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OCHLA recognizes distinguished Latinos
On October 12, 2012—el Día de la Raza—the Ohio Latino
Affairs Commission (OCHLA) presents its annual Governor’s
Distinguished Hispanic Awards, honoring “individuals and
organizations who have demonstrated achievements in the
professional or community service endeavors, and who serve as
role models for the growing Latino community.” This year’s
awards gala takes place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Columbus.
According to the OCHLA, the Distinguished Hispanic Ohioans
“take the challenge daily with determination and creativity,
working tenaciously to ensure that their communities become a
better place not only for Hispanics, but for everyone” and
include: FLOC’s Sesario
Durán, Toledo; Al López, Cleveland; Lillian Laboy, Strongville;
Reynaldo Carrión, Lorain; Tim Carrión, Lorain; Julia
Arbini-Carbonell, Columbus; Elizabeth Martínez, Columbus; Julio
González, Dayton; Giovanna Alvarez, Dayton; Juan López,
Beavercreek; Rosalind C. Florez, Cincinnati; and Simón Sotelo,
Cincinnati.
“Nuestra Familia” awardees are non-Latino
individuals or organizations that have gone the extra mile to
make certain inclusion, participation and engagement of Latinos
is taking place and who are committed to long term partnerships
to make Ohio a welcoming place to all people. They are: Yvonka
Hall, Office of Minority Health, Cleveland; Ronn Richard, The
Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland; Daniel Radocaj, El Centro,
Lorain; Sen. Charleta Tavares, State Senator, Columbus;
Stephanie Stewart-Sharp, Fifth Third Bank, Columbus; Sister
María Stacey, Hispanic Catholic Ministries, Dayton; Mark Evans,
Volunteer, Su Casa, Cincinnati; and H.A. Musser, Santa María
Community Services, Cincinnati.
According to OCHLA, Latinos in uniform have served and continue
to serve the country with honor and excellence; they will be
recognized through the Military Service of Distinction.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are more
than 11,000 Latino veterans in Ohio. This year’s awardees are:
Max Figueroa (Retired), United States Army; Gary Muñoz
(Retired), United States Army / United States Air Force; Lt.
Col. Sean Spradlin, United States Air Force; and John Ramos
(Retired), United States Navy, with
special recognition to honor Our Fallen Heroes:
The Lorain Viet Nam War Heroes, Army Pfc. Gustavo Rios,
and Operation Iraqi Freedom & Operation New Dawn.
Awardees are selected by OCHLA’s executive director Lilleana
Cavanaugh, MBA, and staff generally from submissions by its
commissioners Mary Santiago, Chair; Andrés González, Vice Chair;
Michael G. Florez, Secretary; V. Anthony Simms-Howell, Finance
Chair, Isabel Framer, Richard Romero, Max Rodas, Baldemar
Velásquez,
Lourdes Barroso, and Emerald Hernández.
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