Nevada News & Views readers will have access to 50 reserved spots for the Oct. 14 event.
America’s 250th birthday is getting a Las Vegas celebration this month, with a strong Latino flavor.
Americans for Prosperity Nevada will host “Shining City on a Hill,” an America250 event on Oct. 14. The special guests are Emmy Award-winning journalist Myrka Dellanos, Hall of Fame boxing referee Joe Cortez, and LIBRE Initiative President Daniel Garza.
Nevada News & Views readers are invited too. Organizers have set aside 50 spots just for NN&V readers. The evening includes free entertainment, food and drinks.
President Ronald Reagan often described America as a “shining city on a hill,” and he made it the centerpiece of his 1989 farewell address. To Reagan, the phrase meant a free, confident country that people around the world could look to with hope.
Organizers say the evening is about celebrating the principles that shaped America and encouraging people to carry them forward.
Part of a National Push
The Las Vegas event is part of AFP’s “One Small Step” campaign. It is a $20 million national effort tied to America’s 250th birthday and the ideas the country was built on, including individual liberty, self-government and personal responsibility.
The name borrows from Neil Armstrong’s famous words on the moon. The idea is simple. Big change starts with small steps taken by ordinary people.
AFP, The LIBRE Initiative and Concerned Veterans for America are holding 12 major events around the country, with stops planned in places like Springfield, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. The campaign also includes grassroots work and an eight-figure TV and digital ad effort.
The series kicked off in January at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, just steps from where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Now the celebration comes west.
A Star-Studded Lineup
The Nevada lineup features three people with strong ties to the Hispanic community.
Myrka Dellanos is one of the best-known names in Spanish-language American media. Her television and radio career spans decades.
Baseball fans will recognize Orlando “El Duque” Hernández right away. The Cuban-born pitcher was a key part of the New York Yankees dynasty. He won three straight World Series titles with the Yankees in 1998, 1999, and 2000. He added a fourth with the Chicago White Sox in 2005.
And in Las Vegas, Joe Cortez needs little introduction. The longtime local became one of boxing’s most famous referees. He worked major fights with some of the biggest names in the sport. His career earned him a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Daniel Garza is the president and founder of The LIBRE Initiative, a group that works to engage Latino Americans in civic life. LIBRE is one of AFP’s partners in the One Small Step campaign, and Garza also spoke at the Philadelphia kickoff.
Why It Matters
Think of a family reunion. It is a chance to remember where you came from and talk about where you are headed. That is the spirit AFP is going for.
The United States marked 250 years since the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. AFP wants to use the milestone to look forward, too, by asking Americans which founding principles they want to carry into the next 250 years.
AFP President and CEO Emily Seidel has explained why the group thinks that matters now.
“People’s belief that they can reach the American dream is declining,” she said at the Philadelphia kickoff.
For conservatives, that is a warning sign. Ideas like limited government and personal freedom do not keep themselves alive. Each generation has to learn them and choose them.
The event also speaks to Nevada’s large Hispanic community. LIBRE Executive Director Sandra Benitez has said Hispanic communities understand the promise of America on a deeply personal level.
Many Nevada families came here chasing the American Dream, and the event’s lineup reflects that community.
How to Get Involved
AFP says the goal is to get people more active in their own communities. That can mean attending a local meeting, volunteering, or simply talking with neighbors about the issues.
Nevada News & Views readers who want to attend should sign up soon, since the 50 reserved spots are limited.
When: October 14, 2026, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Where: Emerald at Queensridge, 891 S. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89145
RSVP: A250Nevada.org
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI.
