Latino Thought Makers inspires the future leaders of America through this positive, powerfully uplifting and motivational platform.
In its first three years, Latino Thought Makers has featured an important array of insightful, inspirational and trailblazing guests, including:
Edward James Olmos
Actor Producer
Judy Reyes
Actor
Danny Trejo
Actor
Cheech Marin
Comedian
Lisa Vidal
Actor
Diane Guerrero
Actress
Dolores Huerta
Civil Rights Leader
Marco Antonio Rigil
Game Show Host/Activist
Lalo Alcaraz
Cartoonist
Julissa Arce
Writer
Myrka Dellanos
Journalist
Joe Menendez
Film Director
Horatio Sanz
Comedian/SNL
Esai Morales
Actor
Carla Jimenez
Actor
Dr. Aidyl S. Gonzalez- Serricchio
Scientist
Alanna Ubach
Actor
Emilio Rivera
Actor
Luis Guzmán
Actor
Louis Barajas
Author
Bianca Marroquin
Actor
Gabriela Tagliavini
Writer
Jill-Michele Meleán
Comic
Fernando Allende
Singer
Rosario Marin
Former U.S. Treasurer
Jesse Garcia
Actor
East Los High
cast
Description
- Live interview series with interactive Q&A hosted and moderated by award-winning writer, producer, author and comedian Rick Najera
- Showcases Latino leaders in Media and Entertainment and raises the bar on the positive image of Latinos and diversity in America
- Delivers engaging, thought-provoking and candid conversations about critical issues facing Latinos, with a comedic twist
- Provides rare access to insights and inspirational stories from influential Latino artists, celebrities and entertainment industry professionals
- Addresses important issues, such as: Latinos in the Media, Immigration, Social Justice, Career & Life Choices and Inspirational Success Stories
Latino Thought Makers fills a void.
Latinos in the U.S. are:
- 60.5 million Hispanics live in the United States, representing 18.4 percent of the U.S. total population
- Largest, fastest-growing ethnic group in America with 1.5 trillion in buying power
- 1 in 4 Latinos in the U.S. are under age 17; 93% of Latino children are U.S. citizens
Rick Najera is an award-winning screenwriter, actor, director, producer, sketch comedian, author, playwright, coach and national speaker with an expansive portfolio of credits in all forms of entertainment. He has received numerous industry awards for his work.
From starring in films with Sidney Poitier, George Clooney and most recently Mario Lopez, to writing sketch comedy for Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx, Najera is best known for starring on Broadway in his award-winning, self-penned stageplay, Latinologues, directed by comedy legend Cheech Marin. Najera is only one of three Latinos to ever write and star in their own play on Broadway.
As a screenwriter, Najera has written dozens of scripts for TV, film and the stage, starting out in the industry as a staff writer on the groundbreaking urban comedy series, In Living Color, for which he wrote more than( 30 episodes). Najera went on to write for Townsend TV (10 episodes), MAD TV (47 episodes), East Los High – a Hulu original (21 episodes) and numerous TV pilots and more. He penned the feature film Nothing Like the Holidays starring Debra Messing, Alfred Molina, John Leguizamo and Luis Guzman, which won him an ALMA Award. And was nominated by Congressman Joaquin Castro to be placed in the permanent Congressional record. Najera learned from great writers like Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino and Scorsese to “write what you know’ and has been a pioneer in Hollywood telling his American experience, from a Latino perspective.
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