The Imaginistas Initiative, a five-year program, is commissioning 25 new plays that spotlight Latino experiences, including themes like immigration, identity, Afro-Latino stories, and gender, aiming to transform how Latino stories are told in American theater.

The Latino Theater Company (LTC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025, marking four decades of dedication to storytelling, representation, and cultural diversity in the performing arts.

Founded in 1985, LTC has focused on exploring the U.S. Latina/o/x experience through contemporary works that highlight social issues and include diverse communities such as Latina/o/x, First Nation, Black, Asian American, Jewish American, and LGBTQ+ groups.

LTC operates the historic Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) in Downtown LA, which has produced 155 plays, created over 4,125 local jobs, and supported nearly 1,000 nonprofit organizations since 2007.

The Impact Initiative, launched at East Los Angeles College and expanded across the Los Angeles Community College District, offers free tickets, master classes, and artist discussions to community college students to foster cultural identity and belonging.

Former Impact Initiative participant Galilea Salinas credits the program with boosting her confidence and opening opportunities as a young actress and advocate for Latino representation in theater.

Valenzuela emphasizes the importance of diverse narratives to challenge stereotypes, encouraging Latino creators to tell their own stories and reshape the cultural narrative around Latino communities in the U.S.