The LEGADO Leadership Legacy Award honors renowned Latin American and Latino individuals who nurture and champion a better quality of life for all of the communities they serve. LEGADO awardees are diverse personalities who, having made their own indelible marks, are exemplary in their dedication to sharing their profound knowledge and experience. Great people realize that their gift comes with the duty to give back: to hold open the door for the next generation of talent. Throughout our history, the towering figures of our community have created a legacy through their own work and through mentoring the talent of the future.
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2024 LEGADO Award: Leadership
Senator Alex Padilla, a progressive problem-solver, is the first Latino elected to represent California in the U.S. Senate. The son of immigrants, Padilla grew up in the San Fernando Valley and studied Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was drawn to politics in response to California’s anti-immigrant Proposition 187. Padilla was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 1999 and the State Senate in 2006. As California’s Secretary of State, he oversaw a historic expansion of voting rights and voter participation. As United States Senator, Padilla has taken action to cut costs for families, combat the climate crisis, and help thousands of Californians secure millions of dollars owed to them by federal agencies. Padilla currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Budget; Environment and Public Works; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Judiciary; and Rules. Padilla lives in the San Fernando Valley with his wife, Angela, and their three sons, Roman, Alex and Diego.