Adelante con Orgullo: A Tío’s Journey of Service and Healing

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, we’re making space for tío energy, the kind that’s rooted in service, shaped by community, and driven by corazón.

In this powerful conversation, Adri is joined by Armando Salud-Ambriz, Director of External Relations at Yolo Food Bank, former Deputy of Elections, and proud first-gen son of immigrants. Together, they reflect on what it means to lead with purpose, honor your roots, and break generational patterns, not just for yourself, but for everyone who comes after you.

From small-town beginnings to seats at decision-making tables, Armando shares how he learned to carry both pride and grief, pressure and compassion, and how showing up as your full self is its own form of resistance.

This episode is for the leaders with soft hearts. For the ones who’ve been the only one in the room. For those of us learning to rest, release resentment, and build legacy with intention.

Together, we talk about:

• Growing up as a working-class immigrant and claiming space as a civic leader
• Being the youngest and only Latino in decision-making spaces
• Choosing service over ego and impact over image
• Letting go of rencor and embracing healing as a man of color
• Creating the Adelante con Orgullo scholarship for immigrant students
• Reimagining what leadership and legacy can look like for first-gens

Armando reminds us that presence is powerful. And that no matter where we come from, we all deserve to move adelante con orgullo.

This is tío wisdom in real time. Tune in when you’re ready to remember that showing up with heart is the legacy.

👤 About Armando Salud-Ambriz

Armando Salud-Ambriz (he/him) is a dynamic and accomplished civic leader with a deep commitment to service, equity, and community care. He currently serves as the Director of External Relations at Yolo Food Bank, where he continues his work uplifting underrepresented voices and building stronger systems of support.

Previously, Armando served as Deputy of Elections for Yolo County, where he led key efforts in elections management and accessibility. He is a Certified Elections/Registration Administrator, a California Registered Election Official, and a Credentialed California County Senior Executive.

Armando holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of the Pacific at McGeorge School of Law and is the youngest person ever elected to the Yolo County Board of Education. He serves on national civic engagement committees, is a founding board member of the Greater Sacramento Chapter of ALPFA, and was recently honored as a Top Latino Changemaker by The Sacramento Bee.

Connect with Armando:

• Instagram: @man2z08
• Adelante con Orgullo Scholarship: Check with your counselor if the application is available for your school.