The Biennial of the Americas hosted its second Americas Leadership Luncheon on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. This year the Americas Leadership Luncheon celebrated the work and progress of leaders, trailblazers, and innovators from across the Americas with over 500 guests from civic, business, and cultural organizations.
Thank you for Joining us for a gathering of local and international leaders in the Western Hemisphere.
Watch the Live Stream Event from the Seawell Ballroom below.
2024 PROGRAM
Presented by the Biennial of the Americas, the Americas Leadership Luncheon engaged with top leaders from across the Western Hemisphere to discuss this generation’s most pressing issues on on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at the Seawell Ballroom in Denver, CO.
Agenda
10:30 a.m. VIP Reception | Live Music
11:30 a.m. Program Commences + Prelude Concert | NuCumbia
12:10 p.m. Welcome Remarks
12:20 p.m. Keynote | Empowering Indigenous Youth: A Journey of Resilience and Innovation
12:45 p.m Performance | Journey of a Braid
12:55 p.m. From the Americas Video
1:00 p.m. Leaders Panel | Reimagining Community: Women Leaders Across the Americas
1:40 p.m. Final Remarks
2:00 p.m. Program Concludes
Leaders from the Americas
Keynote Speaker
JENN HARPER | Ojibwe Nation
Founder, Cheekbone Beauty
Jenn Harper is not just a name in the beauty industry; she's a revolution. An award-winning social entrepreneur and international speaker, Jenn is the trailblazing founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics—a brand that has gracefully painted the ideals of sustainability and inclusion onto a global canvas. From its inception in 2015, Jenn has nurtured Cheekbone Beauty into a B. Corp Certified force, now gracing the shelves of Sephora Canada and 550 JC Penney locations across the USA.
Jenn's journey with Cheekbone began as a digitally native, direct-to-consumer brand that took pride in its commitment to reducing environmental impact and supporting Indigenous communities. Her formidable leadership made sure Cheekbone stood out not only for its stunning products but also for its ethical backbone—it became a symphony of transparency, philanthropy, and support for women and youth. To date, over $250,000 have been donated to philanthropic causes, testament to Cheekbone's core values.
Panel
Reimagining Community: Women Leaders across the Americas
This panel discussion explored how women leaders across the Americas are amplifying underrepresented voices, forging new paths for inclusion, and weaving together diverse cultural threads to create stronger, more resilient societies. Through their innovative approaches to sustainability and social justice, these trailblazers are not just leading—they're reimagining what it means to build communities where every voice is heard and valued.
ANDREA IXCHÍU
Founder and Director, Hackeo Cultural | Maya K’iche’
IRMA HERNÁNDEZ
Mayor, Municipality of San Miguelito | Panama
FERNANDA SIMON
Executive Director, Fashion Revolution Brazil | Brazil
TONNI BRODBER
Representative, UN Women Caribbean | Trinidad and Tobago
Master of Ceremonies: Michelle Griego
Anchor, CBS4 | U.S.
Moderator: Gloria Schoch
Executive Director, The VF Foundation & Global Impact, VF Corporation | Colombia/U.S.
Featured Artists
Danié Gomez-Ortigoza (b.1985) is a Mexican-American multimedia artist whose work primarily takes the form of performance, video, and photography. Her work broadly explores themes of identity, interconnectivity, ancestry, and empathy. Her performances are ritual-centric, promoting communal participation and assembly as she makes visible the invisible thread that braids humanity together. Her artistic process utilizes the body and the repetitious act of braiding as central components in reinforcing commonality, intimacy, and belonging.
Michele Castro (vocals, acoustic guitar) hails originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As a vocalist and guitarist, she began to play internationally when invited to perform two tours of Germany with a Choro/Samba band as lead singer. Michele is proud to say she grew up in the Rocinha favela where she draws much of her musical inspiration and appreciation. While she draws inspiration from a number of artists, Elis Regina and Rosa Passos have influenced her work the most. Her vocal repertoire includes Samba, Bossa Nova, Brazilian Pop & Rock, MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira), Choro, and Forró but she also plays a variety of Brazilian percussion instruments. Michele loves exploring the Colorado music scene and sharing her culture and music with a new public.
Virgi, a Denver-based artist, describes her music as NuCumbia—a vibrant fusion connecting Latin Americans from Mexico to Argentina. Born in Colombia, she built a strong music career before moving to the U.S., performing alongside renowned artists across Latin America. Her debut EP "AEROPUERTO" blends ballads, pop, and cumbia, symbolizing the journey of exploration. Virgi is now finalizing her second album, #NuCumbia, a lively mix of cumbia and other genres, produced by Latin GRAMMY® winner Larry Coll. Featured in the book "Mujeres de Caña Dulce," she has gained recognition in both Colombia and the U.S., with her new album set for release on May 9, 2024.
Ways to Attend
Supporting Sponsor
Recognition on the website, program, & social media as Entertainment Sponsor
Table for 10 guests, with 5 tickets to VIP Reception before Luncheon
Preferred table placement in the ballroom
Company logo on your table sign
Highlighted recognition in the event slideshow
Includes a Circle of the Americas Membership & a delegate seat to our 2025 Vancouver Americas Summit
VIP Table
Table for 10 guests, with 2 tickets to VIP Reception before luncheon
Preferred table placement in the ballroom
Company logo on your table sign
Recognition in the luncheon program & event slideshow
Includes a Circle of the Americas Membership & a delegate seat to our 2025 Vancouver Americas Summit
Table
Table for 10 guests
Company name on your table sign
Recognition in the luncheon program
Legacy Sponsor
Visionary Sponsor
Event Partners
Circle of the Americas Members
TableS
CoBank
Colorado Business Roundtable
Colorado Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Consulate General of Canada
Continuum Partners
Deloitte
Denver American Indian Commission
Denver Art Museum
Denver Arts & Venues
Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance
Economic Development & Opportunity / Human Rights & Community Partnerships
Gates Corporation
Guests of Senator Bennet
Holland & Knight
K Contemporary
Mexican Cultural Center
Pinnacol Assurance
Plante Moran
SeriesFest
Sherman & Howard
Summit Street Group
Suncor Energy
University of Colorado
The VF Foundation
ViVe Wellness
Women Powering Change
WorldDenver