Celebrating 15 Years of Community, Power, and Hope

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Celebrating 15 Years of Community, Power, and Hope *

Join Encuentro and the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center for a joyful quinceañera-inspired fundraiser honoring 15 years of impact, partnership, and immigrant community power.

Saturday, October 24, 2026

5:00 - 10:00 PM

Sandia Resort & Casino

Inspired by the tradition of a quinceañera, this one-night-only celebration honors a collective journey of resilience, growth, and hope while recognizing the clients, members, volunteers, staff, partners, advocates, and supporters whose leadership has helped strengthen immigrant communities across New Mexico.

The evening's centerpiece will feature an exclusive fireside chat with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa, founder of Futuro Media, NMILC Executive Director Teague González, and Encuentro Executive Director Andrea Plaza. Together they will explore the past, present and future of immigrant justice in New Mexico and beyond. 

This celebration will include dinner, live music from El Gozao, a silent and live auction, dancing and a room filled with community leaders, advocates, partners, and friends from across New Mexico.

Purchase Tickets

 Tickets for the Quince Gala are SOLD OUT!

Thank you and see you on October 24!

Other ways to support the Quince Gala

Can’t attend the gala? You can still help make the Quince a meaningful celebration of NMILC’s 15 years of service.

Bidding is officially open for NMILC and Encuentro's virtual Quinceañera Silent Auction!  

Even if you're not attending our Quinceañera Gala on October 24, you can still bid on one-of-a-kind auction packages between now and Monday, October 26.  

Check out all of the amazing items here:

Virtual Silent Auction

Your contribution supports the event and helps NMILC continue providing accessible legal services, education, and advocacy for immigrant communities across New Mexico.

Donate to the Quince

Thank You to Our Sponsors

We are grateful to the individuals, businesses, foundations, and organizations that made the Quince Gala possible. This generous support allows us to continue supporting families for the next 15 years and beyond!

Justicia Sponsors

Libertad Sponsors

The Anixter Family 

Doris Goodwin Walbridge Foundation

Oportunidad Sponsors

Speaker Javier Martinez

Women For GOOD

Joanie Griffin, Katie Gardner, Arishanda Campbell and Lynn Trojahn

Comunidad Sponsors

Gorvetzian-Croker Family

In-Kind Sponsors

About Maria Hinojosa

Maria Hinojosa is the Pulitzer Prize-winning founder of Futuro Media based in New York City. She is the anchor and Executive Producer of Latino USA, and producer of the Pulitzer Prize-winning podcast Suave.

As the first Latina reporter for NPR, Maria Hinojosa was among the first to report on youth violence in urban communities on a national scale.

During her eight years as CNN’s urban affairs correspondent, Hinojosa often took viewers into communities rarely shown on television.

In 2010, she founded Futuro Media, an independent, nonprofit newsroom with the mission to create multimedia content focused on the complexity of an increasingly diverse country and world. As the anchor and executive producer of the Peabody Award-winning show Latino USA, and as a contributor to MSNBC, Hinojosa has informed millions of listeners about the changing cultural and political landscape in America and abroad.

She is an elected Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has won dozens of awards, most recently, the George Polk Career Award, the I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence, the Public Media Journalists Association Leo C. Lee Award, and the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award. She is the author of four books, most recently a young readers' edition of her critically acclaimed memoir, Once I Was You.

With over 30 years in front of the camera and microphone, Maria Hinojosa has shaped conversations on culture and politics for millions as anchor and executive producer of the Peabody Award-winning Latino USA and frequent contributor on MSNBC. Maria is also an author and has earned nearly every accolade, including the Pulitzer Prize and the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, for her commitment to journalistic excellence.

Event Details

  • A Fireside Chat with Maria Hinojosa
    Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, founder of Futuro Media, anchor and executive producer of Latino USA, and producer of the Pulitzer Prize-winning podcast Suave.

    Live Music by El Gozao

    El Gozao is a high-energy cumbia family band based in Albuquerque, known for playing popular cumbia hits and original songs.

    Dinner

    Live and Silent Auction

  • 5:00 PM | Registration & Cocktail Reception

    Come early and enjoy time together before dinner. Our reception will feature mariachi, music, community connection and a cash bar. The bar will accept both cash and credit cards.

