Luis Avila is a strategist, organizer, and cultural worker who has spent over two decades building power alongside communities impacted by social inequities. He is the founder and president of Iconico, a public engagement and strategy firm that works across sectors to design campaigns, leadership programs, and coalition spaces that center community-led change.

An immigrant from Sinaloa, Mexico, Luis began his organizing work as a teenager when he launched a youth newspaper in Querétaro to amplify student voices. Since then, he has led electoral and advocacy campaigns across the U.S., from Obama’s 2008 campaign to national education and immigration efforts. His past leadership includes roles as senior vice president at 270 Strategies and national program director at Stand for Children.

Luis is also the founder of Rumbo, a climate adaptation initiative rooted in the Sonoran Desert, and has incubated influential organizations like Instituto and ALL In Education. He serves on the boards of the Desert Botanical Garden and TNTP. Outside of work, Luis is a writer, dancer, and devoted film lover who believes that culture and joy are essential tools for social transformation.