Voices from mapa Summit 2025

Hear directly from the changemakers shaping U.S.–Mexico cooperation. These exclusive interviews spotlight the elected officials, nonprofit leaders, and advocates driving bold conversations around trade, equity, education, health, and diplomacy.Each voice reflects MAPA’s mission: to elevate regional leadership, bridge borders through policy, and spark lasting impact across communities on both sides of the border.

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MAPA 2025 Voices

Asm. David Alvarez

California Assemblymember David Alvarez on why state-level leadership is essential to shaping U.S.–Mexico relations.

In this conversation, California Assemblymember David Alvarez, Chair of the California–Mexico Affairs Select Committee, highlights the critical role states like California play in fostering lasting cross-border collaboration.

Drawing from his legislative work and border community experience, Alvarez speaks to the importance of state-level engagement in federal and binational policy. He shares insights on economic development, immigrant integration, and the need for inclusive representation at summits like MAPA 2025.

Whether you're a policymaker, nonprofit leader, or private sector stakeholder, Alvarez offers a clear and compelling message: the future of U.S.–Mexico relations will be driven by partnerships rooted in community, pragmatism, and shared prosperity.

Arturo Carmona, President and Co-Founder of MAPA

Arturo Carmona shares the vision behind MAPA and what sets this year’s binational summit apart.

In this interview, MAPA Co-Founder and President Arturo Carmona reflects on the inspiration and mission driving the 2025 MAPA Summit. He outlines the importance of binational cooperation, state-level leadership, and why now is a pivotal moment for U.S.–Mexico relations.

Arturo shares key takeaways for participants, the scale of participation from both sides of the border, and how MAPA is elevating voices that are often left out of policy conversations. Whether you're a policymaker, advocate, or sponsor, this interview offers a powerful overview of the summit’s purpose — and what to expect.

Sen. Omar Aquino

Illinois State Senator Omar Aquino explores how both Mexico and the United States can uplift immigrants and create shared opportunities for future collaboration.

In this candid interview, Illinois State Senator Omar Aquino highlights the urgency of supporting immigrant communities amid a backdrop of growing resistance and disinformation. Drawing from personal and collective experience, he reflects on the resilience of Latino immigrants and the need to amplify their voices in policy and media. Senator Aquino challenges both the U.S. and Mexico to reimagine a future of mutual benefit, asking: How can both nations work together to support and empower the immigrant journey? His message is a powerful reminder of the cultural, economic, and moral imperatives of binational collaboration.

Angelica Salas, Executive Director, CHIRLA

Angelica Salas, Executive Director of CHIRLA, highlights the vital role of binational collaboration in advancing immigrant rights and shaping inclusive public policy. She shares how CHIRLA’s advocacy connects directly to the MAPA Summit’s broader mission—building a shared agenda that uplifts immigrant communities and strengthens cross-border solidarity.

Charlene Dimas, President & CEO of Wellnest

Tayrin Riojas, Co-Founder & Cp-Exec.Director, MAPA

Marco Castillo, Co-Executive Director, Global Exchange

Rep. Mariana Sandoval

Dr. Gabriel Rosas

Researcher at FuturoLab/Oxford-Mexico Industrial Policy Co-Lab (Investigador de FuturoLab/Co-Lab de Política Industrial Oxford-México)

Sen. Edgar Flores

LISTENING SESSIONS

MAPA’s National Listening Tour

As a result of a successful inaugural MAPA Summit in Mexico City in September of 2025, many key findings emerged, one in particular was the need to embark on a series of listening sessions that would be used to refine & strengthen MAPA’s mission and vision, and feed a robust strategic plan. Participants to these listening sessions include state & local elected officials, as well as nonprofit, labor and private sector leaders whose experience and knowledge will help MAPA weave together a strategic plan that will serve as the foundational guide for our work to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Mexico.

Listening sessions

our team

Arturo Carmona

President

Arturo Carmona
📧 Arturo@tzunu.com | LinkedIn
Arturo Carmona is Co-Founder of MAPA and is a nationally recognized communications and public affairs leader with nearly two decades of experience uniting communities around critical social and political issues. As CEO of Tzunu Strategies and head of the Latino Media Collaborative, Arturo brings deep expertise in policy, strategy, and coalition building across the U.S. and Latin America. He has served as a senior advisor to major campaigns—including Bernie Sanders and Andrés Manuel López Obrador—and worked with leading media and advocacy organizations like ImpreMedia and MALDEF. Widely recognized as a powerful spokesperson for the Latino community, his work has been featured in CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, Univision, and more. Arturo lives in California and enjoys traveling and spending time with his children.