    6:30 PM | Celebrating 15 Years – Welcome & Cultural Opening

    We will officially kick off our celebration with a beautiful folklórico presentation featuring Fiesta Mexicana as we welcome our community and begin this once-in-a-generation celebration.

    6:45 PM | Dinner & Anniversary Program

    Enjoy a plated dinner as we reflect on 15 years of building community power together.

    Our program will include community acknowledgments, a special anniversary video celebrating our journey, and the unveiling of Gemelas, an original painting commissioned for this milestone celebration by New Mexico artist Jade Leyva.

    7:15 PM | Fireside Conversation

    One of the highlights of our evening will be an inspiring and intimate conversation featuring award-winning journalist and Futuro Media founder María Hinojosa, Encuentro Founding Executive Director Andrea Plaza, and NMILC Executive Director Teague González.

    Together, they will explore immigrant justice, storytelling, leadership, belonging, community power, and what the next chapter can hold for New Mexico's immigrant communities.

    8:15 PM | Community Investment & Art Auction

    As our formal program comes to a close, we will hear a powerful community testimonial and invite those gathered to invest in what comes next for Encuentro and NMILC.

    We will also auction the original Gemelas painting by Jade Leyva to the evening's highest bidder.

    8:30–10:00 PM | ¡A Bailar! Live Music & Dancing

    Then it's time to celebrate!

    We’ll turn up the music with El Gozao and fill the dance floor with Latin rhythms, energy and alegría.

    Get ready to dance, laugh and make some wonderful memories together!

  • Where: Sandia Resort & Casino – Grand Ballroom
    Entrance: Main Hotel Lobby entrance
    Parking: Complimentary self-parking & valet

    Getting There: Sandia Resort & Casino is easily accessible directly from Interstate 25 at Exit 234 (Tramway/Roy Avenue).

    Important – Which Entrance to Use: For the most direct access to the Grand Ballroom and pre-function foyer, please enter through the Main Hotel Lobby entrance, rather than the main casino entrance.

    Accessibility: Sandia Resort and the ballroom level are ADA-accessible, including accessible entrances, pathways and restrooms. If you shared a specific accessibility need through your RSVP, our team is working to accommodate it.

    Smoking: Sandia is a 100% smoke-free indoor facility. Designated smoking areas are available outside.

    Safety & Security: The safety and comfort of our guests and community are important to us. Additional security will be present throughout the evening to support the event and our guests.

  • Parking: Complimentary self-parking & valet

    Parking: Complimentary self-parking and valet parking are available for all resort and event guests. Valet drop-off is located directly at the main hotel entrance.

    Uber/Lyft: Rideshare drop-off and pick-up are available at the main hotel entrance circle.

  • Dress to celebrate!

    We invite you to dress to impress and bring your festive flair—cocktail attire, colorful dresses, suits, guayaberas, dressy separates, or whatever makes you feel comfortable, elegant and ready to celebrate.

    And don't forget your dancing shoes. This is a Quinceañera, after all!

  • Throughout the evening, guests will have opportunities to support the work of Encuentro and NMILC and help us build the next chapter together.

    In addition to bidding on the original Gemelas painting during our live program, guests will have the opportunity to purchase signed prints of Jade Leyva's commissioned artwork at the end of the program.

    Explore the Online Auction: Silent Auction

    The online auction will remain open through Monday, October 26 at 8:00pm MST.

    How to Contribute:
    Opportunities to make a gift to Encuentro and NMILC will be available throughout the evening. Your generosity helps strengthen immigrant justice, opportunity, leadership, services and belonging in New Mexico.

    Support our Organizations : Donate to the Quince

  • We know plans can change! If anything about your RSVP has changed since you registered, please let us know as soon as possible so our team can keep our guest list and event arrangements up to date.  Our team will be monitoring this inbox through the event.

    This includes:

    • You or one of your guests can no longer attend

    • You need to substitute a different guest

    • A guest's name or spelling needs to be corrected for their nametag

    • Your meal selection or dietary/allergy information has changed

    • You have a new accessibility or ADA-related need

    • Your language preference has changed

    • You have another change that our event team should know about before Saturday

    Please email quince@encuentronm.org

FAQ

  • Registration for individual tickets is now open. Ticket sales will be available until October 15 or sold out.

  • Yes. The page and event materials should support both English and Spanish access.

  • We are no longer accepting sponsorships, but you can still support the gala by making a donation.