Join this historic Filipino American Event – NaFFAA’s 16th National Empowerment Conference (NEC) on August 14-15, 2026, at Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center in Aurora, CO. Co-hosted by NaFFAA Rocky Mountain Region, this landmark event will bring together Filipino American leaders from across the nation for two days of inspiration, empowerment, and community building. Hear from visionary speakers, participate in dynamic activities, and connect with fellow trailblazers dedicated to making a difference.
Let’s celebrate our heritage, honor our history, and shape the future – together!
REGISTER NOW:
Reserve Your Hotel Room
Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center
13200 East 14th Place, Aurora, Colorado, 80011, United States
Your Voice Matters
🌟 Call for Speakers 🌟
The National Federation of Filipino American Associations proudly invites Filipino American changemakers, leaders, advocates, and visionaries to submit proposals for the 2026 National Empowerment Conference (NEC).
Presenting Sponsor and Community Partners
If your organization or business has questions about being a sponsor or partner, please email joshua.ang.price@naffaa.org
2026 gala - Bayanihan Fashion show
Join us for the NaFFAA Bayanihan Fashion Show & Cultural Storytelling Experience on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Aurora Denver Conference Center in Colorado.
Experience an unforgettable evening celebrating Filipino heritage through elegant Filipiniana fashion, inspiring cultural storytelling, and recognition of outstanding community leaders and changemakers. Come celebrate culture, community, and bayanihan with us at NaFFAA NEC 2026.
If your organization or business has questions about being a gala sponsor, please email joshua.ang.price@naffaa.org
National Empowerment Conference Agenda
“Harnessing The Power of Community: Starting With Us”
Join this historic Filipino American Event – NaFFAA’s 16th National Empowerment Conference (NEC) on August 14-15, 2026, at Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center in Aurora, CO. Co-hosted by NaFFAA Rocky Mountain Region, this landmark event will bring together Filipino American leaders from across the nation for two days of inspiration, empowerment, and community building. Hear from visionary speakers, participate in dynamic activities, and connect with fellow trailblazers dedicated to making a difference.
What Awaits You at the 2026 NEC in Colorado:
- Visionary Insights: Hear from trailblazing speakers who are redefining Filipino influence in government, tech, healthcare, and grassroots advocacy.
- Strategic Empowerment: Participate in dynamic, high-stakes workshops designed to move you from inspiration to measurable action.
- The Power of Connection: Forge lifelong partnerships with fellow leaders and youth change-makers dedicated to the “Bayanihan” spirit.
Let’s celebrate our heritage, honor our history, and shape the future – together!
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Before the first gavel falls and the formal sessions begin, we gather for a day dedicated to the most essential element of our movement: each other. The Pre-Conference Day is a space designed for the “Global Pinoy” to land, exhale, and reconnect. Whether you are a veteran leader who has met a thousand times or a first-time attendee stepping into the circle for the first time, this day is your opportunity to build the relational “social capital” that makes our collective work possible. It is a day of Kumustahan (meaningful catching up), strategic networking, and official preparation.
Description: The day before the NEC is a day to help ease into the heart of the content. It is a day of networking before the conference, registering and building interpersonal relationships.
Pre-Conference Events
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Registration
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Professional’s Bootcamp: Resume Writing, Interviewing, Salary Negotiations by Ryan Namata
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Opening Reception (Cash Bar) – NaFFAA’s Got Talent by Lou Vargas and Karaoke Night by Joshua Ang Price
Sponsored by Agile Human Capital and AV Entertainment [Hotel]
Friday, August 14, 2026
Day 1 of the National Empowerment Conference (NEC) is primarily a deep dive into the collective spirit. The “I” to explore the transformative power of “We” will be featured throughout the day, as we examine how local and global networks serve as the primary engines for social progress, economic resilience, and emotional support. Expect every session in our program to be more than just a lecture; they are blueprints for impact. Each speaker and workshop will showcase real-world success, feature lived examples of communities that have solved systemic problems through grassroots organizing, and deconstruct the “How” and help bridge the gap between theory to practice, giving you the tools to mobilize your own circles.
Topics Covered: On each day NaFFAA covers topics within its four pillars of advocacy, leadership development, civic engagement and advancing Filipino culture. On the first day of the NEC we will cover topics such as the community’s interest in information about the impact of midterm elections, the power of coalitions and show examples of how other communities have found success.
General Description: Day 1 of the National Empowerment Conference is primarily a deep dive into the collective spirit. The “I” to explore the transformative power of “We” will be featured throughout the day, as we examine how local and global networks serve as the primary engines for social progress, economic resilience, and emotional support. Expect every session in our program to be more than just a lecture; they are blueprints for impact. Each speaker and workshop will showcase real-world success, feature lived examples of communities that have solved systemic problems through grassroots organizing and deconstruct the “How” and help bridge the gap between theory to practice, giving you the tools to mobilize your own circles.
