Los Angeles Executive Says Listening First Is the Key to Lasting Impact
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / June 27, 2025 / Ernesto Morales, CEO of North Star Alliances and longtime advocate for community-centered strategy, is calling on public agencies, corporations, and nonprofit leaders to deepen their commitment to authentic engagement practices. The call to action comes on the heels of Morales's recent feature in a career spotlight article titled "Ernesto Morales: Building Big Ideas That Bring People Together."
Drawing from more than two decades of experience across public outreach, corporate relations, and strategy, Morales is using his platform to raise awareness about how misaligned partnerships can miss the mark-and how better listening could change that.
"Big ideas only matter if they solve big problems," Morales says. "Engagement isn't a checkbox. It's a responsibility."
Why This Matters: Trust, Equity, and Outcomes
Across the U.S., over $1.2 trillion in federal infrastructure and economic development funding is flowing into local projects through programs like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Yet many efforts struggle to earn local buy-in, often because they lack culturally relevant communication and input.
A 2023 Urban Institute report found that fewer than 35% of residents in high-impact areas felt meaningfully included in planning decisions that affect them. That's where Morales sees an opportunity.
"We need to stop designing solutions in silos," he explains. "Communities already have the answers. The job is to make room for them at the table."
From Theory to Practice: North Star's Model
Through North Star Alliances, Morales has helped execute over 1,100 projects with clients such as Google, The White House, Coca-Cola, LA Metro, LAUSD, and L.A. Care. The common thread across all of them? Building trust before offering solutions.
At Rose Hills Memorial Park, he led culturally specific outreach to Hispanic families around end-of-life services. At Pepperdine University, he helped raise $14 million by aligning university programs with industry needs. And today, he serves as a California State Commissioner on the Employment Training Panel, where he helps guide investment in workforce development.
"It's not just about launching programs," says Morales. "It's about listening, learning, and earning the right to lead."
What You Can Do
Morales believes that anyone - regardless of profession - can help create more connected, community-focused outcomes. His call to action:
Start by listening. Ask your community what they need. Don't assume.
Engage early and often. Don't wait until decisions are made to bring people in.
Invest in relationships, not just deliverables.
"The most powerful thing we can do is slow down and listen," Morales emphasizes. "That's where every lasting solution begins."
To read more, visit the website here.
About Ernesto Morales
Ernesto Morales is the CEO and founder of North Star Alliances, a Los Angeles-based firm specializing in public engagement, outreach strategy, and strategic partnerships. His career spans roles in healthcare, education, and nonprofit leadership, including at Children's Hospital LA, Pepperdine University, and the Latin Business Association. Morales holds an MBA and a Bachelor's in Business Management from Pepperdine University.
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SOURCE: Ernesto Morales
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