CHCI to Honor Outstanding Alumni at Leadership Conference Alumni Awards & Closing Reception  

July 31, 2025 

Contact: press@chci.org 

Washington, DC – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) has named the 2025 Distinguished Alumnus honoree, Danielle Gonzales, and the 2025 CHCI Young Alumnus honoree, Alex Sarabia, who will receive the awards at the organization’s 2025 Leadership Conference Alumni Awards and Closing Reception, as part of its signature CHCI Hispanic Heritage Month activities. The prestigious awards are given to distinguished alumni from a broad range of fields who exhibit special dedication to civic engagement and leadership for the Latino community. 

The 2025 CHCI Leadership Conference Closing Reception is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, at 5:00 – 6:00 PM ET at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. It will offer a unique moment to note the exceptional contributions of CHCI alumni and highlight their continued impact and leadership across a national network of 5,000 outstanding leaders.  

Danielle Gonzales is a nonprofit and educational leader with more than 20 years of experience working in education policy and reform on a national level and currently serving as a senior fellow for the One Generation Fund. Her previous roles include Managing Director at The Aspen Institute, Senior Program Officer at the Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation, and several positions at Pew Charitable Trusts. She serves on the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education and the National Assessment Governing Board along with other boards and advisory commissions. Gonzales was a 1997 CHCI Congressional Intern 

Alex Sarabia is the Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director for Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Previously, he served as a senior advisor to Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, worked on presidential campaigns for Warren and former HUD Secretary Julián Castro, and was a speechwriter for Mayor Ron Nirenberg. Sarabia was a CHCI Public Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  

“It is a pleasure to recognize and call attention to the way that both Danielle Gonzales and Alex Sarabia have contributed to their respective fields and served as role models for their colleagues, friends and families across the many organizations and communities where they have served,” said CHCI Chair Rep. Darren Soto. “They are both shining examples of Latino excellence and are highly deserving of being recognized before their peers and the entire CHCI community.” 

“The Latino community stands stronger because of the undeniable contributions that Danielle and Alex have made. Their journeys reflect many facets of the paths that their fellow alumni have forged, and many see their own achievements mirrored in theirs. They represent the type of determined, caring, and expansive leadership that we cultivate daily across our leadership development programs and we commend their continued service and commitment to the advancement of our community and the nation” said Marco A. Davis, CHCI President and CEO. 

“Throughout my journey—as a teacher, policy leader, and advocate—I’ve remained focused on learning, reflection, and continuous improvement,” said Ms. Gonzales. “I’ve worked hard, traveled far, and always sought to be inclusive, responsive, and grounded in both research and lived experience. This recognition from CHCI is a powerful validation of that calling and the work I’ve dedicated myself to for decades. While I know there is always more to do, I’m proud of what I’ve helped build—and proud to represent Albuquerque and New Mexico in this moment.” 

“This month is a moment to reflect on the rich history and ongoing contributions of the Hispanic community, while also recognizing that despite our instrumental role in our nation’s success, we have much work to do to tell our stories and make policy changes,” said Mr. Sarabia. “This award is really for my family: my grandparents whose sacrifice made my journey possible, my parents whose love made my dreams attainable, and my friends and colleagues who make me a better public servant. I’m very grateful for CHCI’s support.” 

The Medallion of Excellence for a Distinguished Alumnus recognizes a CHCI alum who has made an outstanding contribution to the Latino community. 

The CHCI Young Alumnus Award recognizes a CHCI alum who has completed a CHCI leadership program within the past fifteen years and exemplifies dedicated civic engagement and leadership.  

2025 Awardee Bios 

2025 CHCI Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient Danielle Gonzales 

 Danielle Gonzales is a nationally recognized education leader committed to advancing equity and opportunity for all students. She currently serves as a Senior Fellow with One Generation, where she leads efforts to improve educational outcomes for Native students across New Mexico—centering Indigenous knowledge, sovereignty, and community voice. 

Danielle completed the CHCI Congressional Internship Program in 1997, working for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus under the leadership of then-Representative and Caucus Chair Xavier Becerra. After graduating from George Washington University with degrees in Political Science and Spanish, she earned her M.A. in Education from the University of Notre Dame and began her career as a 4th grade teacher in Brownsville, TX. She went on to serve at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Aspen Institute, as Executive Director of New Mexico First, and on the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education, where she has served as Policy Chair and is currently Board President, as well as the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), which sets policy for The Nation’s Report Card and helps shape the future of large-scale assessments in the United States.  

2025 CHCI Young Alumnus Award Recipient Alex Sarabia 

Alex Sarabia is the Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director for Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Previously, he served as a senior advisor to Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, worked on presidential campaigns for Warren and former HUD Secretary Julián Castro, and was a speechwriter for Mayor Ron Nirenberg. Sarabia was a CHCI Public Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, he is a graduate of Boston College, earned a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago, and was a Fulbright-García Robles Scholar in Mexico City. 

Onsite press credentials and interview requests with select honorees, musical talent, participants, and organizational leadership may be available upon request. 

ABOUT CHCI 

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) is the premier Hispanic nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization in the country dedicated to developing the next generation of Latino leaders®. CHCI provides leadership, public service, and policy experiences to outstanding Latino/a/x students and young professionals, and convenes Members of Congress, other public officials, corporate executives, nonprofit advocates, and thought leaders to discuss issues facing the nation and the Hispanic community. Visit CHCI.org and follow us @CHCI on social media.