José Feliciano and Ignacio Gómez named padrinos of San Bernardino summit

Singer José Feliciano and artist Ignacio Gómez have been named Padrinos de Honor/Honorary Chairs of a Latino summit at Cal State San Bernardino.

The LEAD (Latino Education and Advocacy Days) Summit XIV titled “Telling Our Stories – Our Way, Our Voice: Latino Representation in the Arts, Media and Education,” will take place in early October.

The LEAD Project will have an annual all-day gathering focused on Latino expression, identity and empowerment through the arts, media and education. The summit will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 3 at the Santos Manuel Student Union South Events Center on the campus of Cal State San Bernardino.

Early-bird registration is now open online and free of charge. Sponsorships for the summit are also available. Visit the LEAD Sponsors webpage for information.

“José Feliciano and Ignacio Gómez embody the true spirit of padrinos for LEAD — they are more than honorees,” said Enrique Murillo, Jr., LEAD executive director. “They are cultural trailblazers and mentors whose artistry, advocacy, and unwavering commitment have empowered generations.”

José Feliciano: Latin music pioneer

A Grammy Award-winning musician, singer and composer, José Feliciano is regarded as the first Latin artist to crossover into the English music market, leading the way for other artists. Among his hits are his renditions of “California Dreamin’” and “Light My Fire,” which earned him widespread acclaim, and his original holiday classic “Feliz Navidad” that has become a staple song during the Christmas season. Among his many accolades are 45 gold and platinum records, 19 Grammy nominations and nine Grammy Awards, including the LARAS Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Born on Sept. 10, 1945, in Lares, Puerto Rico, Feliciano’s music bridges cultures and languages. One of 11 boys, blind from birth due to congenital glaucoma, Feliciano moved with his family to New York City at the age of 5. 

A monumental artist: Ignacio Gómez

A muralist and visual artist, Ignacio Gómez may be best known for his 1978 artwork of actor James Edward Olmos as “El Pachuco” for Luis Valdez’s stage play, and later movie, “Zoot Suit.” The poster not only captured the spirit of the play but has become an iconic symbol of Chicano/Latino pride.  As a stage production, “Zoot Suit” in 1979 was the first Chicano play on Broadway; the movie followed in 1981. The “El Pachuco” is now part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection.

Gómez has memorialized César E. Chávez in the city of San Fernando as well as his headstone in La Paz, Keene, California and the César E. Chávez monument in Riverside.

Gómez also designed the statues for  Méndez Tribute Monument Park in Westminster, CA which opened in 2022. The monument commemorates the landmark Méndez v. Westminster civil rights case of 1947 about school segregation. 

The summit’s theme

Through this year’s summit theme, "Telling Our Stories – Our Way, Our Voice: Latino Representation in the Arts, Media and Education,” organizers will spotlight the creative and educational contributions of Latino communities — from Indigenous and African diasporic roots to present-day cultural leaders. 

“This year’s LEAD Summit stands as a powerful affirmation of our right to tell our stories on our own terms,” said Murillo. “'Telling Our Stories – Our Way, Our Voice' is more than a theme – it is a declaration of cultural resilience and intellectual sovereignty. By centering Latino voices in the arts, media and education, we honor our legacies while forging new narratives that challenge stereotypes and empower future generations.”

For more information, visit the LEAD Summit XIV website, as well as the LEAD Education Projects webpage.