By: Jenny Castro
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 5/19/25
Mark your calendars for Sunday June 1st as LATINAFest takes over Gloria Molina Grand Park in Los Angeles. Bel Hernandez and Naibe Reynoso, both founders to the organization are looking forward to this year’s event which includes a variety of interactive activities, seminars, panels, and workshops celebrating and highlighting Latinas. Both Hernandez and Reynoso stem from backgrounds in media and have impressive careers in journalism and entrepreneurship. Currently, Reynoso works for LA County Channel as a journalist and has won multiple Emmy awards for her work. In 2018, she started a publishing company named Con Todo Press which creates and publishes children’s bilingual books and that also celebrates Latino culture. Hernandez started off in the entertainment industry as an actress and dancer then co-founded Latin Heat Media, a trade publication showcasing Latinos in entertainment. She has also collaborated with the Alma Awards and became a member of the Peabody Awards.
In 2018, Hernandez and Reynoso established LATINAFest which continues to grow every year. Elaborating further, Reynoso offers insight, “Bel and I co-founded the event in 2018 because as women in journalism I think we both saw that there was a lack of representation of Latinas in all aspects of media, but also in events where Latina business owners weren’t being highlighted.” Adding, “And we discovered that through our media endeavors that sometimes when interviewing business owners, it was the first time anyone had ever paid attention to them so we discovered that there was this whole space where Latinas were being excluded from exposure in all aspects.”
In creating LATINAFest, Hernandez’s and Reynoso’s vision has come to fruition allowing for Latinas to congregate and network and engage with each other. Many attendees in the past have left forming newfound friendships and business relationships while also happily supporting each other. “It’s kind of like a marketplace where people find each other, and not only for small businesses, but also in our panels where we have Latina’s in finance, sports, or even Latina authors,” Reynoso said.
The theme for the year’s event is “Legacy,” and according to Hernandez they want to showcase the importance of Latino contributions in the United States. “We chose Legacy because in these times, it’s very important to understand that Latinos have been in this country forever,” Hernandez said. Adding, “And some never left and have always been here like the New Mexicans and some of the Texans. So, we wanted to show that there’s been a lot of contributions throughout the decades of Latinos and that we have a lot to give. We want to remind people of that and be proud of who they are. And that our legacy is immense, and that now we are a group that brings in like $3.7 trillion in GDP, and that’s something that’s powerful. And I think we need to now come from a place of power as opposed to a place of explaining why we’re here and why our parents came, so that’s what this is about and also connecting people back into their lineage.”
Some fun and interactive activities included for LATINAFest include candle making, loteria board making, sip and paint activities, financial talks, photo booths, dance lessons, a kids’ corner, author reading, a cocktail garden, performances, plus plenty of food and business vendors to go around. There will also be activities and panels related to health, wellness, and beauty. “We will also have over 100 vendors selling traditional clothing and pottery that’s accented with Latino flavor,” Hernandez said. The event will also incorporate and celebrate aspects of various Latino cultures and communities and feature diverse panelists speaking on a variety of topics. This year’s keynote speaker will be Claudia Romo Edelman, “She is an international empowerment speaker, and is a big influencer on a national level,” Hernandez said. Adding, “She takes a group to the United Nations to talk about Latinos in the U.S., because there’s a differentiation between Latinos from different countries and Latinos in the U.S. as we all come together to form that powerful group like consumers. But also, a powerful group that is represented across all areas, and so it’s different. She’s actually from Mexico, but lives here now and understands the different dynamics.” Hilda Solis will also be in attendance, she is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for the 1st district, and has been in support of LATINAFest since its inception. Other influencers, celebrities, and local news affiliates will also be in attendance to show their support for the event.
As for advice to other Latinas interested in media or journalism, Hernandez offers her wisdom, “If you go to school and study that’s the easiest way to get into media, because you will have the tools to do it. But some people pick them up through internships too which are also valuable for people who are just starting out. And I think that as long as you have something to say you will be a strong voice and people will pay attention and finding what to write is also important. What are you going to write about? What’s your passion? Because I think that brings out the best in a journalist. If you have a passion and a strong point of view that you’re not afraid to put out there, you can use your voice to be really effective.”
For anyone interested in purchasing tickets or signing up as a vendor for LATINAFest, check out their website below.
