At NaFFAA conference in Colorado, creating space for emerging voices
The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) concluded its 16th National Empowerment Conference after two days of national dialogue, leadership development, cultural celebration and practical community-building.
Held August 14–15 at the Hyatt Regency Aurora–Denver Conference Center and co-hosted by NaFFAA Rocky Mountain Region, the conference with the theme “Harnessing the Power of Community: Starting With Us,” brought together Filipino American leaders, founders, professionals, public servants, entrepreneurs, artists, health advocates, and emerging changemakers from across the country.
At the end of the conference, NaFFAA elected its new national officers:
National Chair: The Honorable Steven Raga
National President:Dr. Alex Africa
National Vice President:Sally Balecha
National Secretary:Giselle Rushford
National Treasurer:Gabriel “Gabe” Young
“I’m deeply honored to serve as NaFFAA’s next National Chair,” said Raga. “For nearly three decades, NaFFAA has shown what’s possible when Filipino Americans come together across generations, regions, and backgrounds in service of our community.”
Sessions examined how Filipino Americans had built influence through relationships, representation, entrepreneurship, civic participation, cultural preservation, mental health advocacy and cross-community partnership. The gathering remained nonpartisan and emphasized informed participation, public service, safety, belonging, and shared responsibility.
NaFFAA National Chair Mariela Fletcher opened the conference honoring NaFFAA’s founders and remembered Alex Esclamado’s vision of a united Filipino American community. She challenged every delegate to turn the conference into action through three commitments: “Connect. Listen. Act.” She asked participants to connect with someone new, listen to a perspective different from their own and return home ready to mentor, register voters, build partnerships, serve on boards, run for office and encourage young people to lead.
Keynote speaker Dante “Klink” Ang II, secretary and chairperson of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, explored “The Power of Community.” He discussed the growing influence of the Filipino American diaspora and connected diaspora leadership with the responsibility to build bridges, mobilize people and convert shared identity into constructive public impact.
The Founders and Trailblazers Roundtable brought together Rodel Rodis, Loida Lewis, Gloria Caoile, Jon Melegrito and Maestro Michael Dadap, with Dr. Alex Africa moderating. The founders reflected on NaFFAA’s origins, grassroots mobilization, and the work required to establish a unified national voice.
“We were all in this together, and if we stopped believing that, we lost the strength that made progress possible,” — said Gloria Caoile, NaFFAA co-founder.
During an intergenerational discussion of Filipino American community struggles, speakers connected identity with representation, mental wellness and creative expression. Their remarks encouraged participants to transform difference into strength and respond to community gaps with courage and service.
The “Bayanihan in Business” panel featured Riezl Baker, Charmel Dela Cruz, Joshua Collin Dela Cruz, Chelsey Solemsaas and Hannah Cambronero of Coffee Sarap. Their conversation addressed risk, market timing, trust, user experience, and the need to adapt when conditions changed.
“Entrepreneurs had to remain resilient and know when to pivot. Putting clients first built the trust and reputation that sustained a business,” said Riezl Baker, NaFFAA trustee.
Chelsey Solemsaas encouraged entrepreneurs to show that they belonged in positions of leadership, while Hannah Cambronero emphasized adaptability as a core business discipline. Together, the panel presented entrepreneurship not only as individual achievement, but also as a pathway to employment, economic resilience, and community investment.
From individual voice to strategic partnership
Day Two examined how individual leaders had worked in tandem with established organizations. Drawing on the Filipino values of ‘pakikisama’ and ‘malasakit,’ the program encouraged participants to serve as bridges across generations, sectors, and communities.
The “Women in Community Leadership” fireside chat featured Gloria Caoile as moderator with Mariela Fletcher, Tia Dalupan-Wong, Jacque de Joya and Dr. Litam. The session included a tribute to NaFFAA founding leader Lourdes “Luly” Mitra Esclamado, whose gentle strength, loyalty to the cause and love of community helped build NaFFAA’s foundation.
Mayor Ron Falconi delivered a keynote on the importance of representation, drawing from his experience as the first Filipino American mayor in Ohio. The “Run for Office” panel followed with Larcy Douglas, Mark Pulido, Falconi and New York State Assemblymember Raga. The nonpartisan conversation demystified the path from community advocate to public servant and encouraged aspiring leaders to enter decision-making spaces with preparation and purpose.
Sheilah Jane Troiano delivered the closing keynote, “Building Community Power Starting With the Family.” Through personal storytelling, she explored migration, identity, intergenerational silence, and the healing that followed when families created space for honest conversation.
Across the two-day conference, participants returned repeatedly to a shared conclusion: Filipino American empowerment depended on the willingness to listen, organize, report, invest, mentor, serve and build together. NEC 2026 honored those who laid the foundation while creating space for emerging voices to shape what followed.
