Photo Credit: Spencer Kelly

On December 29, 2023, my father, Gustavo Cisneros, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 78. Many called him a visionary for his ability to see opportunities where others saw none. He embraced risks with relentless curiosity and a rigorous approach, often turning the impossible into reality.

But what truly defined my father was his insatiable curiosity, a trait passed down from his father and one he nurtured in his children and grandchildren. He was fascinated by people who excelled in their fields, engaging with everyone whatever their profession — with genuine interest and respect.

Books were his primary fuel for curiosity. A voracious reader, he always had a stack of books in both English and Spanish by his side. He read them all, absorbing knowledge like a sponge.

My father also loved walking, treating it as an exploration of ideas. He would observe and ask questions, turning a simple stroll into an enlightening experience. His curiosity extended to every aspect of life, from business trends in a Brazilian mall to the quiet beauty of a beach house.

Despite his busy schedule, he made time for us, his family. Whether through extraordinary adventures in the Amazonas or quiet, distraction-free days in the mountains, he ensured we felt engaged and loved. He was a father, a teacher, and a mentor, always finding ways to connect and impart wisdom.

As I reflect on his life and the incredible journey he led, I am reminded of his dedication to planning and purpose. While he was in his prime, he prepared me to succeed him, ensuring a smooth transition and continued success for our family business. Our relationship evolved beautifully, and I am grateful for the bond we shared.

Over the last two years of his life, he worked tirelessly on his book to record the valuable lessons he learned from his father, his experience at the helm of our business over many decades, and his wishes for the future as he passed the leadership baton over to me. Just weeks before passing, he approved the last details of his book CHALLENGES are OUR BUSINESS/LOS RETOS son NUESTRO NEGOCIO, which available from Planeta and Amazon in Spanish and English.

Now that he is no longer with us, his lessons are all the more valuable. I am so grateful that he took the time to share his wisdom with future generations, and hope that you too can find inspiration in his words and ideas.

#GustavoCisneros #CHALLENGESareOURbusiness #LOSretosSONnuestroNEGOCIO #Visonary #LifelongLearner #AdrianaCisneros

I was so happy to attend this yearâ€s International Womenâ€s Committee (IWC) luncheon hosted by The Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), where my mother, Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, received recognition for her lifelong contributions to the art world. Beyond the pride I feel for her achievements, I’ve always seen her as a trailblazer, particularly when it comes to her work in education, philanthropy, and art.

Darlene Boytell-Pérez and Patricia Phelps de Cisneros

Four decades ago, she bravely stepped into the world of art when she co-founded with my father Gustavo Cisneros, the Fundación/Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, and has since evolved into a powerful advocate for those overlooked in these spheres.

Hearing her acceptance speech as the 2023 IWC Honoree, I found myself immersed in the wisdom she shares, not only with me but with anyone open to listening. Her words served as a reminder that our journeys are interwoven, that every story is built on contributions from many people, and that nurturing connections, seeking guidance, and embracing collaboration are the cornerstones upon which we build each other up, moving beyond competition towards a horizon of collective success.

My mother’s journey was never a solitary one. During her speech she paid homage to the incredible women who mentored her, such as Sofía Imber and Virginia Pérez Ratton, and reflected on her mission to amplify the many voices echoing from the rich cultural tapestry of Latin America. Her words vibrated with the power of inclusivity, “People say that the future is female, but I would argue that the past is too.” It’s a testament to the often-overlooked truth that women have always been shaping our history; they were the pillars, even when the world wasn’t watching. Below, I share some of the heartfelt words from her speech.

Thank you so much to Darlene Boytell-Pérez, the Board of Trustees and the entire PAMM team for this acknowledgment. PAMM is more than a museum; for many of us, it represents a vital piece of the vibrant city we cherish as our home. I am hopeful that together, we will continually strive to honor and elevate Latin American art and culture, and I eagerly anticipate a future where women’s contributions are recognized and celebrated at every juncture.

