The Festival of the Diaspora

“If you’re not at the table, chances are you’re on the menu.” I first heard this from Casey Family Programs Dr. William Bell, and it has fueled my purpose ever since. But over the years, I’ve come to realize something even more important: we don’t have to wait for an invitation to someone else’s table—we can build our own. At this year’s The Festival of the Diaspora, we didn’t just gather. We co-created. We brought together disruptive changemakers—entrepreneurs, leaders, and visionaries—who aren’t waiting for permission to lead. Through Casa Innovation, we are proving that when underestimated communities take ownership of their futures, they don’t just succeed—they transform entire systems. But here’s the balance: we must know when to work within systems and when to disrupt them. We must learn to navigate spaces of power without becoming of them. And most importantly, we must recognize when it’s time to stop knocking on closed doors and start building new ones.

For the first time, the Festival of the Diaspora featured a Wellness Space—a dedicated area for well-being led by Dr. Alex Salazar and physiotherapist Amina Tasnim Baptiste. Health professionals in medicine, dermatology, physiotherapy, and more provided specialized care, ensuring attendees felt supported and aware of the importance of good health. Additionally, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering diasporic talent and entrepreneurs in the health sector, promoting well-being and a better quality of life. #FestivalOfTheDiaspora2025 #WellnessSpace #FOTDMED #FOTD2025 Cordell Carter, Esq. ?? Fisiofuturismo Terapia domiciliarias Maria Camila Velasquez Casa Innovation

? What do I hope people take away from the The Festival of the Diaspora? ? A renewed sense of belonging. A deeper connection to our shared histories. And, most importantly, the power of seeing ourselves—not just as participants in the global economy, but as leaders shaping its future. This festival is more than an event—it’s a movement. It’s about investing in underestimated communities, elevating Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and migrant entrepreneurs, and ensuring that our Diaspora is recognized not just for our resilience, but for our leadership. When we come together, we don’t just rise—we lead. We build. We thrive. And we ensure that the next generation sees a world where they belong at every table. If you were part of this year’s Festival, I’d love to hear from you. What did you take away from this experience? ???? Casa Innovation #FestivalOfTheDiaspora #CasaInnovation #DiasporaConnections #GlobalLeadership #Entrepreneurship #SocialImpact #WeFlourishTogether #EquityInAction #CommunityLeadership #MigrantVoices

Whether we come to the Americas by force or choice, The Festival of the Diaspora community of leaders is guided by a desire to celebrate those that have come before us. We honor them by pursuing the same ambition - which is to live in a land where ALL BELONG and enjoy multiple pathways to THRIVE! Casa Innovation

I took a few days to find the right words… and the word is THANK YOU. Thank you to everyone who made the The Festival of the Diaspora possible—to Casa Innovation and the Ecosystem, to the team Catherine Campos, MPS Yesenia Leudo Liseth Maria Martinez Cuesta Santiago Muriel Bedoya to the leaders of this movement, Maria Camila Velasquez Cordell Carter, Esq. ?? to those who believed in the vision, but more importantly, in the process. To the board members Jevin D. Hodge Whitney Buchmann Diana A. Buena?os Mena Tatiana Torres Francisco Gomez Lynette Rawlings, PhD Sandra Mosquera Vargas To the volunteers Selena Chávez Anthony Robinson Jae-Lynn Owsley Veronica Rodriguez Viveros Thank you all for allowing me to learn and grow by your side before, during and after this #FOTD2025 Thank you for allowing us to bring this vision to life together. This festival has been a space of connections, learning, and transformation. Where we connect, celebrate, co-create, collaborate. It has been a celebration of entrepreneurs, the staff, the volunteers, the attendees, and of course, my family, who always stands by my side. Being the LATAM Program Manager of this Festival has given me a deep understanding of its impact and purpose. Through the Festival of the Diaspora, we create a space where meaningful connections flourish, where we celebrate humanity in all its expressions, learn together, and co-create new opportunities. This gathering not only strengthens collaboration but also drives growth and brings transformative ideas to life. It is worth it because it inspires us, brings us together, and allows us to build a future full of possibilities. I close this chapter with a full heart and the certainty that we are ready for the next one. Because this doesn’t stop here. Because we keep building together. Because when you plant with purpose, the harvest is unstoppable. ? See you at the next edition of the Festival of the Diaspora. Let’s go for more! Somos uno! We are one!?

