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The Raizado Festival Returns to Aspen for a Fifth Year this August

Prominent Latine leaders and allies from across the country will gather for a weekend centered around pride, resilience and joy

ASPEN, Colo. (July 30, 2026)—The Raizado Festival (Raizado), the national cultural festival celebrating Latine identity, leadership and resilience, announces its return for a monumental fifth year. Taking place August 21-22, 2026, the groundbreaking event from national nonprofit Justice for Migrant Women will unite some of the nation’s leading Latine artists, activists, chefs, entrepreneurs and allies in Aspen under the theme of “Seeding Change” for a celebration of culture, connection and collective strength.

This year’s Raizado will be hosted by actors Paulina Chavez, Annie Gonzalez, Nicholas Gonzalez, Constance Marie and Tonatiuh at Aspen’s world-class arts venue, the Paul JAS Center. Joining them are some of the country’s most influential changemakers, including human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Rigoberta Menchú; me too. International co-founders Dani Ayers and Tarana Burke; Congressman Joaquín Castro; former Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar; and celebrity chef, cookbook author and TV personality Claudia Sandoval for a weekend of panels, fireside conversations, screenings and rich culinary experiences. 

Award-winning civil rights leader and social entrepreneur Mónica Ramírez created Raizado as a direct response to the erasure and undervaluing of Latine lives, as evidenced by the tremendous mortality disparities impacting farmworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first-of-its-kind festival debuted in 2022 with the goal of serving as a “record scratching moment” that captivates public attention and shows Latine people for who they truly are: innovators, changemakers and the backbone of this nation. Ramírez selected Aspen as the host both due to the city’s international reputation for thought leadership legacy, innovation and cultural programming and its vibrant Latine community that powers the larger Roaring Fork Valley. Since its founding, Latine leaders and allies have gathered at Raizado to connect on timely issues, celebrate their culture and reimagine the future through dialogue, performances, food and community. 

“We launched Raizado with a ten-year vision and a commitment to building something lasting for the Latine community and our allies,” said Ramírez. “As we embark on our fifth year, ‘Seeding Change’ is not only a reflection of Raizado’s impact to-date, but an urgent call to action to create change that takes root beyond a single annual gathering.”

Food and beverage will play a prominent role during Raizado’s programming. Chef Sandoval will partner with James Beard Award- and MICHELIN Guide-recognized chef Mawa McQueen to host a Solidarity Supper the first night of the festival. The dinner is part of Justice for Migrant Women’s new series that brings together food & beverage leaders, community members and advocates around a common table to cultivate meaningful connection and honor the millions of workers across the food supply chain whose labor nourishes our communities. Chef Sandoval will also partner with 5-year returning Chef Melissa Tung and mixologist Kevin Perez Castillo, Head Bartender of the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award-nominated Semiprecious, to curate the festival’s epicurean offerings, which will focus on recreating participants’ deep-rooted family recipes. Additional culinary programming includes a screening of United We Dream’s celebrated immigrant cooking competition Just Flavors, followed by a spirited discussion with Chef Sandoval, 2026 TIME100 Philanthropy recipient and United We Dream Executive Director, Greisa Martínez Rosas, and show contestant Karime Rodriguez. 

Guests will also be treated to performances from rising singer/songwriter Indy Fontaine and singer/dancer Nezza, who went viral in June 2025 for performing the national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium. Raizado will also host a screening of La Tierra de Valor, the documentary short film profiling this historic moment that initially premiered at Sundance earlier this year, followed by a talkback with Nezza.

The festival’s annual ICON Awards will close Raizado in celebration and recognition of Latine community leaders building a legacy across their respective fields and industries. A special award is also bestowed to a Colorado-based changemaker.  

Past winners include actors Wilmer Valderrama and Harvey Guillen; authors Sandra Cisneros and Isabel Allende; activists Sylvia Mendez and Cristina Jimenez, and Colorado leaders Rosemary Rodriguez and Blanca Uzeta O’Leary. This year’s winners will be announced in the coming weeks. 

The full list of leaders and changemakers confirmed to participate at this year’s Raizado include:

If you are interested in attending this year’s Raizado, please visit here. For more information on Raizado, please visit www.raizadofest.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 

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