Franklin-Sirmans, Darlene-Boytell, Perez-Patty Cisneros, Maritza-Lacayo and Trixie-Belo-Osagie

Thank you, mom, for the inspiration and insights you’ve imparted throughout your journey. The world is undeniably a better place because of you.”

Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Remarks – Perez Art Museum Miami IWC Luncheon – October, 18, 2023

People say that the future is female, but I would argue that the past is too. When I was putting together our mid-century Latin American modernist collection in the 1990s, many of the obligatory names were women: Gego, Mira Schendel, Lygia Clark, María Freire. This was not revisionism; those names have been central to the story of Latin American modernism since day one. If one were to contrast the art history books of Latin America with those of the United States or Western Europe at the time, the humongous gender gap is strikingly clear.

And this was the case not just for artists, but also for museum directors, collectors, art historians and gallerists. Among the many mentors who helped me along my path. I would like to remember especially Sofía Imber, whose daughter is here with us today, and a former honoree of this committee, who built one of the most important museum in Venezuela, and was a patient and forceful teacher for me as I was finding my way through modern and contemporary art forty years ago. I also owe a huge debt to Virginia Perez Ratton who opened the doors of Central American contemporary art to me, and who became a tremendous role model for how to create alliances and build bridges between Latin America and the rest of the world. To this list I could add so many names, but I know our time is short.

The Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Team: Marcela Caruso, Ileen Kohn, Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, Alexa Halaby and Adriana Cisneros

Sustainability By Design In Luxury Tourism – Tropicalia
In the Dominican Republic, the ceiba tree can soar more than 200 feet high, creating a microcosm of cooling shade, wood for boats, edible fruits and flowers, and bark to heal wounds and disease. It represents wisdom, life, and the communion of humans with the sky and the underworld—in legends, the sacred ceiba sustains the universe. The ceiba represents the spirit of sustainability for Tropicalia, our familyâ€s luxury resort development in the lush, secluded community of Miches.

Like the ceiba, sustainable design doesnâ€t spring up in isolation. It requires time, planning, vision. At Cisneros, our approach balances economic, social, environmental, and aesthetic priorities. Ultimately, we want to create a virtuous cycle between business and environment that can evolve and support this historically isolated community.
In developing a luxury tourism destination, sustainable design goes beyond architecture that minimizes the resortâ€s environmental impact over its life cycle. Sustainability extends to the ecosystems, the community and the people who engage with us. Our nonprofit Fundación Tropicalia, founded in 2008, creates community programs in four key areas: the environment, education, productivity, and social advocacy.

Sustainable resort development weaves together seemingly disparate elements into a cohesive design. A decade ago, we discovered corals in poor condition along Playa Esmeralda, along Tropicaliaâ€s beachfront. On investigation, we found that runoff from nearby farms washed pesticides into Laguna Redonda, damaging the fragile marine environment. We teamed with a host of local authorities and regional organizations to invest $1.2 million over five years to promote responsible agriculture, which has helped to restore both the corals and the beachfront ecosystem. This initiative then dovetailed with our broader goal of building a sustainable tourism supply chain in Miches, which includes organic farming and entrepreneurship programs.

As we worked toward long-term solutions, we realized that Miches harbors another invaluable natural resource: talented young people. We partnered with ISA University on a scholarship program that has trained dozens of promising students in agricultural engineering, food technology, agronomy, and animal husbandry. Today, more than 80% of our graduates work as professionals in the field, leading regional innovation and helping to break the cycle of generational poverty.

Just as Fundación Tropicalia integrates with the community that sustains it, Tropicaliaâ€s aesthetic seeks to harmonize with elements native to the area. From renowned Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld to landscape architects and botanists, the design team works to highlight the synchronicity of the regionâ€s oceans, beaches, and mountains.
Weinfeldâ€s innately low-impact design draws inspiration from the islandâ€s native materials and colonial towns. Coralina limestone, brick and stucco echo the countryâ€s history, harmonizing with the surroundings and conveying a sense of authenticity. His timeless, sophisticated modern design reflects a tropical touch. The nonlinear format encourages guests to continuously discover the resort, as the buildings integrate with the lush landscape to give the sense of being immersed in nature.

