President
CARLOS DUARTE
Duarte joins ALMAAHH after serving as the nationwide chief development officer and, previously, Texas state director of Mi Familia Vota, a leading national nonpartisan Latino civic engagement organization. In addition to expanding MFV to many cities, he led campaigns and mobilizations to improve Latinos’ conditions in healthcare, education, immigration, environmental justice, and workers’ rights. Duarte is a Latino of Mexican origin with over 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He is a holistic strategist and organizer with deep roots in the Latino community.
GABRIELA MAGAÑA
Gabriela Magaña is an artist, curator, and cultural worker dedicated to advancing equity and visibility for Latinx artists and communities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts from the University of St. Thomas and a Master of Arts in Arts Leadership from the University of Houston.
She is a founding member of
Latin American Women in the Arts Houston (LAWAH) and currently serves as Director of Operations and Programs at ALMAAHH. In this role, she is a key voice in the conceptualization and strategic planning of the future institution, shaping its vision as a world-class home for American Latino arts and cultures. She leads critical community engagement initiatives, builds partnerships, and ensures that American Latino artists and histories are meaningfully represented in the development of this landmark cultural project.
Gabriela also works with the BIPOC Arts Network and Fund (BANF) as the Artist Award Coordinator and serves as the Facilitator for the 2025 Artist Awards, helping to ensure representation and visibility across the arts ecosystem. She is an alumna of the 2024 New Leadership Council cohort, where she built cross-sector connections with emerging leaders across Houston.
Rooted in her artistic and professional practice, Gabriela is deeply committed to honoring her heritage and ancestors while amplifying the Latinx experience through art, culture, and community building.
Board of Directors
- Geraldina Interiano Wise, Board Chair; Artist
- Juan Padilla, Treasurer; Principal/Shareholder, Doeren Mayhew
- Wendy Montoya Cloonan, Secretary; Partner Cantú Harden Montoya LLP
- Alexander Obregón, CFO Comcast
- Art Chavez, Principal Page Architect
- Tony Castilleja, Senior Manager of Boeing Defense, Space, and Security
- Mario K. Castillo, Lone Star College System Chancellor
- Tony Diaz, Founder & Director of Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say
- Gabriel Esparza, Publisher of Que Onda Magazine
- Mario Enrique Figueroa, Jr. (GONZO247), Artist
- Tony Garcia, Business Development Executive at SDC Builds Inc
- Deborah Lugo, Vice President of Programming and Education at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
- Ana Maria Martinez, Professional Opera Singer and Artistic Consultant Houston Grand Opera
- Teresa (Terry) Morales, Executive Vice President Amegy Bank
- Hugo Ortega, Executive Chef/Owner of H Town Restaurant Group, 2017 James Beard Foundation Award
- Mayor Annise Parker, Former Houston Mayor
- Fernanda Razo, High School Educator
- Rebecca (Becky) Reyes, Chief Executive Officer at BecTec Construction Resources, LLC
- Peter Rodriguez, Dean Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University
- Graciela Saenz, Lawyer, Activist
- Massey Villarreal, Chief Executive Officer PTG
Founding Board Members
- Dorothy Caram
- David Contreras
- Nelly Fraga
- Pamela Quiroz, Ph.D.
- Graciela Saenz
- Norma Torres Mendoza
- Geraldina Interiano Wise
