ASPEN, Colo. (August 11, 2026)—The Raizado Festival (Raizado), the national cultural festival celebrating Latine identity, leadership and power presented by Justice for Migrant Women, announces the winners of its 2026 ICON Awards. This year’s winners—whose creativity, advocacy and leadership have made a lasting impact on the Latine community and beyond—will be honored at a ceremony on August 22, 2026 at the historic Hotel Jerome in Aspen.
The ICON Awards have been a pillar of Raizado since award-winning civil rights leader and social entrepreneur Mónica Ramírez first debuted the groundbreaking festival in 2022. To mark the incredible milestone of the award program’s fifth year, this year’s ceremony will be hosted by actors Annie Gonzalez and Tonatiuh and include a special performance by Nezza, who went viral in June 2025 for performing the national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium. There will also be a celebratory dinner curated by cookbook author, TV personality and podcast host Claudia Sandoval, who was the first Latina to win MasterChef US, and mixologist Kevin Perez Castillo, Head Bartender of the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award-nominated Semiprecious.
Raizado’ means ‘deeply rooted,’ and every year we meet in Aspen, a place where the Aspen trees represent the interconnectedness of communities, to remind ourselves and society that the Latine community has always been deeply rooted in and connected to this country. And it is the power that comes from being rooted and connected that gives us the ability to create lasting change,” said Ramírez. “We celebrate our roots, our power, our successes and the contributions of amazing leaders.
It is an honor to recognize this year’s ICON Awards winners, whose work across the public service, advocacy, culinary and education industries show thetremendous impact Latine individuals have on our world.
This year’s ICON Award winners are:
POWER
POWER
Representative Joaquín Castro
U.S. Congressman for the 20th District of Texas
Congressman Joaquin Castro has built a reputation for his unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity for Latine communities across Texas and the nation.
Throughout his public service career, Castro has leveraged his platform to advocate for civil and voting rights, immigration reform and economic justice, strengthening the “Infrastructure of Opportunity” for future generations.
As a leading voice on foreign affairs, national security and Latine representation in Congress, Congressman Castro has demonstrated that true power lies in using our influence to uplift others and inspire the next generation of civic leaders.
TRUTH
TRUTH
Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum
Human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum embodies the power of truth through a lifetime of courageous advocacy for women and Indigenous peoples both in Latin America and around the world.
A Nobel Peace Prize laureate and founder of the Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation, she has transformed personal testimony into a global movement for justice, reconciliation and peace. Her unwavering commitment to preserving Indigenous knowledge, advancing human rights and amplifying historically marginalized voices has inspired international action and helped reshape conversations on equity and dignity.
Through her leadership, writing and lifelong pursuit of justice, Dr. Menchú Tum has shown that speaking truth is not only an act of courage, but a catalyst for lasting change.
CHANGE
MAKER
CHANGE
MAKER
Lynnette Marrero
Award-winning mixologist and Co-founder, Speed Rack and Grace Ramírez, chef, cookbook author and TV personality
&
Grace Ramírez
Chef, cookbook author and TV personality
Lynnette Marrero and Chef Grace Ramírez have been instrumental to celebrating Latine identity, heritage and storytelling by leading Raizado’s epicurean experiences since the festival’s inception.
As an acclaimed mixologist, entrepreneur and co-founder of Speed Rack, Marrero has helped create new pathways for women and underrepresented talent in the beverage world while elevating cocktail culture on a global stage. What began as a single high-speed competition uplifting women bartenders has evolved into a global movement, which has raised more than $1.85 million for breast cancer research and prevention while launching countless careers. Marrero’s vision continues to transform the industry by proving that creativity, equity and community are essential ingredients for lasting change.
Chef Ramírez has similarly leveraged food to champion cultural representation, economic opportunity and lasting social impact. Her work extends far beyond the kitchen, redefining how Latine culture is experienced. Initiatives like La Latina Cocina bring a taste of home to students at more than 85 universities nationwide, while her ongoing work with organizations like World Central Kitchen demonstrate how food can be a force for relief, dignity and connection during times of crisis. Above all, Chef Ramírez demonstrates how culture can be a catalyst for empowered change.