Ricardo García, an expert botanist who oversees Tropicaliaâ€s biodiversity management plan, has designed landscapes that use only native flora that thrives on the regionâ€s climate and water availability. Weâ€ve used geolocation to map more than 5,600 trees, from coconuts to palms, that will nurture native plants and fauna for the future.
Tropicaliaâ€s development approach reflects our devotion to this beautiful place. For more than 40 years, we have embraced this land, this culture, our community, and extended family. Like the mythic ceiba that connects heaven and earth, we hope to share Miches with travelers from around the world while sustaining it for generations to come.

Thank you to Jorge Brown Cott for giving us the opportunity to present our vision and plan for Tropicalia at Design Week Dominican Republic.

View of a beach in the Dominican Republic. AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

The Dominican Republic, a Caribbean country in the West Indies, is known for its white sand beaches and lush mountain landscapes, but local girls on this beautiful island are at a big disadvantage. They are forced to take on activities which are not age appropriate, and with so many of them forced to spend hours on unpaid care or domestic duties. Too many adolescent girls become pregnant and are subjected to physical and/or sexual violence.

To help remedy this situation, in 2008, Fundación Tropicalia was created by Tropicalia, a sustainable tourism and real estate development of Cisneros, a global family-owned and operated business with a focus on media, communications and real estate. Fundación Tropicalia was created by Adriana Cisneros and her parents to promote the socioeconomic and environmental development in Miches. Here, in this small, isolated beach town in the Northeastern region of the Dominican Republic (DR) along the southern shores of the Samaná Bay, Adriana Cisneros, CEO of Cisneros, created Soy Niña, Soy Importante (I am a Girl, I am Important) for at-risk girls, to provide them the tools to stave off early pregnancy, gender-based violence and low self-esteem.

Adriana Cisneros with girls in Soy Niña Soy Importante camp  FER FIGHERAS

Born and raised in Venezuela, Adriana Cisneros spent much of her childhood in the DR, and it is here that she and her father discovered the village of Miches. They felt it was the perfect place to build a resort and family compound; but unlike other developers, they created their program to help girls well in advance of the luxury resort development. I caught up with Adriana Cisneros by phone from Miami, where she lives.

How did this all start in Miches?

We used to vacation at Casa de Campo in the DR when there were only five or six houses. When it became 30 houses, my Dad thought it was getting crowded and wanted a vacation away from the vacation. On weekends, weâ€d travel throughout the DR, even though there were barely roads. We went everywhere by donkey, motorcycle, airplane, helicopter and car, eventually buying 12 miles of beachfront in Miches. For the first 15 years it was like being in Eden. My father wanted me to build what Casa Campo had been for him 50 years ago, a very low key, family-oriented community.

And what are your plans for the property?

The first phase will be a Four Seasons Hotel and Residences with a really beautiful golf course on top of the mountains overlooking the bay. For the second phase, I have a good 30-year plan which I think comes from running a family business that has been around for 100 years. (Adriana Cisneros is the third generation).

Location of the new resort Tropicalia in Miches, D.R.  CISNEROS

How did Soy Niña, Soy Importante start?

Our family has a long tradition of doing community work; we understand how important that is. We spent a lot of time in the community trying to understand what they needed, what they were scared of, and what they were excited about with the new development arriving. We knew it would be many years before we broke ground and decided to establish a foundation which has now existed for 12 years. Most developers build a hotel and afterwards they try to figure out how to be nice to the community. We did it in reverse. We wanted to pay attention to education because itâ€s Latin America, and the more rural the area, the more difficult. And we wanted to ensure that the space would be developed responsibly in terms of the impact on the environment.

