LIBRE Celebrates 15 Years of Driving Progress for Latinos

Arlington, VA – This week, The LIBRE Initiative gathered elected officials, community leaders, and advocates to celebrate 15 years of building a movement – and the results speak for themselves. 

The Gala showcased LIBRE’s community impact, policy victories, and the trust its earned from the community – all while highlighting the stories of the Hispanic families at the heart of everything our organization does. The evening was a testament to what happens when a community has a trusted, permanent advocate fighting for its freedom and opportunity. 

 15 Years of Real Results 

LIBRE is currently active in 13 states and in over 30 cities, working alongside Hispanic communities to protect the American Dream – listening to the issues impacting each community, advocating for policies that drive meaningful change, supporting leaders who expand freedom and opportunity, and equipping Latinos with the information they need to prosper. 

This year alone, LIBRE worked toward: 

• Advancing 152 state and federal policy victories 

• Stopping 88 harmful proposals that would have created new barriers for American families 

• Delivering 31 state-level wins and blocked 16 harmful policies from becoming law 

• Texas: Helped advance universal Education Savings Accounts and property tax reform, expanding opportunity for families and small business owners statewide 

• North Carolina: Helped pass REINS Act legislation to strengthen government accountability and protect communities from regulatory overreach 

• Nevada: Advanced open enrollment, expanding education options for Hispanic families across the state 

• Colorado: Helped pass the “Tamale Bill,” opening doors for home-based food entrepreneurs and celebrating the ingenuity of Latino small business owners

From Farmworker Roots to a National Movement 

The story of LIBRE is inseparable from the story of its founder and president, Daniel Garza. His parents came to the United States from Mexico, settling in Yakima Valley of Washington State where his family worked as migrant farmworkers. Their pursuit of a better future shaped Garza’s belief in the American Dream – and inspired him to ensure that dream remained within reach for millions of Latino families. 

In 2011, Garza built a small team and launched LIBRE with a simple but powerful belief: that Hispanic communities should have the opportunity to shape their own futures. 

“My family came to this country because they believed America offered the freedom and opportunity to build a better life and give the next generation opportunities they didn’t have. That story is shared by millions of Latino families across this country. It is the reason LIBRE was created, and it remains at the heart of everything we do. For 15 years, we have worked alongside Latino communities to ensure they have a voice in shaping their future and the opportunity to achieve their own American Dream.”
— Daniel Garza, President & Founder, The LIBRE Initiative 

Turning Trust into Action 

What makes LIBRE different is not just what we advocate for – it is how. LIBRE’s grassroots teams live and work in the communities they serve, listening directly to Hispanic families and ensuring their priorities are represented at the local, state, and national levels. Our organization believes those closest to an issue are best positioned to identify the solutions that will make a difference. 

With strong leadership and an expanded footprint, LIBRE has transformed trusted grassroots relationships into a powerful force for opportunity and policy change – advancing community events, educational programs, and advocacy that fosters economic opportunity, affordable healthcare, safer communities, and quality education for children. 

Looking Ahead 

For LIBRE, 15 years is more than a milestone. It is a celebration of the thousands of Latino community members, advocates, volunteers, and leaders who helped build this movement. As LIBRE enters its next chapter, its mission remains clear: to empower Hispanics to reach their full potential by educating and mobilizing the community to advance policy change that expands freedom and opportunity — so every Latino family can achieve their own American Dream. 

To learn more about The LIBRE Initiative, visit www.thelibreinitiative.com