Breakfast Friday
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM Breakfast in the Grand Ballroom
Welcome Address
8:50 AM – 9:00 AM Welcome Address by NaFFAA National Chair Mariela Fletcher
General Session 1 Friday
9:00 AM – 9:25 AM Opening Keynote: The Power of Community by Dante Ang, Secretary of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas [Leadership Development]
Description: The speaker will discuss a powerful personal example of how the efforts of one community moved the needle of social change in America.
General Session 2 Friday
9:30 AM – 10:25 AM Founders and Trailblazers Roundtable [Leadership Development]
Panelists: Rodel Rodis, Loida Lewis, Gloria Caoile
Description: In this rare and powerful gathering, founding leaders of National Federation of Filipino American Associations come together for an intimate roundtable conversation reflecting on the organization’s origins, struggles, and defining moments. This session offers a firsthand account of how NaFFAA was built—from early conversations and grassroots mobilization to establishing a unified national voice for Filipino Americans.
Concurrent Early Morning Tracks – Friday
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NaFFAA |
NaFFAA/Partners |
Youth |
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10:30 AM – 11:25 AM |
Combating Misinformation In The Filipino Community – “Our Truth, Our Power: Safeguarding the Filipino Digital Diaspora” |
Medical Mission Panel [National Advocacy] Panelists: Donna Lavigne, Editha Pasion Description: TBD Uplift and Mending Faces |
Introduction + Accelerator Overview + Community Guidelines |
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11:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
——————- Nonprofit Governance and Compliance by Lauren Schmidt, Special Counsel, Colorado Lawyers Committee [Leadership Development] |
Filipino American Communities History of Changing Their World For the Better [Advancing Culture] Description TBA potentially FAHNS |
Know History, Know Self. No History, No Self: An Ethnic Studies Lecture on the origins of Filipino American Identity |
Networking Lunch
12:30 PM – 1:25 PM Networking Lunch – Special Awards Presentation with Brendan Flores
Concurrent Early Afternoon Tracks – Friday
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NaFFAA |
NaFFAA/Partners |
Youth |
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1:30 PM – 2:25 PM |
On Filipino Identify [Leadership Development]: “Filipino Enough: TBA” |
Building Bridges Across Oceans: Immigration Panel [National Advocacy] Panelists: Donna Lavigne, Rodel Rodis, Dante Ang Description: TBD |
Kwentuhan: How to Explore & Understand Fil-Am Community Struggles Through Intergenerational Dialogue |
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2:30 PM – 3:25 PM |
—————– The Growing Community of Retired Filipinos and Portable Medicare [National Advocacy] by Eric Lachica Immigration [National Advocacy]: “Ways In Which the Filipino American Community Has Navigated Current State of Immigration by TBA Description: The U.S. immigration landscape has undergone a seismic shift over the last two years. For the Filipino community—the third-largest Asian American subgroup—these changes have brought a unique set of challenges, from record-low net migration and expanded vetting to significant shifts in the Visa Bulletin. This session offers a critical, up-to-the-minute analysis of how Filipinos are navigating an environment defined by increased enforcement and reduced predictability. |
Where We Come From, How We Move [Advancing Culture] Speaker: Jack Rushford Description: Dance as Cultural Inheritance and Liberation examines Waacking, a dance form born in 1970s Los Angeles among BIPOC gay men during an era of segregation and systemic exclusion, as a living tradition of resistance and self-determination. This presentation traces Waacking’s origins as an act of radical joy and visibility, and follows its legacy into the present-day Bay Area LGBTQ+ community through dance education, community performances, battles, and media. Drawing on the presenter’s work teaching Waacking to underserved and marginalized queer communities, the talk frames dance not merely as artistic expression but as a vehicle for identity, belonging, and liberation. By drawing parallels to dance’s deep role in Filipino cultural life and resistance, the presentation invites young Filipino Americans to see their own heritage reflected in a broader story, one where movement has always been a means of claiming freedom. |
Bayanihan Under Pressure: A Filipino American Crisis Simulation |
Merienda Break
3:30 PM – 3:45 PM Merienda and Networking Break
General Session 3 Friday
3:45 PM – 4:10 PM Keynote: Building Community Power by Dr. Michelle Mras
Description: The speaker will discuss a powerful personal example of how building the power of a community moved the needle of social change.
Concurrent Late Afternoon Tracks – Friday
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NaFFAA |
NaFFAA/Partners |
Youth |
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4:15 PM – 5:10 PM |
Your Voting Rights [Civic Engagement] Panelists: led by Joshua Ang Price, Angelica Cortez, Gloria Caoile, APIAVote, and others TBD |
Entrepreneurial Panel [Leadership Development] |
Lakbay Ng Kabataan (The Journey of the Youth): A NaFFAA Young Professional Career Panel |
General Session 4 Friday
5:15 PM – 5:35 PM Closing Keynote: Sara Moore of CDBF
Description: TBA
Emerging Leadership Institute Conclusion
5:40 PM – 6:30 PM Day 1 Conclusion
Governance [Internal Only]
5:45 PM – 6:30 PM Campaigning of Candidates [Internal]
Social Event at Adobo Restaurant
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Details TBA
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Day 2 is an examination of the art and science of the individual working in tandem with established groups. We are moving away from the idea of the “lone hero” and toward the “strategic partner.” Real, lasting social change doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it happens at the intersection of individual passion and organizational scale. As community leaders, we will learn how to position ourselves to be the “connective tissue” between different groups and our community. Drawing on the cultural depth of Pakikisama (the ability to get along with others) and Malasakit (selfless concern), we will look at how the individual Filipino can bridge cultural and interpersonal divides, infuse values into systems and mobilize external resources.