Snorkeler and Humpback Whale, Silver Bank, Atlantic Ocean, Dominican Republic ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGES

This is one of the most biodiverse bodies of water in the world, where all the humpback whales come with their calves in January and February. Nearby is the Silver Banks where you can dive with the whales. And all along the coast in front of the property, there are many galleon shipwrecks. I’d say we’re probably the most adventurous Four Seasons owners out there.

Why did you start Soy Niña, Soy Importante?

We spent time in the 14 public schools in the area. There were no bathrooms, no running water. The boys could relieve themselves in the bushes, but the girls had to wait until they got home. We created a program to empower the community to save their own schools. We were invited to high school graduations, but girls were not showing up or graduating because the majority of them were getting pregnant or being ordered by their families to stop going to school so they could care for the younger children.

Adriana Cisneros with girls FER FIGHERAS

I believe in equal opportunity, and I knew when we eventually opened the application process for people to come work for us, it would only be guys, because you need a high school diploma. So, we created the camp to create a safe space for girls during the summer, and told them they had the right to finish high school and that they should not tolerate abusive behavior. The girls think they’re going to a really fun camp, but itâ€s a full-on education to help them develop their sense of agency. What we’ve proven is that the girls who go to camp graduate from high school. Thatâ€s huge. We’re changing the social fabric because weâ€re not just educating the girls, but the families as well. The village becomes part of the camp.

Two girls at camp JUAN LOPEZ SPRAT

What are some of the success stories?

Success is the girls going to college and getting jobs. But in the DR, success is simply being able to graduate high school not pregnant. We have two sisters from one of the poorest communities, and they graduated high school and got a full ride at a university in the DR to study abroad. One of them was just offered a scholarship to go study in Italy. We also have one girl about to graduate with honors from medical school. Sheâ€s really committed to the community, and she comes back every summer as a volunteer doctor to help us with the campâ€s medical component. The girls who age out return as counselors-in-training and then camp counselors. Weâ€re trying to get to the point where all our volunteers are actually from the DR, because the girls can relate to that much more.

A girl at camp. Miches, D.R. JUAN LOPEZ SPRAT

Before we spoke to the parents, no one had told them it’s not right for their daughters to be robbed of their childhood. We educated the parents so they understood there’s more value in girls going to camp instead of doing domestic chores and taking care of the little kids. It became a family project.

What is your plan for the future?

I would very much like to do a version for the young boys. Our program is absolutely replicable, and weâ€ve been asked to take it to many places on so many continents. Iâ€d like to start by helping other local foundations in the Dominican Republic.

Do you expect other developers to follow in your footsteps with sustainability and social improvement programs?

I would hope so. There’s a handful of developers around the world that I truly admire. They have a deep sense of responsibility and connection to develop a place as responsibly as possible. Part of our job is to show the other developers that being sustainable can also be really good for business. You don’t have to compromise to have an excellent, financially viable project because you’re being socially responsible. We’re going to hopefully lead by example and have others join us.

Adriana Cisneros helping girls FER FIGHERAS

Youâ€ve used the term, slow development. What does that mean?

I have the luxury of time to develop my piece of land, responsibly. No one’s holding a gun to my head telling me that I need to sell X millions of dollars of sales or build X residences a year. We have a very conservative plan because weâ€re going to be hanging out in the neighborhood for a long time. Weâ€re going to be seeing the same people for the next 40 years. The first 10 years of work that we’ve done are probably the most important because they have really informed what the needs of the community are.

Hiking in Dominican Republic ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGES

Wellness plays an important part in today’s global luxury lifestyle. So what wellness opportunities will there be at Tropicalia?

Half of the people who stay with us will want to just chill and the other half will want to do every activity possible. I want you to spend all day paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking through the cave systems and rainforest and learning about the culture of the DR. I want people to experience the humpback whales in a way that’s truly special. The coastline is full of shipwrecks to dive. There will be wonderful mountain and road biking experiences and beautiful running trails in the coconut plantations. We’ll have gyms, yoga workshops, world class health experts to do two or three-day workshops, detoxes and much more.

What do you want your legacy to be?

