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A Celebration of Legacy, Labor, and Los Angeles
Join the Miguel Contreras Foundation on Tuesday, May 5th, for our 2026 Cinco de Mayo Awards: BLOOM, honoring the legacy of Miguel Contreras, the strength of the Los Angeles labor movement, and the resilience of our city.
After a difficult year for Los Angeles, BLOOM is a celebration of renewal, joy, and collective power, recognizing how far we’ve come and recommitting to the future we are building together.
Enjoy an unforgettable evening with live music and dancing, inspiring speakers and awards, great food, an open bar, and the chance to connect with labor leaders, organizers, artists, and community members from across LA.
Come celebrate our city, our movement, and the work ahead - and help LA bloom!
As the main fundraiser for the Miguel Contreras Foundation, in partnership with the LA Fed, your support helps sustain programs that empower workers and their families.
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We look forward to celebrating with you!
Our 2026 Awardees
We are proud to honor Ernesto Medrano, Executive Secretary of the LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council, as the recipient of the Miguel Contreras Award at our 2026 Cinco de Mayo Awards!
A lifelong labor leader from East LA, Ernesto represents over 160,000 union workers and has led efforts to expand access to union careers through Project Labor and Community Workforce Agreements across Southern California.
His work continues to open doors and build power for working communities - we’re honored to celebrate his impact! 🎉
As Executive Director of CHIRLA, Salas has been a leading force in the immigrant rights movement, advancing policies like in-state tuition for undocumented students and driver’s licenses for all Californians, while empowering immigrants to organize and advocate for themselves.
Rooted in her own lived experience, her leadership reflects the spirit of this year’s theme: Bloom - growth, resilience, and the power of community. In a year that has tested Los Angeles in so many ways, we are especially honored to celebrate her leadership.
The late Kent Wong was a visionary leader in the Los Angeles labor movement and a lifelong champion for workers and immigrant rights, as the recipient of the Mike Garcia Award at MCF’s 2026 Cinco de Mayo Awards. A close ally of Miguel Contreras and a founding supporter of the Miguel Contreras Foundation, Kent dedicated his life to building power, opportunity, and justice for working people.
His legacy continues to inspire generations of organizers, students, and community leaders across Los Angeles and beyond.
WHERE YOUR SUPPORT GOES
Your ticket to the Miguel Contreras Cinco de Mayo Awards does more than secure a seat at the celebration — it directly supports the next generation of workers in Los Angeles.
Your support helps make possible:
🎓 Scholarships for Career Training
Covering tuition, program fees, certifications, and equipment for participants pursuing careers in industries like healthcare, entertainment, and logistics.
🤝 Case Management & Career Guidance
Dedicated staff work one-on-one with participants to navigate training programs, resumes, and interviews, helping them to overcome barriers, and successfully transition into careers.
💛 Supportive Services
Assistance with transportation, stipends, emergency needs, and other critical supports that help participants stay enrolled and succeed.
🚀 Workforce Pathways to Union Careers
Programs that connect participants directly with apprenticeship opportunities, employers, and unions that offer family-sustaining wages and long-term career growth.
Together, we are investing in opportunity youth and adult workers pursuing pathways into good-paying union careers, strengthening families, and building a more equitable future for Los Angeles.
La Santa Cecilia is a Mexican American band founded in 2007 in Los Angeles, California, whose musical influences are found in genres such as bolero, folk, cumbia, ranchero, norteño, jazz, among others; and a unique style that gives shine to their music. Formed by La Marisoul (vocals), Pepe Carlos (guitar and accordion), Alex Bendaña (bass) and Miguel Ramírez (percussions). Their talent has led them to be Grammy award winners in 2014.
With more than 100 presentations during 2023 and 2024 between Mexico and United States. La Santa Cecilia has gained great recognition by participating in international festivals such as the New Orleans Jazz Festival in 2025, and the Cervantino International Festival in 2016 and 2023, as well as important festivals in Mexico such as Tecate Pa 'l Norte and Vive Latino. In addition to performing in emblematic venues in the United States and Mexico such as Teatro Metropolitan (Mexico City) and The Wiltern (Los Angeles). Their talent has led them to tour in Spain, Portugal and Brazil, spreading their musical culture to other countries.
CHECK OUT A SNEAK PEEK OF THEIR TALENTS BELOW...
Carlos y Charlos are two Los Angeles county born multi instrumentalists, Juan Carlos Reynoso (bajo sexto, first voice) and Charles De Castro (diatonic accordion, 2nd voice) who initially came together to play just for fun, the songs they love from idols of Norteño like Los Alegres de Terán and Carlos y José to Texas accordion legends like Santiago Jimenez Sr. and Narciso Martinez. Their blend of traditional polkas, waltzes and classic norteño repertoire seemed to light up a party and cheer people up.
Soon they found themselves in demand for all types of cultural events that ima en around So Cal. Adding their longtime friend and fellow music partner Patrick Morrison on Tololoche, they now continue to grow their audience. From 2023-2024 they had the privilege of touring and opening for artists such as La Santa Cecilia, Manny Tololoche, La Lom , Son Rompe Pera and Very Be Careful. Playing for bigger audiences all over California, Arizona, Tijuana and Mexico City.
See their music below!