FOTD100 Leadership
Award
Mayoral Summit Overview
At the Annual Festival of the Diaspora, US and Latin American Mayors converge to exchange insights and strategies, fostering collaboration for inclusive urban development. Small business owners from diverse backgrounds enrich discussions, sharing experiences and forging partnerships. Together, they champion innovation, resilience, and community-driven solutions, laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity
FOTD100 2026
The Festival of the Diaspora is thrilled to unveil the inaugural FOTD100 in 2026—a prestigious new leadership award celebrating 100 consequential leaders from all over the Americas. This award spotlights mid-career changemakers—primarily under the age of 50 – whose achievements and vision reflect the extraordinary promise and power of the diasporic communities across the Americas.
The FOTD100 recognizes trailblazers who are breaking barriers, forging connections, and driving meaningful change in their fields and communities. Whether making an impact through civic engagement, entrepreneurship, the arts, education, advocacy, or beyond, these honorees exemplify the Festival’s core values: equity, innovation, and the collective advancement of our communities.
Join The Next FOTD100 Leadership Award
Interested in participating in our next FOTD100 Leadership Award? Please submit an inquiry form below and we will reach out to you.
Next Stop Puerto Rico!
The 5th Annual Festival of the Diaspora is heading back to where the movement started in 2022, San Juan, Puerto Rico! Having held festivals in three countries over the last four years, we return to Historic San Juan with a more comprehensive event that now includes a pitch competition, fashion show, exhibition hall, incredible content from the stage and the unveiling of the first FOTD100 list which will honor 100 leaders across the Americas in our closing gala.
Whether you’ve attended before or are a first-time festival-goer, we invite you to register today and experience the joy and diversity of our diasporic community.
- Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino - San Juan, PR
- March 13th - 15th, 2026
About The Festival Of The Diaspora Organization
Each year, we bring our unwavering belief and unwavering commitment to a new city, ignited a ripple effect of positive impact.
Our Past Festivals:
First FOTD Convening (2022)
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Our Past Festivals:
Second FOTD Convening (2023)
Cartagena, Colombia
Our Past Festivals:
Third FOTD Convening (2024)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Our Past Festivals:
Fourth FOTD Festival (2025)
Medellín, Colombia
Past Festival Events
Our beginnings start with the first festival taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the idyllic Hilton Grand Resort. We kicked off our convening with more than 150 leaders from 46 countries.
The second FOTD in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, leveraged lessons learned from the first year to curate an unparalleled four day event during March of 2023 where over 200 leaders gathered at the Cartagena Centro Convenciones and took over the ancient city to celebrate, connect and collaborate.
FOTD Event Schedule
- Feb 13th, 2025
- 1:30 PM
- -
- 1:00 AM
- Intercontinental Medellin
- Feb 14th, 2025
- 1:30 PM
- -
- 1:00 AM
- Medellin Museum of Modern Art
- Feb 14th, 2025
- 1:30 PM
- -
- 1:00 AM
- Medellin Museum of Modern Art
Our Vision
Each of these organizations is committed to fostering a sense of belonging within their communities; creating an inclusive workplace culture that values and respects all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.
Through our partnership, we hope to continue to cultivate and celebrate our humanity, while creating international unity and impact.
AnaviGroup
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Black Ambition
https://blackambitionprize.com/Black Ambition is working towards closing the opportunity and wealth gap through entrepreneurship. We invest capital and resources in high-growth startups founded by Black, Hispanic and HBCU students and entrepreneurs.
Expectant Advisory
https://expectantadvisory.com/Expectant Advisory, LLC specializes in creating transformative experiences that connect, empower, and inspire leaders worldwide. We excel in organizing impactful international convenings and designing bespoke global delegations and professional exchange programs. With a commitment to fostering environments where all feel a profound sense of belonging, we provide tailored guidance to boards of directors, executive teams, and conference organizers, positioning BELONGING as a forward-thinking alternative to traditional DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) frameworks. Expectant Advisory is driven by the belief that true innovation and collaboration flourish when every participant feels welcomed, valued, and included in the conversation.
Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs
https://russellcenter.org/about-us/Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs - RICE is an economic mobility engine for the community: driving Black entrepreneurs and small business owners to innovate, grow, create jobs, and build wealth. We house over 50,000 square feet of convening, meeting, and innovation space in a LEED Silver Certified building, brought to life by a robust offering of educational, networking, mentoring, and capital resources. Part business generator, innovation lab, and museum, RICE invests in Black entrepreneurs, strengthens businesses, and creates community.
National Black Empowerment Council
https://www.thenbec.org/about/NBEC unites Black leaders to drive economic and social equality, leveraging influence to empower Black communities and create lasting impact.
Greater Medellin Convention and Visitors Bureau
https://www.bureaumedellin.com/Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Quam sodales auctor viverra elementum ornare turpis enim cursus lectus. Nibh sed auctor fames quam dolor in turpis. Amet sagittis aliquet vitae amet venenatis. At nibh tellus feugiat amet. Eu aliquet orci velit phasellus cursus a sed. Varius facilisis a elit quis egestas.
Medellin todo florece
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Events DC
https://eventsdc.com/Events DC is the premier host of conventions, entertainment, sporting and cultural events in the nation’s capital. From the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and CareFirst Arena, to our new home for virtual events, <a class="ext" title="(opens in a new window)" href="https://gatherthedistrict.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="<Span>gather By Events Dc</span>" data-extlink="">GATHER by Events DC</a>, our state-of-the-art venues and dynamic portfolio of events showcase the best of Washington, DC for visitors from across the city and around the world. Large or small. in-person, virtual or hybrid. We Make DC Happen!
Link Strategic Partners
https://www.linksp.com/<p class="">LINK is a strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and social impact consulting firm. By understanding and respecting the communities in which we operate, we help our clients create and apply the right tools and strategies to translate challenges into opportunities for hyperlocal success.</p> <p class="">Our world-class and diverse team of professionals lead our offices in Washington, D.C. (HQ), Phoenix, St. Louis, New York, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Manchester, England and our community-based work in communities across the country and around the globe.</p>
Casa Innovation
https://casainnovation.org/Conectando emprendedores sociales del futuro. Social impact incubator for underestimated Social Entrepreneurs.
The Policy Academies
https://www.thepolicyacademies.org/Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Quam sodales auctor viverra elementum ornare turpis enim cursus lectus. Nibh sed auctor fames quam dolor in turpis. Amet sagittis aliquet vitae amet venenatis. At nibh tellus feugiat amet. Eu aliquet orci velit phasellus cursus a sed. Varius facilisis a elit quis egestas.
Oncilla labs
https://oncillalabs.com/Oncilla Labs is a creative agency that focuses on inclusionary user experiences through intelligent design.
Project On Belonging
https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/belonging/Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Quam sodales auctor viverra elementum ornare turpis enim cursus lectus. Nibh sed auctor fames quam dolor in turpis. Amet sagittis aliquet vitae amet venenatis. At nibh tellus feugiat amet. Eu aliquet orci velit phasellus cursus a sed. Varius facilisis a elit quis egestas.
Meta
https://about.meta.com/Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Quam sodales auctor viverra elementum ornare turpis enim cursus lectus. Nibh sed auctor fames quam dolor in turpis. Amet sagittis aliquet vitae amet venenatis. At nibh tellus feugiat amet. Eu aliquet orci velit phasellus cursus a sed. Varius facilisis a elit quis egestas.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Quam sodales auctor viverra elementum ornare turpis enim cursus lectus. Nibh sed auctor fames quam dolor in turpis. Amet sagittis aliquet vitae amet venenatis. At nibh tellus feugiat amet. Eu aliquet orci velit phasellus cursus a sed. Varius facilisis a elit quis egestas.