I hope I can always keep my vision and my mission intact, because I think what we’re working on right now is pretty special. I hope we always keep pushing the barriers of sustainability.

The beach of Las Terrenas, located on the Samana Peninsula. CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES

Click the link below for the Forbes article::
Changing The World One Girl At A Time In The Dominican Republic
By: Margie Goldsmith

Preparing for commencement with UM President Julio Frenk

A special thanks to President Frenk for his leadership and his invitation to be a part of this great event. Congratulations to the class of 2022 and THANK YOU!

I wanted to share my speech here and below:

Adriana Cisneros UM Commencement Speech – Dec. 16, 2022

Thank you so much Jose for your kind introduction – I am humbled to be here with this amazing class of graduates. A special thanks to Dr. Frenk – the reason Iâ€m here with you today – and, more importantly, the person who inspired and encouraged me to join the board of UM, which has enabled me to be part of such a special organization; a place you can all count yourselves fortunate to be a part of.

It has been a little while since I was sitting where you are, attired in a cap and gown, with people telling me that the world is mine to conquer. The fact of the matter is, that while I still clearly remember being in my early 20s, I can assure you I NEVER experienced – as a student – what you have all  experienced during your college years: Covid, lockdowns, omicron, hurricanes (not the sports kind), social unrest, war in Ukraine, immigration  crises, food shortages, or having your final weeks on campus and finals coincide with the  World Cup –  and  the threat of France winning the championship (y el domingo de la mano de Lionel, vamos por la tercera!!).  It is an understatement to say that you have persevered through great uncertainty and come out on the other side full of HOPE.

Iâ€m not sure there is much I can tell you that will make you more prepared to face the world than you already are. So, I think we can wrap this up and get you off to your festivities because my work here is done!

Joking aside, I do have a few words that I hope will help you as you head out on your journey.

I wanted to share with you what I found to be the simplest, yet most interesting case I studied during my Henry Crown Fellowship Program. Itâ€s about The Parable of the Sadhu. I loved this story not only for the thought provoking elements of how different cultures come together but for the simple messages it teaches us about personal choices and the impact those can have on us as individuals and collectively as a group. The Parable of Sadhu is a true story based on Bowen McCoy, a Morgan Stanley employee, who in 1989, was climbing across the mountains of Nepal, headed to a holy village. He was in the middle of the hike when he and three other groups of hikers from New Zealand, Switzerland, and Japan, discovered a Sadhu – one of the holiest persons within Hinduism who has renounced all earthly attachments with the unswerving objective of connecting to the Divine.

The Shadu was wearing only a few pieces of clothing and shivering from the cold.

Some people from the hiking groups gave him warm clothes, food, and drink, but that is where their assistance ended. One person argued they should carry the Sadhu to the nearest village so he could get the help he needed, but no one else offered to help more than they had already. Each of the other people in the trekking groups were from different countries, and each offered a different reason for refusing to stop their hike to help bring the Sadhu to a safer place. In the end, they left the Sadhu lying on a rock in the sun to warm up and continued on their journey. None of the hikers ever learned the fate of the Sadhu; whether he survived or if he made it to safety.

The story describes how each of the group members is focused so heavily on reaching the holy place, that they ignored their ethical responsibilities to a holy man. It highlights the tension that can arise between group and individual goals. Reaching the holy village was the single mission towards which all the hikers were focused.  None of the individual hikers viewed it as their ethical responsibility to take care of the Sadhu. Only one of the team members wanted to stay behind and help the holy man but he didnâ€t get any support from the other group members, so he continued on his hike. Often, in the business world, time and social pressures influence people to act by instinct and inertia rather than with logic and humanity.

What made this case so memorable for me was the discussion that erupted in the classroom when the Professor suggested we divide into two groups: the ones who would stay behind to bring the Sadhu back to the village and the ones who would continue the journey.