“In a time when fear, uncertainty, and heavy narratives weigh on us all, it’s easy to fall into a doomsday mentality. The noise around us can make it feel like efforts to foster belonging, collaborative spaces, and inclusive perspectives are under attack. But being at our The Festival of the Diaspora reminded me that this is not the time to retreat—it’s a call to keep moving forward with even more intention.” Discover in the following article the reflections of María Velásquez, Founder & CEO of Casa Innovation and Co-CEO of the Festival of the Diaspora, on our Festival in Medellín.

We want to keep sharing the unforgettable moments of the 2025 Festival of the Diaspora with you! Once again, as part of our Festival, Black Ambition recognized the talent and innovation of five extraordinary Afro-Colombian entrepreneurs from different regions of the country, awarding their proposals for their impact and creativity. These visionary women inspired us with their projects: ?? Yulieth Brand (Innovaequipos) – 1st place for her groundbreaking project in technology and clean water access. ?? Magda Rodríguez (MentalMente) – 2nd place for her venture focused on mental health and specialized psychology. ?? Viviana Eloísa Gómez (Cerveza Caderona) – 3rd place, taking the brewing tradition to the next level. ?? Alejandra Taborda (Blanco & Negro) – 4th place, standing out in creativity and design. ??? Leidy Córdoba (Embambada) – 5th place, celebrating cultural heritage through her brand. Swipe through and relive with us the exciting moments from the grand opening night of the Festival of the Diaspora Medellín! Cordell Carter, Esq. ?? Felecia Hatcher Maria Camila Velasquez Jermeen Sherman Casa Innovation

Many will see the sights and sounds of the The Festival of the Diaspora and not recognize that many, many value-driven leaders and organizations came together to make this annual convening happen. Special thanks to Aspen Institute Project on Belonging, The Policy Academies, National Black Empowerment Council, Events DC, Black Ambition, Google, Bureau de Medellín, PROCOLOMBIA, Alcaldía de Medellín and #AnaviGroup. (Special s/o to the talented Jae-Lynn Owsley for this video.)

As I watch this video, I feel two things simultaneously: exhaustion (yes, it was that intense!) and immense gratitude for what we accomplished together. Leading the FOURTH The Festival of the Diaspora 2025 alongside my partner in impact Cordell Carter, Esq. ?? through Casa Innovation was an honor and privilege beyond words. We brought together 300+ leaders from across the Americas, creating a space that impacted more than 500 individuals—a gathering that was so much more than just a conference. This was a space for action, innovation, and meaningful connection, and the numbers tell the story: ? ?? 200 entrepreneurs showcasing brilliance and innovation ? ?? Nearly 300 vendors, performers, models, and designers sharing their talents ? ?? Nearly 1,000 million pesos invested directly into the Colombian entrepreneurial ecosystem ? ?? A $25,000 Afro-Colombian Pitch Competition with our incredible partners at Black Ambition ? ?? Hosting our Events DC Fellow from Brazil, thanks to sponsorship from Events DC ? ?? Announcing a new and exciting partnership with Events DC ? ?? The launch of the Techcademics Institute Fellowship—an initiative designed to uplift future tech innovators This wasn’t just an entrepreneurial ecosystem gathering—it was a powerhouse of leadership, community, and innovation that honored diasporic stories of resilience and impact. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who made this possible, and a huge shoutout to our amazing intern, Jae-Lynn Owsley who captured these unforgettable moments with such heart and talent. To all the entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers who showed up—you are the reason this festival is what it is. Let’s continue building bridges across the Americas. Angie M. Gates Megan R. Smith Al Motley Jr. Felecia Hatcher Jermeen Sherman #FestivalOfTheDiaspora #FOTD2025 #Leadership #GlobalImpact #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #SocialImpact #DiasporaLeadership #BlackAmbition #EventsDC #Techcademics #ColombianEcosystem #AfroColombianEmpowerment #GlobalLeadership

DAY 4| El Festival de la Diáspora no solo permite conectar con líderes, sino también con el territorio que nos acoge a?o tras a?o. Desde el recorrido por la finca cafetera hasta la visita a la Comuna 13, cada experiencia dejó una huella en nuestros visitantes, marcando su vivencia en Medellín. Cerramos este gran encuentro con una inolvidable gala de clausura. ?Aquí les compartimos nuestros mejores momentos! Casa Innovation