On each day NaFFAA covers topics within its four pillars of advocacy, leadership development, civic engagement and advancing Filipino culture. On the second day of the NEC we will cover topics such as the individual’s potential impact in our community, developing our young leaders and sessions to enrich our leaders’ competencies in leading organizations.
Breakfast Saturday
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Breakfast
General Session 1 Saturday
8:35 AM – 9:00 AM Opening Keynote: Building Community Power One Individual At A Time by Stacey Litam (Mental Health Angle)
Description: TBA
General Session 2 Saturday
9:00 AM – 9:55 AM Fireside Chat: Women in Community Leadership [Leadership Development]
Panelists: Moderated by Gloria Caoile, Mariela Fletcher, Tia Dalupan, Stacey Litam (Region and State Representatives)
Description: Filipina leaders have long been at the forefront of advancing community, culture, and advocacy—often navigating complex challenges while breaking barriers across sectors. This powerful panel brings together accomplished women within the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NAFFAA) to share their journeys, successes, and the hard-earned lessons behind them.
General Session 3 Saturday
10:00 AM – 10:55 AM Movie Viewing and Panel for “A Long March” (20 minutes) [National Advocacy]
Presented by Tammy Botkin and Q&A Panelists: Michael Dadap, Nonie Cruzado, etc.
Description: TBA
Concurrent Early Morning Tracks – Saturday
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NaFFAA |
NaFFAA/Partners |
Youth |
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11:00 AM – 11:55 PM |
Best Practices Panel for Region Presidents [Leadership Development] Panelists: led by Alex Africa, Laura Garcia, Rachelle Ocampo |
Healthcare Professionals Forum [Leadership Development] Panelists: Dr. Rommel Rivera, Lester Uy Description: TBA |
Goal Setting + Strategies |
Networking Lunch
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Networking Lunch and Regional Awards
General Session
1:00 PM – 1:25 PM Keynote: The Importance of Representation by Ron Falconi
Concurrent Early Afternoon Tracks – Saturday
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NaFFAA |
NaFFAA/Partners |
Youth |
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1:35 PM – 2:25 PM |
Run for Office Panel [Civic Engagement] Panelists: Mark Pulido, Ron Falconi, Steven Raga, Kris Valderama, Craig Valdez Description: Filipino Americans have long been active in community leadership, yet remain underrepresented in elected office across the United States. This session is designed to demystify the path from community advocate to public servant, equipping aspiring leaders with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to run for office. |
Filipino Authors Panel [Advancing Culture] Panelists: Dr. Michelle, Dr. Abby Hamilton, Sheila Jane Trojano, etc. etc. Description: Filipino authors are playing a powerful role in shaping how our stories are told, preserved, and understood—both within our community and beyond it. This panel brings together a dynamic group of writers whose work spans genres and generations, each using their voice to explore identity, history, diaspora, and the evolving Filipino American experience. Through storytelling, these authors are not only reclaiming narratives often overlooked or misunderstood, but also expanding the visibility and complexity of Filipino culture in literature and media. In this conversation, panelists will share their creative journeys, the inspirations behind their work, and the responsibility that comes with writing for and about community. |
Resourcing Bayanihan: Turning Ideas into Funded Action |
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2:30 PM – 3:25 PM |
——————————– Stop Asian Hate Session [National Advocacy] Panelists: Gigi de Gala, George Kuwamura, Sally Balecha, and others TBD Description: TBA |
Mental Health First Aid Kit co-presented with Krystle Canare and TJ Simba-Medel |
Completing the Lakbay: The ELI Accelerator Solution Showcase |
General Session 5 Saturday (Closing)
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM Closing Keynote: Building Community Power Starting With the Family by Sheilah Jane Trojano
Description: Filipino American will share a heartfelt conversation on family, identity, and the unspoken stories we carry across generations. Through personal storytelling, she explores the emotional cost of silence—and the healing that comes from breaking it.
Emerging Leadership Institute Conclusion (Day 2)
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Final Keynote for ELI
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM ELI Closing and Navigating Your NaFFAA Journey
Bayanihan Awards Gala
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Awards Gala
Description: To conclude our journey from individual action to collective power, attendees are invited to an evening of reflection, elegance, and profound gratitude. The Bayanihan Gala serves as the definitive bookend to our conference—a night where the strategies we’ve discussed and the connections we’ve made transition into a celebration of real-world excellence.
Sunday, August 16
Board of Directors Retreat
Description: In keeping with tradition, NaFFAA leaders will come together post-conference to debrief and speak in an open forum to work on the business of the organization.
NOTE: Agenda is subject to change. Last updated May 26 , 2026.