Around 90% of the class said that they would have stayed behind to help the Sadhu even if it meant not reaching the holy village. How do you think this class of 2022 would have responded? What would you have done and why? From what I have heard about this graduating class, Iâ€m betting given all youâ€ve experienced that closer to 100% of you would have stayed behind. I think the pandemic gave us the gift of making us a bit wiser, more aware, and probably even kinder, more compassionate and empathetic.

This dilemma is similar to what you have experienced these past few years. As President Frenk mentioned during his remarks, you all, individually and collectively, have made personal sacrifices for the good of your classmates and your school. You self-quarantined, which probably felt lonely. You physically distanced to maintain a safe environment that changed much of the camaraderie that develops when you collaborate and confer with each other. Zoom is probably a word you would like to delete from your vocabulary at this point. I would normally advise young scholars to “be brave enough to spend time alone,” but you have done that and come out on the other side of it with so many hopes and dreams intact. The difficulties youâ€ve faced the past few years have armed you with a special set of skills to go out and conquer your goals.

As you head out into the work place you will be faced with difficult ethical decisions for which there is no definitive “right” answer. So, as you embark on this post-grad journey, take a moment to stop and think before deciding. There is a thin line between right and wrong, which can be difficult to notice when pressed for time or when working with a diverse team of individuals, each with different upbringings and conflicting goals. Make the choice to do something because it engages your heart as well as your mind. Make the choice because it engages all of you. And whether things go right or wrong, accept responsibility for the choices you make.

A key component of wisdom is fearlessness, which is not the absence of fear, but rather not letting your fears get in the way. Do not fear failure, but please – be terrified of regret.

I will close by saying: You are graduating at a pivotal time with a great sense of HOPE and RESILIENCE to propel you.  So…. I ask you, IF you werenâ€t afraid, what would YOU do?

Thank you for your time today and Congratulations Class of 2022!!!

A decade ago, we dreamed of creating a safe place where at-risk girls in Miches could learn, explore, and develop the skills to make important life choices. Through the Cisneros companyâ€s nonprofit Fundación Tropicalia, we launched “Soy niña, soy importante,” (SNSI, or ‘Iâ€m a Girl, Iâ€m Importantâ€), a summer camp that teaches girls ages 9-12 about their value in society, self-determination, and timely life choices.

The Dominican Republic reflects global trends in developing nations, where women still lag well behind men in economic participation, political empowerment, and education. In “The Global Gender Gap Report 2022,” the World Economic Forum ranks the Dominican Republic 84th out of 146 countries in these gender-based disparities. Nearly 80 percent of all Dominican youths drop out before entering high school; one extra year of primary education can increase a girlâ€s eventual wages by 20%.

Our challenge: As a grassroots nonprofit, could Fundación Tropicalia spark change in addressing generational issues of poverty, teen pregnancy, and domestic violence? From SNSIâ€s earliest days, weâ€ve learned and developed along with our girls—by listening, adapting, evolving. In 2013, when we welcomed our first group of campers aged 10-15, we quickly realized we needed to reach out to younger girls (one 11-year-old was already pregnant). We met with concerned parents and local officials who opposed teaching girls about reproductive and sexual health. We persuaded mothers who were reluctant to lose their daughters†help around the house for the week-long camp sessions.

Today, weâ€re thrilled to share our story with a global audience. “Soy niña, soy importante” is featured in a new series, “In Pursuit of Wellness: The Art and Science of Living Well,” produced for us by BBC StoryWorks and presented by the Global Wellness Institute. To hear more, link here: www.inpursuitofwellnessseries.com.

These girls will become the women, mothers, small-business owners, and community leaders of tomorrow. Through activism, we strive to raise awareness of their challenges and help them thrive via education and personal agency.

We owe it to them—and ourselves—to support them. To change attitudes toward what it means to be a girl and woman in the Dominican Republic. More than ever, I believe we can catalyze change and build a healthier future for all of us…one girl at a time.

