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

My biggest takeaway from this symposium is our ability to take a shared history and turn that into progress for all of our people. And I think it's up to us to come up with solutions in our time using technology and innovation to help those who have been marginalized and disenfranchised for years. and that's what this conference has been about.

Steve ReedMayor of Montgomery, Alabama

The NBEC sponsors the Mayor Summit because it's a unique opportunity to globalize the leadership of our mayors.

Darius JonesPresident NBEC

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.

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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.

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 beginngs 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 12 countries.

Our Past Festivals:

Second FOTD Convening (2023)

Cartagena, Colombia

More than 200 leaders convened in this historic city, savoring the historic irony of celebrating underestimated communities on top of a 500 year old fortress built by their formerly enslaved ancestors.

Our Past Festivals:

Third FOTD Convening (2024)

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

With the fumes of Carnaval still in the air, a record-setting group of leaders descended upon Rio de Janeiro for the 3rd annual Festival of the Diaspora. The sun, sand and vibrancy of the city left an indelible mark on all 240 attendees.

Our Past Festivals:

Fourth FOTD Festival (2025)

Medellín, Colombia

For our 4th annual Festival of the Diaspora in Medellin, we welcomed more than 350 leaders to the city of Eternal Spring! In addition to our annual Black Ambition/Casa Innovation Pitch Competition, we hosted our first Fashion Show at the Medellin Museum of Modern Art, our first Exhibition Hall which featured more than 40 entrepreneurs and a Festival of the Spirits to honor the tradition of Viche (an ancestral alcoholic beverage made of sugar cane). Our guests ventured to the neighborhood transformed by hip hop (Comuna 13) as well as engaged in a multitude of nighttime activities each evening.

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

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Moderator: Ivan Barron

Sponsor: Black Ambition

Track: Main Track

Themes: Tech & Society

Speaker(s) Aaron Cervantes

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Moderator: Cordell Carter

Sponsor: Casa Innovation

Track: Track A

Speaker(s) Ada Williams Prince

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Moderator: Ivan Barron

Sponsor: Casa Innovation

Track: Track A

Themes: Tech & Society

Speaker(s) Al Cockfield

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.

Sponsored Events

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.

Sponsored Events

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.

Sponsored Events

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.

Sponsored Events

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.

Sponsored Events

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="gather By Events Dc" 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!

Sponsored Events

Link Strategic Partners

https://www.linksp.com/

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. 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.

Sponsored Events

Oncilla labs

https://oncillalabs.com/

Oncilla Labs is a creative agency that focuses on inclusionary user experiences through intelligent design.

FOTD100 Leadership
Award

Mayoral Summit Overview

FOTD100 2026

Join The Next FOTD100 Leadership Award

Next Stop
Puerto Rico!

About The Festival Of The Diaspora Organization