Honoring Our CEO: Ire Diaz Recognized by PhilanthropyMiami and the Nonprofit Executive Alliance

We are deeply grateful to PhilanthropyMiami and the Nonprofit Executive Alliance (NEA) for honoring our CEO, Ire Diaz, with their Member Spotlight recognition. This spotlight is more than a personal accolade—it is a powerful affirmation of the Advocacy Network on Disabilities’ mission to build a community where everyone belongs. Being highlighted by the regional hub that convenes, trains, and uplifts nonprofit CEOs across South Florida underscores that disability inclusion is central to our community’s future, not an afterthought. For our team, families, and partners, this recognition shines a light on decades of advocacy for people with disabilities and reminds us that when leaders like Ire are seen and celebrated, the issues our families face are seen and elevated too.

Leading with a vision: a world where everyone belongs

Inside our organization, Ire often sums up her leadership philosophy in one simple, powerful vision: a world where everyone belongs.

As CEO of the Advocacy Network on Disabilities (AND), she champions inclusion, services, and systems-level change for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities across Miami-Dade. Our roots go back to the early 1970s, when families came together to demand better options for their loved ones with disabilities—and today, we continue that legacy by working alongside people with disabilities and their families to expand access, reduce barriers, and transform systems that were not built with them in mind.

That work is especially urgent now, at a time when hard-won progress in disability rights is being challenged at both the state and federal levels. Ire’s leadership keeps us focused on what matters most: making sure that people with disabilities are present at every table where decisions are made, and that our community systems—education, housing, healthcare, transportation, employment—are designed so that everyone can participate fully.

Finding community in the Nonprofit Executive Alliance

For Ire, joining the Nonprofit Executive Alliance meant stepping into a community of leaders committed to moving Miami-Dade and the broader South Florida region forward together.

The NEA is an impact coalition of nonprofit CEOs from Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties who come together to advance leadership, strengthen local communities, and provide a unified voice for the nonprofit sector. Through its partnership with PhilanthropyMiami, NEA now connects a network of more than 150 nonprofit CEOs working across the Keys and South Florida to build a stronger, more resilient region.

In Ire’s words, “We are stronger together.”

“NEA has given me a deep sense of connection with other leaders and partners—people with whom I can exchange ideas and receive meaningful feedback. Some challenges are unique to CEOs, and having a space for collaboration and support is essential.”

Leadership can be isolating, especially in times of rapid change and rising community need. The NEA offers a space where CEOs can speak candidly, share resources, and explore solutions together—whether the issue is workforce burnout, changing policy landscapes, or ensuring equity in who receives services. That sense of shared responsibility and mutual support is exactly what PhilanthropyMiami and NEA seek to cultivate through initiatives like the Member Spotlight.

PhilanthropyMiami: strengthening the social-impact ecosystem

Ire’s recognition also shines a light on the work of PhilanthropyMiami, the organization that partners with NEA to convene and support our region’s nonprofit leaders.

For nearly three decades, PhilanthropyMiami has focused on strengthening Miami’s social-impact ecosystem by providing training, peer learning, and leadership development for nonprofits of all sizes. Their workshops, events, and the annual IGNITE! conference create spaces where nonprofit leaders, funders, and community partners can learn together, forge new partnerships, and share strategies that work. By lifting up Ire’s story through the Member Spotlight, PhilanthropyMiami and NEA affirm that disability inclusion is not a niche issue—it is fundamental to building stronger, more equitable communities for everyone.

Ire’s message to fellow nonprofit leaders

When asked what advice she would offer other nonprofit leaders, Ire keeps it beautifully simple:

“Be open and be present.”

Being open means listening deeply—to people with disabilities, to families, to staff, and to partners. It means being willing to question old assumptions, invite new voices to the table, and share power so that solutions are created with the community, not for it.

Being present means showing up fully—in coalition meetings, in community spaces, in moments of crisis, and in moments of celebration. It means understanding that leadership is not just strategy and metrics; it is also relationship, humility, and the courage to keep going even when change feels slow.

Ire often draws inspiration from Angela Davis, who reminds us:

“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world, and you have to do it all the time.”

For our team at AND, that quote is more than a rallying cry—it’s a daily practice.

Why this recognition matters

This Member Spotlight recognition is a celebration of Ire, but it is also a celebration of our entire community:

• The families who have trusted us for more than 50 years.

• The self-advocates who keep pushing for a seat at every table.

• The staff, volunteers, and partners who live the values of inclusion every day.

• The funders and allies, like PhilanthropyMiami and NEA, who invest in strong leadership and strong organizations because they know that’s how we build strong communities.

By honoring Ire, PhilanthropyMiami and the Nonprofit Executive Alliance are sending a clear message: disability inclusion is essential to the future of South Florida. That affirmation fuels our work and renews our commitment to building a world where everyone truly belongs.

To PhilanthropyMiami, NEA, and all of the leaders in this growing network: thank you for recognizing our CEO, for amplifying the voices of people with disabilities and their families, and for standing with us as we work—every day—to create a more inclusive community for all.