Tayrin Riojas

Co-Executive Director

Tayrin Riojas

📧 tayrin.selina@lazosinternational.org | LinkedIn
Tayrin S. Riojas is Co-Founder of MAPA and is the CEO and Founder of Lazos International, an influential binational government relation firm focused on U.S.–Mexico cross-border policy and diplomacy. She has led high-level delegations for federal and state officials, served as Chief Advisor to the Select Committee on California-Mexico Cooperation, and is Vice President of the Texas-Mexico Binational Commission. Her work builds binational bridges of leadership, advances cooperation in shared solutions, supports sustainable energy growth, and drives meaningful change. With a proven record of aligning U.S. and Mexican public and private leaders, she brings rare expertise and critical access to complex negotiations.
A former Google Policy Campaign Brand Manager, Tayrin also serves as President of Fuerza y Unidad Hispana, a nonprofit promoting civic engagement among diverse Latino communities.
She holds a B.A. in Political Science, a B.A. in International Relations, and minors in Italian and French from Pepperdine University, as well as a Master’s in Applied Economics from the University of Maryland.

Nora Preciado +

Co-Executive Director

Nora Preciado
Nora@tzunu.com | LinkedIn

Nora Preciado is Co-Founder of MAPA and is a seasoned social justice leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing immigrant rights.

Nora Preciado is a seasoned social justice leader with nearly 20 years of experience advancing immigrant rights. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Tzunu. Previously, she directed Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, advising on policies impacting Los Angeles’ immigrant communities. Her legal career includes over a decade at the National Immigration Law Center, as well as roles at the ACLU of Southern California and as an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School. Nora serves on advisory committees for national immigration organizations and holds a law degree from UC Berkeley and a BA from UC Davis.

Juan Torres

Vice President of Policy

Juan Torres
jtorres@tzunu.com
Juan Carlos Torres is Co-Founder of MAPA and brings over 20 years of legislative expertise, having served in both chambers of the California State Legislature including leadership roles such as Deputy Chief of Staff to Speaker Anthony Rendon. He has played a pivotal role in advancing landmark policies on envir onmental justice, education access for undocumented students, climate change, housing, and labor rights. Juan has also led efforts to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the Assembly, including the hiring of its first Equity Advisor. A former Chief of Staff to key legislators and a trusted advisor on board appointments and delegation diplomacy, he continues to champion policies that uplift disadvantaged communities. Juan holds a BA in Political Science and Chicano Studies from Loyola Marymount University, and lives in Sacramento with his wife and two daughters.

Katia Lopez

Program Manager

Katia Lopez
Policy Analyst
Katia@tzunu.com
Katia Lopez is a first-generation Chicana and lifelong resident of the Coachella Valley, driven by a passion to uplift communities facing systemic health and education challenges. A graduate of UC Irvine with degrees in Anthropology and Political Science, she also completed the UC Center Sacramento program focused on politics and policymaking. Katia has served her community in multiple roles—from interning for Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia to working as a Health Navigator and COVID-19 Contact Tracer. She is an active Delegate for California’s 56th Assembly District and a member of the Coachella Valley Young Professionals Network. Outside of work, she enjoys live music, Disney parks, and exploring new restaurants.

california-mexico day inauguration dinner

may 21, 2025

Sacramento, CA

Thank you to everyone who joined MAPA on May 21, 2025, at The Firehouse in Sacramento for our California–México Day Inauguration Dinner. After our Capitol reception, we came together with top California and Mexican officials to celebrate—and strengthen—the partnerships that drive our shared prosperity.

Your engagement and insights made the evening truly memorable. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing our work across the border. Stay tuned for photos and highlights from the night!

Learn More

Key Statements

“This space represents a historic opportunity—a meeting grounded in solidarity, mutual respect, and mutual support. It invites us to explore new values beyond those established through free trade agreements or traditional political and diplomatic relations, in order to reconnect with the essence of our communities.”

Jesus Ramirez Cuevas
Chair of Advisors,
Office of the President of Mexico
“We are here with a purpose. We are policymakers, decision makers, elected officials, activists, and business leaders — all united by a shared goal: to find better ways to integrate and strengthen the relationship between our two countries.”

Assemblymember David Alvarez,
California State
“In an increasingly interconnected world, where borders are no longer just lines that divide, but bridges that connect, the USMCA and Plan Mexico emerge as contemporary expressions of a shared vision: a more integrated, dynamic, and forward-looking North America.”

Laura Itzel Castillo Juarez,
President of the Mexican Federal Senate
"I stand with my colleagues in the legislature, united by a shared vision to advance policies that promote deeper bilateral integration, keep families together, foster economic collaboration, and solidify the enduring socio-cultural bond between California and Mexico. MAPA’s work will be an integral ally in our work to reach our collective vision."

Assemblymember Juan Carrillo,
Vice Chair of the California Legislative Caucus
"If we act as adversaries, neither of us will thrive. Cooperation, not rivalry, is the path forward."

Marcelo Ebrand, Secretary of Economy,
former Secretary of Foreign Relations
“It is more imperative than ever to make sure that we are at all levels of government working together, not in silos, to make sure our people not only are protected, but that they see themselves in us. That they see voices that are speaking out and speaking up for them not only for now but for future generations… It is so important that we make sure that relationships in government also cross borders, not just from state to state but from our country, the US to Mexico.”

Senator Omar Aquino
Illinois State
"This visit reinforces the deep bonds between California and Mexico. By building bridges across borders, were not only creating opportunities for Latino communities today but also laying the groundwork for shared prosperity in the years to come."

Representative Lorena Austin,
Arizona State