La Piana Consulting

Since joining our team in 2021, Humberto Camarena has brought lived experience, curiosity, and creativity to his work with clients. He has played a key role in shaping Vías, our bilingual and bicultural consulting practice for the Latine social sector. His approach is marked by a collaborative spirit, whether as a thought partner, strategic facilitator, or connector to resources. In this interview, Humberto reflects on his path from working with families experiencing homelessness to consulting with nonprofits on big-picture change, the teaching practices he carries into his client work, and how art fuels his creativity outside of the office. 📖 Read the full conversation to get to know Humberto and the perspective he brings to La Piana’s work with nonprofits, foundations, and social sector leaders: https://lnkd.in/e75irmjg

Thrilled to be at #HANOCON2025 with Jennifer Cornish Creed and Melissa Miyashiro. 🌸 Thank you for inviting me to speak on sustained collaboration. Great audience, great questions, and you can’t beat the view!

This week, we released our Strategic Roadmap for the coming years. I am excited to start the implementation process as we continue to advocate for better health for the disability community. I want to especially thank our board and staff for their input through this process and La Piana Consulting for their guidance.

Hispanic Heritage Month + Why We Say “Latine” This Latine Heritage Month, we honor the richness, diversity, and contributions of Latine communities across the globe. At a time when Latines and immigrants are under direct attack in the U.S., visibility and celebration are powerful acts of resilience and important parts of sustaining our communities. At La Piana, our Vias team — consultants who bring their own bicultural lived experience to our work — are proud to lead with cultural understanding and celebrate the complexity of Latine identity. You may notice we use “Latine” instead of Hispanic, Latino/a, or Latinx. Here’s why: • Latine is a gender-inclusive, Spanish-language-rooted term that resonates more naturally across our diverse communities. • It reflects the evolving language of identity while being mindful of cultural nuance and accessibility. • Most importantly: it’s a term many of us choose to describe ourselves. We also recognize, however, that identity is personal, and there’s meaningful variety among us. We invite you to read more about the incredible consultants behind Vias and the personal stories that shape our work: 🔗 Celebrating Latine Identity and Launching Vias: https://lnkd.in/eFRa-T6Y 👇 How do you describe your identity — and how has it shaped your work? We’d love to hear your reflections. #HispanicHeritageMonth #LatineVoices #CulturallyCompetentConsulting #LatineNonprofits

Leadership transitions are never easy, for the executive or the organization. Drawing from more than four decades in leadership roles, including his own founder-to-successor handoff, David La Piana shares candid reflections and four practical keys to making an E.D. transition work. From planning early, to balancing personal and organizational needs, to supporting (but not steering) the search for your successor, and knowing when to truly step back, these lessons apply whether you are moving on to a new challenge or stepping into retirement. For every leader, and every board preparing for change, this piece is both a roadmap and a reminder: transitions done well leave organizations stronger. 👉 Read the full blog here:

By 2029, will your organization be seen as a beacon of hope, or will you wish you had done more? Leaders must prepare now: review your mission, build resilience, and strengthen alliances. Read the latest E.D. Notes for the Field for a roadmap. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/eMn-jp_N

Join me on September 24 to discuss all things strategic collaboration. The notion of being stronger together is a timely, particularly in unpredictable times. From informal to formal partnerships, collaboration can be a wonderful way to foster sustainability and increase mission impact.

How mergers are important today. https://lnkd.in/gKUGGu2i

When Aster Aging, Inc., AZCEND, and Tempe Community Action Agency, Inc. joined forces, their goal was simple but bold: support older adults at risk of homelessness in Arizona’s East Valley. What started as a joint grant application has grown into the East Valley Senior Home Sharing (EVSHS) Program, a collaborative model built on trust, shared staff and resources, and a commitment to serving the community with creativity and resilience. In this case study, learn how the partners designed a shared services structure, navigated leadership transitions, and leveraged funder relationships to expand their impact far beyond what any one organization could have achieved alone. Their story highlights the power of collaboration to spark innovation, strengthen communities, and provide sustainable solutions to pressing needs. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ecEgU82d