Ernesto Nieto honored with Congressional Record proclamation and other 85th birthday tributes

With National Hispanic Institute founder and president Ernesto Nieto’s 85th birthday just days away, about 175 members of NHI’s extended familia converged on the Cotton Gin in Maxwell, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 27, for the first-ever Ernesto Nieto Domino Tournament. 

The 45-team tournament was organized by Nieto’s four children (Chris, Marc, Nicole, and Roy), which brought integral NHI leaders (including board members) to its headquarters city. Gloria de Leon, NHI’s co-founder, executive vice president, and architect of its flagship Lorenzo de Zavala (LDZ) Youth Legislative Session program, accompanied Nieto to enjoy the celebration that stretched from late morning to early evening.

“The atmosphere was amazing, and the awards and recognition were beyond words,” Nieto said of the special day. He added that, in his life, “I was grateful for the opportunity to work with my community. I encourage people to do more in their community. The rewards are amazing. The feelings of accomplishment are amazing. And we need to spend more time in our community.”

“I feel so grateful that at a young age, Ernie took an interest in my development as a leader and gave me opportunities and chances,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of many NHI alumni who came to the Maxwell event to celebrate his legacy. “His mentorship and his leadership really helped me carve out a path for myself … he really took me under his wing and instilled so many values.” 

She added, in a sentiment echoed by others during the event, “NHI is not just an organization; it’s a family.” 

Carlos Paz, Jr., named NHI Person of the Year in 2018, read a proclamation on behalf of Rep. Jimmy Gomez, in advance of the California Congressman’s plan to submit it into the Congressional Record on Oct. 6, the day Nieto turns 85. 

“Ernesto Nieto has built an institution that does not merely train leaders but transforms futures,” the declaration reads. “His impact resonates in classrooms and boardrooms, in communities from the Rio Grande Valley to Puerto Rico, from Chicago to Mexico City, and across continents — reminding us that the strength of a nation, and indeed the world, rests on the gifts of its people.” 

Paz notes the tribute helps put Nieto more firmly into history.

“This recognition represents far more than a moment of applause,” he said. “It is the embodiment of his life’s work woven into the story of the United States. Generations from now, students, historians, and citizens will be able to look back and see that Congress formally acknowledged his contributions, ensuring that his legacy is permanently preserved.”

Dr. Julio Carrillo of the Universidad de Los Andes in Merida, Venezuela, presented his writing on Nieto’s lifelong work cultivating Latino leadership to start the day. 

“In my life as a teacher and researcher of traditional and popular culture, after previously interviewing numerous figures including Gabriel García Márquez of Colombia and Carlos Fuentes of Mexico, now, by chance, I find myself before you, weaving together a few words to honor the legacy of another giant,” he said, addressing the group en español. 

“I am referring to Ernesto Nieto, creator of the great cultural and educational experience known as the National Hispanic Institute, as the space where his distinguished thesis on the importance of youth leadership development in the Hispanic community crystallizes.” 

Carrillo also noted Nieto’s vision of the Latino community “as a resource of immense equality and a place full of opportunities,” was inspiring, and led him to conclude in English with “how purposeful I feel.” 

Asset-based mindsets in action

Ocasio-Cortez, who first came to national prominence by defeating established House of Representatives leader Joe Crowley in a 2018 primary, recalls that her groundbreaking grassroots campaign was grounded in NHI principles. 

“I genuinely feel like NHI is a major reason why I ran,” she said. “It’s a major reason why we were successful. The whole concept of Third Reality and making your own way really shaped how we built the campaign.

“We didn’t have any of the conventional things that they tell you when you need to run for office,” she recalled. “If it wasn’t for NHI, I wouldn’t have been able to recognize these patterns of thinking and understand that we can have the confidence to carve our own path and to find our own terms.”

That asset-based mindset manifested in her campaign slogan, “They’ve got money, but we’ve got people.” 

Ocasio-Cortez, whose first NHI program was the 2005 National LDZ in Chicago, notes that though she lost her LDZ Senate bid, she flourished that week in the House of Representatives — where she was awarded “Most Promising Representative” to foretell her future. 

Changing young lives

The event was staffed in part by nearly 30 Hays High School students, included several who are currently in the midst of their NHI leadership education journeys. 

Alyssa Enriquez began her journey in 2023, participating in cross-examination for the Austin team at the Texas Great Debate, and was then tapped several weeks later to help staff the Texas Star Great Debate and help other students experience what she had just days before. 

“That was such a life changing experience, being able to do that right away off the bat,” she said. “I learned so much about myself and I met so many people all across Texas, and it was just absolutely amazing.” 

Paola Hernandez, educational director for two different leadership education programs this past summer, shared reflections on her initial NHI journey as a reminder of what brought her to the celebration. 

“I was invited to join NHI when I was a freshman in high school, and it changed the trajectory of my life,” she said. “I didn’t speak English very well. I had just moved to the United States, so I was trying to figure out where I fit in this country and in my community, and it gave me a sense of belonging. It gave me a place where I could find other like-minded people, and people who were going through experiences like mine.

“Growing up on the border, undocumented, I was trying to appear as American as I possibly could be, to try to fit in,” she added. “NHI is the first place where I realized that I didn’t need to do that, that there was a larger community out there that would embrace my cultural background and where I could learn to embrace my cultural background. It gave me opportunities to learn new skills and capacities and apply them to my day-to-day professional life.” 

‘This rush to want to be together’

Angela Masciale, an NHI board member who reprised her role as Texas Collegiate World Series educational director this summer, noted that NHI was resilient through the COVID-19 pandemic that impacted many nonprofits during its 2020 and 2021 peak. 

“I feel like coming out of the pandemic, it was this rush to want to be together,” she said. 

Noting that the population of students involved in NHI “has been growing and growing” in recent years, she added, “Now there’s more of an appetite and people want to get more involved again,” heralding the domino tournament to be that type of experience. 

Though the event was a chance for many of those who do the work to come together in a relaxed, festive atmosphere — punctuated by longtime friend of NHI and Austin music legend Ruben Ramos singing several songs with a mariachi group — it was also a reminder of the preparation needed to launch next summer’s slate of programming. 

“I come back because Ernesto’s work is never going to be done,” Hernandez said. “His work is not going to be accomplishable in a lifetime, and it’s not going to be accomplishable in his or in mine. And there’s so many other kids out there who need to feel seen, and need to have that community built for them, and I’m happy to open those doors, I’m happy to make that community, and I’m happy to be part of their journeys and their futures.”

Reflecting after the event, Nieto provided some words of wisdom for those doing the work.

“I feel we need to be in control of our own journeys, be in control of the outcomes we want. The only way we can do those things is to take control of the lives we want to lead and be measured in our approaches, and know what we want rather than have someone else interpret what we want … This journey is continuous and beautiful.”

Sponsors and donors making the first-ever domino tournament possible included Bryan Sanchez, SureScore (Roy and Elizabeth Nieto), Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, Leo Mendoza, Humberto & Carmen Saenz, OCI, Third Reality Publications, Tanya and Ivan Alaniz, JaCo, Cotton Gin, Lanie Alaniz, Revel Property Group, Andrew Frick & Nicole Nieto, NHI staff, Hays HS volunteers, Prisma, Chulas of SATX, Gloria de Leon, Chris Nieto, Marc Nieto, Red Barn Bakery, Los Hermanos, Starbucks, Costco, Dominos Pizza, Krispy Kreme, Casa Maria-Kyle, and Sunoco.