnow.com and www.tiverbatim.com
Podcast Sponsors:
JPMorganChase, Philip Morris International, Wells Fargo, AT&T, T-Mobile, Accenture
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562355031475

Attention, ALVA! - Jean Ibañez-Payne Attention, ALVA! Podcast with special guest Jean Ibañez-Payne. We discuss her upbringing in Colombia, her time in the Navy (surviving military sexual trauma)...

Register today for the ALVA DC Expo and Awards Reception, in partnership with ALPFA Washington, DC! Great panels on financial literacy, transitioning from military to civilian life, and accessing veterans benefits. A jobs fair with large employers. A our signature awards reception with outstanding honorees!
Register using the links below or visit our website: www.alvavets.org
Expo and Awards: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-alva-annual-dc-expo-awards-reception-in-partnership-w-alpfa-dc-tickets-1003352372957
Jobs Fair: https://mbmapp.com/event/alva2024

Register for the ALVA DC Expo and Awards - November 6th!
We are honored to partner with ALPFA - Washington, DC Chapter!
Expo from 12:45pm – 6:00pm, including informative panels on transitioning from military to civilian life, accessing veterans benefits, financial literacy and a job matchmaking session from 4:15pm – 6:00pm.
The Awards Reception will follow from 6:30pm – 9:00pm
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR EXPO/RECEPTION:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-alva-annual-dc-expo-awards-reception-in-partnership-w-alpfa-dc-tickets-1003352372957
CLICK HERE FOR JOB MATCHMAKING:
https://mbmapp.com/event/alva2024
The venue will be:
AT&T Forum, 601 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Happy 77th Birthday U.S. Air Force!
United States Air Force

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 V. 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
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1BHGRj84Cc
Listen to the audio here: https://rss.com/podcasts/alvavets/1645987/

Attention, ALVA! - Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino Attention, ALVA! Podcast with special guests from the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino; President/CEO Estuardo Rodriguez and Chair Lili ...