Actor Belissa Escobedo, Senator María Elena Durazo and PepsiCo Executive Lupe De La Cruz III will be recognized at LA Plaza’s Quinceañera Gala
From left to right, Actor Belissa Escobedo, California State Senator María Elena Durazo, and PepsiCo Executive Lupe De La Cruz III
LOS ANGELES — (Thursday, September 10, 2026) — LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes will celebrate its 15th-anniversary with a Quinceañera Gala on Saturday, October 10, honoring three Mexican American leaders for their contributions to public service, entertainment, and corporate leadership.
The gala will recognize actor Belissa Escobedo, PepsiCo Vice President of Government Affairs and Corporate Citizenship Lupe De La Cruz III, and California State Senator María Elena Durazo. The event will take place on LA Plaza’s campus in downtown Los Angeles during Hispanic Heritage Month.
“Our honorees exemplify the many ways Mexican Americans and Latinos enrich life in Los Angeles and beyond,” said Tracy Serrano, interim CEO of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. “We are delighted to recognize their achievements as we celebrate this important milestone for LA Plaza.”
“Belissa Escobedo, Lupe De La Cruz III, and Senator Durazo, have elevated Latino voices across public service, entertainment and corporate leadership,” said Gala Chair Blanca Aguirre. “Their accomplishments embody the leadership, representation, and commitment to community that LA Plaza seeks to celebrate.”
Escobedo is a Mexican American actor born and raised in East Los Angeles. She played Milagro in DC Comics’ first Latino superhero movie, Blue Beetle, and Izzy in Hocus Pocus 2. She also starred in the Latino-led dramedy The Baker and the Beauty. Her additional credits include Ryan Murphy’s series American Horror Stories; the Catherine Hardwicke-directed series Don’t Look Deeper; and the films Sex Appeal and Sid Is Dead. She credits her success to the steadfast support of her mother, family, friends, and the Latino community.
María Elena Durazo is a longtime labor and immigrant-rights leader who was born into a family of migrant farmworkers. She became involved in the Chicano Movement early in her life and has dedicated much of her career to the labor movement. She currently represents California’s 26th Senate District.
Receiving the Gloria Molina Champion Award is Lupe De La Cruz, who currently serves as PepsiCo’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Corporate Citizenship. He leads public-policy and corporate-citizenship partnerships that strengthen the company’s engagement with policymakers, community leaders, and Latino communities nationwide. He is a longtime supporter of Latino-led organizations and initiatives.
The evening’s Quinceañera theme, where they’ll be honored, draws on the coming-of-age tradition celebrated by many Latino families and communities, marking LA Plaza’s transition into its next chapter after 15 years of preserving and sharing the histories and contributions of Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and Latinos in Los Angeles.
Guests at LA Plaza’s Quinceañera Gala will enjoy a performance by Grammy-nominated band La Santa Cecilia, known for its distinctive blend of Latin music, rock, and world music.
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes' Quinceañera Gala is presented by AltaMed. First Citizens Bank is the exclusive reception sponsor. Additional sponsors include Bank of America, Corte de Honor Sponsor; Google and SoCalGas, Madrina de la Quinceañera Sponsors; Del Rio Family Foundation and PCI, Padrinos de la Quinceañera Sponsors; Los Angeles Community College District, Lupita Arriola, TELACU, Pepsi and Walmart, Familia de LA Plaza Sponsors; and AARP, Adventist Health White Memorial, Guernsey | Scheiner LLP, and Ramirez & Co., Inc., Círculo de la Comunidad Sponsors.
For information on sponsorships and tickets, contact [email protected].
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