[ilbegone]

A little more race obsession:

April 29, 2009
Contact: Richard Garcia @ (562) 864-5600
Latino Caucus Names Honorees For The 8th Annual Latino Spirit Awards
Asm. Mendoza to Host Special Assembly Floor Session

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Tony Mendoza (D-Norwalk) has announced the 2009 recipients of the Latino Spirit Awards taking place on Monday, May 4th at the Capitol in Sacramento.

This year the Latino Legislative Caucus will honor syndicated columnist and author, Ruben Navarrette, Jr., Ruiz Foods founder and 2009 Chair of the CA Chamber of Commerce, Frederick R. Ruiz, UC San Diego Chancellor’s Associates Professor of Theater, Dr. Jorge Huerta, Nogales Investors Management managing partner, Luis G. Nogales, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Rigoberta Menchu-Tum, aerospace pioneer, Ellen Ochoa the first Latina Astronaut in the US and civil rights advocate, Dolores Huerta. All will be recognized during a special Assembly floor session scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

“This is a way to showcase positive Latino role models and shine a light on the work they do that impacts and provides a better quality of life for our communities and the Latino youth of California,” said Assemblyman Mendoza, who serves as the Vice-Chair of the Latino Caucus. “This year we pay tribute to a wide-spectrum of individuals serving in a variety of industries. From theater to business to philanthropy, these individuals have motivated others and have added to the rich diversity that makes California the Golden State.”

Among the special honors given during the Assembly ceremony will be a commissioned art piece by the famed Latino artist Simon Silva. This limited edition, one-of-a-kind work will be presented to each recipient to commemorate the day and ceremony.

The Latino Spirit Awards was created in 2001 as a way to celebrate the contributions of Latinos to the common culture of California and a means to motivate California’s Latino youth. Previous ceremonies have honored Carlos Santana, Oscar De La Hoya, and actor Tony Plana among others.

Assemblyman Tony Mendoza is a former teacher, and Vice-Chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus who proudly serves the communities of Norwalk, Buena Park, Cerritos, Santa Fe Springs, Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens and portions of Whittier and Lakewood.