Awhile ago over lunch, actress and businesswoman Jessica Alba and agent Tracy Brennan were lamenting about the lack of networking opportunities and support for Latinos in the entertainment industry. There was a need for increased community and resources, the two longtime friends thought, noting that oftentimes there seemed to be space for only one Latinx person in any given room. “Why was that?” they wondered.
Following this impactful meal, the duo decided to create Culture Makers, an annual event bringing together Latinos from every corner of the film and television industry. For the first iteration in 2023, countless actors, agents, makeup artists, directors, writers, and more descended upon Alba’s house to celebrate their Latinidad. Group chats formed, friendships flourished, and ideas for projects blossomed. Alba, on a Zoom a day prior to this year’s event, mentioned multiple collaborations were born last year. “People just started writing together, directing together, and working together,” Alba said. “We’ve continued to support and highlight one another along the way.”
This year, Culture Makers was even bigger. At the event last night, ELLE editor-in-chief Nina Garcia served as a co-host and Movado as a sponsor. Set once again at Alba’s house in Beverly Hills, the sun dipped as she, Brennan, and Garcia all toasted the attendees. Garcia noted the importance of the evening, and how events like these fall in line with her vision for ELLE. “From actresses to philanthropists to designers, poets, beauty founders, and musicians, it is critical, now more than ever, that our community is not only seen and heard, but also united, inspired, and proud,” she said. “That is the goal of this event tonight, to celebrate our heritage, to make connections, because I know this is how we amplify our cultural voice.”
This year’s event, coming on the heels of the 2024 presidential election, also had a different urgency. “Us being successful in business, successful in fashion, successful in anything becomes a political statement, because there’s so much oppression on our existence,” Alba said before the event and then reemphasized that evening. “It’s so blatant, and it’s so racist, that us standing in our power is a political statement. That’s what this is as well.”
Bringing more power to the night, the guest of honor was labor activist and feminist Dolores Huerta. Noted for her work with the United Farm Workers, Huerta received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. She is credited for originating the UFW slogan, “Sí se puede.” Huerta, who is the subject of an upcoming biopic directed by Gregory Nava, led the crowd in the chant later in the night. In an exclusive interview with ELLE, Huerta said, “At this moment, we need a lot of unity and courage, and to not be overwhelmed by what’s happening.”
“What we have to remember is when we’ve had these periods throughout history,” she continued. “We have to start looking forward to what new types of policies are going to come out of these dark moments. We have to hope.”
Other attendees for the evening included Eva Longoria, Lauren Sánchez, Danny Ramirez, Isabela Merced, Xochitl Gomez, Paulina Chávez, Victoria Justice, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Tonatiuh, Michael Cimino, and Luna Blaise. Guests danced, drank, and told stories; tacos, churros, and tamales were also served. Upon leaving, everyone was gifted a commemorative ball cap. Alba emphasized the importance of the event’s intimacy, explaining that, through this togetherness, magic can happen.
“In Hollywood, there’s this idea that there’s a scarcity of roles, and there’s only so much out there. If you get the one seat, you take it, and hold onto it for dear life. It doesn’t need to be that way,” she told ELLE. “This is a space where we can say, you know what? Let’s make more inroads. Let’s expand the table. Let’s put more chairs, and let’s continue to build and grow our community. We all believe that there’s some stigmas and stereotypes that we’re constantly having to face. The only way that is going to change is if we get in the positions of power. We can then start to make those changes.”
Below, more from the star-studded event.
Samuel is the Content Strategy Manager at Hearst. Prior to this role, he was an Associate Editor and the Assistant to ELLE’s Editor-in-Chief, Nina Garcia. Raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Samuel attended Northwestern University and currently resides in New York City. He is probably humming a tune at his desk right now.
