Claudia Romo Edelman: ‘Latino unity is the best medicine against political polarization’

Under the golden domes of the Cipriani Ballroom, in the heart of Wall Street, the country’s most influential Latino figures are preparing for a night of vindication. “The Met Gala for Latinos,” as Claudia Romo Edelman (Mexico City, 54) calls it with a mix of irony and certainty. And she’s right: on October 30, dozens of figures from the business, cultural, and entertainment worlds will gather for the fifth time to celebrate what she defines as “the Latino moment” in the United States.

But the celebration comes in adverse times. Donald Trump has returned to the White House, and with him, a discourse that requires enemies. Once again, the enemy is the Latino, the migrant. The political climate has hardened, the immigration narrative has become more hostile, and the shadow of deportation hangs over thousands of people, who are witnessing the country to which they migrated in pursuit of the “American Dream” transformed into a threat.

Romo Edelman, a former United Nations official and founder of We Are All Human, an organization dedicated to promoting Latino equality, representation, and leadership in the United States, speaks with the calm of someone who has learned to transform adversity into purpose. “There has never been a more important and delicate moment for the Latino community,” she tells EL PAÍS. “We are bigger, stronger, and more aware of our power. We know it, and that changes everything.”

For Romo Edelman, the Hispanic Star Gala isn’t just a formal celebration, but a statement. A way to reclaim centrality in a country that still views its own people from the periphery. “The new Latino is young, aware of their influence, but wonders why they aren’t seen. Why they remain on the periphery when they should be at the center,” she says.

Her serenity isn’t naive. It’s sustained by a trajectory that commands respect. A social entrepreneur, global activist, and one of the most influential voices of Latino leadership in the corporate world, she leads a network of more than 300 companies and 100 Hispanic organizations that — through We Are All Human, The Hispanic Star, a national platform that highlights the contributions of the Latino community, and the podcast A LA LATINA — seeks more than just visibility. She seeks to change the narrative, position Latinos as an economic force, and remind the country that, without them, the United States cannot be understood.

Question. You just received the 2025 Extraordinary Latinas Award from the United Latinas organization. What does this recognition mean to you?

Answer. It entails a great responsibility. It forces us to ask ourselves: whose voices are we going to amplify? The voices of fear we feel when we are constantly attacked, or the voices of pride we share when we see our people triumph in spaces like the Super Bowl? This is a very important moment that requires clarity. The Latino community needs guides to show the way and leadership that fosters unity.

Q. What makes you most proud of being Latina?

A. Being Latina is my superpower. I love the values and history of our community. I feel fortunate, and I believe the best gift I can give my children is to teach them that their identity is their power.

Q. You’ve worked at various UN agencies, the World Economic Forum, and for the Mexican government. What lessons from those experiences continue to influence the organizations you lead?

A. If I were to die tomorrow, one of the greatest achievements of my life would be having found an “absorption code,” and that is The Hispanic Star. This initiative distills 30 years of experience at the UN and with global leaders. It’s a platform to uplift Latinos and remind us of something fundamental: the United States has many stars on its flag, and Latinos are one of them. What’s good for Latinos is good for the entire country.

Q. What role do initiatives like the Hispanic Leadership Summit 2025 and the Hispanic Star Gala play in strengthening Latino leadership and visibility?

A. These initiatives showcase Latinos in positions of power and leadership. The Hispanic Leadership Summit 2025, taking place on October 28 and 29, is a key space for Latino leaders to share data, ideas, and strategies that elevate the community’s narrative in the United States, demonstrating that we are a powerful economic force. This year’s Hispanic Star Gala features figures such as Gabriel de Alba (founder and managing partner of GDA Luma Capital Management), Rita Ferro (president of Global Advertising at Disney), Ellen Ochoa (veteran astronaut and former director of the Johnson Space Center), and Bret Stephens (Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times), whose visibility not only inspires, but also generates investment opportunities, opens networks of influence, and demonstrates that Latinos are at the table where decisions are made.

Q. The American political landscape is once again marked by anti-immigrant rhetoric. How can the Hispanic community respond to policies or narratives that seek to divide it or diminish its impact?

A. The unification of the Latino community is one of the best medicines in the face of these challenges. We cannot be divided. We must remain awake and aware. This moment is temporary. We are strong, resilient, and capable of resisting. This will pass, and in the meantime, we need to remain united, informed, and prepared.

Q. You talk about the concept of factivism, which refers to the importance of knowing and sharing data. The Hispanic Sentiment Study, conducted annually by the We Are All Human Foundation to measure the perception, identity, and well-being of the Latino community in the U.S., has become a key tool for understanding its evolution. What recent findings do you find most revealing?

A. At The Hispanic Star, we’ve been studying the Latino community for eight years, and our theory of change centers on three issues: awareness, data, and access. In 2018, only 14% of Latinos knew basic facts about their community; in 2023, that number rose to 43%, and today we’re at 77%. The most important action is to become factivists — that is, to take the facts and communicate them to others to change the narrative based on evidence.

Q. Can you give me a practical example of how to apply factivism in everyday life?

A. Speaking English with an accent. Many people see this as a negative stereotype, but it actually reflects the fact that you speak two languages. Changing that approach transforms your position from “idiot” to “polyglot.” It’s an empowering shift in perspective.

Q. You also talk about the myths that exist about Latinos.

A. There are three things I like to clarify. First: we’re all undocumented. In reality, 81% of us are U.S. citizens, and another 7% are legal residents. Second: we’re all Mexican. We come from 26 different countries, each with its own history and culture. And third: we don’t speak English. 80% of us are fluent; our bilingualism is a true superpower.

Q. What has changed and what needs to change in the way the Hispanic community is perceived in the United States?

A. There has never been a more delicate and powerful moment for the Latino community. We are large, strong, and visible. The demographic, economic, and cultural data show that we are a real force. But the most important thing is that today we know it. For a long time, it was easy to dismiss us. Today, that has changed. We are living in a historic moment: Latinos are the heart that keeps the machinery of this country running. And now we are reflecting on who we are and what place we want to occupy. This is what I call the emergence of the “new Latino.”

Q. How do you define this “new Latino”?

A. They are young, aware of their power and influence. They know they play a central role in the economy and culture of this country, and at the same time they ask themselves: Why isn’t that reflected in those who represent us? Why don’t those in power invest in us? Why am I still on the periphery when I should be at the center?

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