Jose Calderon 

Jose Calderon is a distinguished Latino civil rights leader and former President & CEO of the Hispanic Federation, one of the most influential Latino nonprofit membership organizations in the United States, where he expanded the organization’s national impact and strengthened support for grassroots Latino nonprofits in areas such as health, education, economic empowerment, and civic engagement. During his tenure, he oversaw significant growth in programming, advocacy campaigns, and coalition-building that engaged policymakers, philanthropic leaders, and community organizers to elevate Latino civic participation and institutional capacity. Calderon’s leadership helped position the Federation as a national voice on equitable education access, immigrant rights, health care, and voter mobilization.  

Calderon graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Hunter College and later earned a Master of Arts and an Interdisciplinary Certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from St. John’s University, providing a strong foundation in social justice, cultural advocacy, and public policy. Since stepping down from the Hispanic Federation, he has served as a national advisor on democracy strengthening, social justice, and nonprofit leadership. In these roles, he continues to mentor emerging leaders, advise organizations serving underserved communities, and advance equity in public health, electoral participation, and climate justice.