LEGACY
LEGACY
Ken Salazar
Lawyer, environmentalist, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and former U.S. Senator for Colorado
Secretary Ken Salazar boasts a career that has shaped the future of public service, conservation and U.S.–Mexico relations. A fifth-generation Coloradan, Salazar has spent decades advancing policies that protect public lands, expand clean energy, strengthen civil rights and deepen cross-border cooperation.
From serving as U.S. Secretary of the Interior and U.S. Senator to leading the U.S. diplomatic mission in Mexico as Ambassador, his leadership has bridged communities, safeguarded natural resources and reinforced the enduring ties between the United States and Latin America.
Salazar’s lifelong commitment to service has created a legacy that continues to inspire future generations of Latino leaders.
COLORADO
COLORADO
Nita Gonzales
M.Ed., Principal, Nuevo Amanecer, LLC
Nita Gonzales is a respected educator, strategist and nationally-recognized Chicana leader in educational equity, environmental justice, health advocacy and community empowerment. She has spent her career building capacity within communities of color to advance lasting solutions for justice, transforming policy and shifting dominant narratives so that those most impacted by inequity are uplifted, heard and centered. Prior to leading public affairs and culturally-grounded civic outreach at Nuevo Amanecer, LLC, Gonzales spent 41 years as President & CEO of Escuela Tlatelolco Centro de Estudios, a pioneering Indigenous-Chicano school born of the Chicano Movement and The Crusade for Justice. Her approach is grounded in ancestral teachings, cultural humility and relationship-building that leads to true systemic change.
If you are interested in attending this year’s Raizado, please visit here. For more information on Raizado, please visit www.raizadofestival.org or follow @raizadofestival on Instagram. For more information on Justice for Migrant Women, please visit www.justice4women.org or follow @mujerxsrising on Instagram.
ABOUT RAIZADO FESTIVAL
The Raizado Festival is a national cultural festival celebrating Latine identity, leadership, and resilience. Founded in 2020 by activist Mónica Ramírez and launched in 2022, it was originally produced as a part of The Latinx House work, which was incubated and anchored by Justice for Migrant Women, a non-profit organization also founded by Ramírez. The annual cultural gathering takes place in Aspen, CO. Raizado brings together leading artists, activists, entrepreneurs, changemakers, and Latine community allies from across the U.S. for a powerful weekend of masterclasses, panels, performances, and culinary experiences that showcase the richness of Latine culture.
ABOUT JUSTICE FOR MIGRANT WOMEN
Founded by civil rights leader and president Mónica Ramírez, Justice for Migrant Women (J4MW) is a national organization, headquartered in Fremont, Ohio with a presence on the ground in Colorado. J4MW champions the rights and dignity of migrant women through advocacy, storytelling, organizing, policy initiatives and humanitarian aid efforts. Justice for Migrant Women has incubated and anchored Raizado Festival since it launched, in addition to numerous other marquee programs and initiatives.
ABOUT MÓNICA RAMÍREZ
Mónica Ramírez is an attorney, author, and activist. She is the founder of Justice for Migrant Women and Raizado Festival. Mónica also co-founded Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Poderistas, and The Latinx House. Mónica has received numerous awards, including the James Beard Leadership Award honoree, Harvard Kennedy School’s first Gender Equity Changemaker Award, Concordia Global Summit Leadership Award, Feminist Majority’s Global Women’s Rights Award, the Smithsonian’s Ingenuity Award, and The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center 2026 Beloved Community Social Justice Award. She was named to Forbes Mexico’s 100 Most Powerful, on TIME Magazine’s TIME100 Next, and is a 2026 Elevate Prize Foundation award winner.
MEDIA CONTACT
Foxglove Communications
J4MW@foxglovecommunications.com