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 3: My Hero Gala 2022  at American Museum of Natural History in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/PMC via Getty Images)

This year is AID for AIDS†(AFA) 25th anniversary and together with Jesus Aguais, the founder and CEO of AFA, we hosted the heartfelt My Hero Gala under the magnificent whale at the Museum of Natural History in New York City. The purpose of the AID for AIDS, My Hero Gala, has always been to highlight individuals who have made a significant impact in improving the lives of people living with HIV.  We have had the honor of bestowing the My Hero Award to scientists and doctors like Anthony Fauci, Dr. Bruce Walker, Julio Frenk, and Dr. Jose Esparza, to name just a few for their lifetime dedication to advancing HIV/AIDS research and policy. As well as artists, designers, and political figures who have used their voices to raise awareness, like Gael Garcia Bernal, Mario Testino, Narciso Rodriguez and the First Ladies of Panama and Colombia Vivian Torrijos and Lina Moreno de Uribe.

This year I had the privilege of giving the My Hero award to Ivan Duque, President of Colombia. He was recognized for the monumental task he undertook to help the millions of Venezuelan refugees, the “caminantes”, who have crossed the border into Colombia by foot in search of a better life.

Noticias Caracol media coverage of the My Hero Gala

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Cúcuta, on the Colombian border, to witness firsthand the devastating reality of the Venezuelan migration crisis. Jesus Aguais, the founder of AID for AIDS, organized this trip for us so that we could gain invaluable insights into this complex situation.  During our three-day visit, we followed the road of migrants until we reached el Paramo de Berlin, an inhospitable segment of the journey at approx. 13,000 feet high and temperatures well below freezing. Along the road, we saw families with young children, young boys traveling alone, and older men walking for miles in flip-flops with nothing to keep them warm or dry. Some of the migrants stop in Colombia, but most walk all the way to Peru, Chile or Argentina.

Venezuelan migrants making the long trek through the Colombian border	Our YPO team at the Simon Bolivar bridge (border of Colombia & Venezuela)
Venezuelan migratants stopping along the route	Meeting with migrants at the FUNVECUC aid stop

President Duqueâ€s effort to dignify the migrants by granting them temporary status so that they can join the workforce, put their kids in school, get medical attention and access the public health system is why we honored him on this special evening.  We hope that other countries in Latin America will follow his example.

Our YPO Team with Ivan Duque in the Presidential Palace

The My Hero corporate award was given to Globant for their work getting formula to new mothers living with HIV – a critical contribution in avoiding transmission of the virus to newborns.  My friend and one of the founders, Guibert Englebienne of Globant, reached out to me to see how he could help the Venezuelan crisis.  His interest surfaced after taking time to speak to the hundreds of Venezuelan refugee programmers he has hired in his offices across the region.  Heartbroken by their stories, he worked with Jesus and very quickly was able to raise over US$260,000 to secure food for over 3000 malnourished babies in Venezuela.

Working in the kitchen to feed the young mothers and children at FUNVECUC

Venezuelan youth “Caminantes” making their way alone through the border

This year, we created a new award – The Terry Riley Humanitarian Award for the Arts. Terry was not only a dear friend, but how I came to meet Jesus. Terry saw early on that Jesus was onto something big and supported him along the way as AID for AIDS was established. Today, only through the medicine-recycling program, AID for AIDS has repurposed over US$2M worth of medicine.  Sadly, Terry passed away last year, and we created this award to honor his commitment to the cause in posterity.  The award was presented to Bouchra Khalili by MoMAâ€s Glenn Lowry.

Bouchra Khalili, Glen Lowry, Adriana Cisneros, Jesus Aguais and Leticia Osa Daza

Congratulation Jesus, on 25 years of transformative work!  You are the ultimate Hero of this story. Thank you for letting us be part of your journey. The evolution of AID for AIDS to Aid for Life is exciting, and is in itself a testament to your success in solving one problem and pivoting to the next.

Jesus Aguais CEO and Founder, AID for AIDS/Aid for Life at a community concert at FUNVECUC Click here to learn more about Jesus Aguais’ work