We are grateful to have celebrated Latino/a Heritage Month with  our partners, friends, family, and community. This event was a celebration and the launch of our new Zocalo series. The series is inspired by the heart of Aztec culture, Mexico City's Zócalo, a central gathering place for centuries. Just as it has been, our Zocalo series will be a hub for celebration, enlightenment, art, culture, and meaningful discussions.

Our celebration began with a performance by Viver Brasil, a renowned Los Angeles-based company known for its powerful Afro-Brazilian dance theater. Following this performance, LA Unified School Board Members Kelly Gonez and Tanya Ortiz Franklin, alongside ABC's Executive Director, Vanessa Aramayo, engaged in a thoughtful conversation about how LA Unified, as the nation's second-largest school district and Los Angeles County's second-largest employer, can best support the Latino/a community. To conclude the evening, we danced to the delightful rhythms of Pan Dulce, a band that skillfully blended various musical styles, including ska, reggae, and rock, with Alan Lightner on steel pans.

We recognized pillars of our community—individuals whose unwavering commitment, selfless service, and outstanding contributions have impacted the lives of those they've touched.

SEIU Local 99

Power Building Award

Lester Garcia, Political Director with SEIU Local 99, accepts the 

Power Building Award on behalf of SEIU Local 99, from Rosie Arroyo, Co-chair of ABC's Board

SEIU Local 99 is honored with the Power Building Award for their significant efforts in advocating for and improving conditions for education workers and childcare providers, including increasing rates for Family Child Care through community organizing and advocacy work.

Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo

Changemaker Award

Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo receives the Changemaker Award from 

Rosie Arroyo, Co-chair of ABC's Board

Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo is honored with the Changemaker Award for her unwavering dedication to promoting equity, justice, and opportunity, her advocacy for Latino/a communities, and her significant legislative achievements that have positively impacted the residents of Los Angeles and California.

Monica Garcia

Community & Public Service Award

Monica Garcia and Audrey Dow, ABC's Board Chair

Monica Garcia is honored for her unwavering dedication to improving educational opportunities and resources for Eastside students, advocating for healthcare services, supporting charter schools, championing school reform models, and her commitment to educational justice and accountability.

Gloria Molina

Legacy Award

Vanessa Aramayo, ABC's Executive Director, presents the Legacy Award

to Valentina Martinez, daughter of Gloria Molina

Gloria Molina is honored posthumously with the Legacy Award for her groundbreaking achievements as the first Latina to serve on the Los Angeles City Council, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and the State Assembly, along with her dedicated work in healthcare advocacy and community development. Her daughter, Valentina Martinez, accepted the award in her honor.

We extend gratitude to our sponsors and supporters, who made this evening possible: SEIU Local 99, Grand Performances, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County, California Community Foundation, Center for Nonprofit Management, GPSN, Telemundo 52, Tzunu Strategies, Breathe LA, The Campaign for College Opportunity, The Council of Mexican Federations in North America (COFEM), Diversity in Leadership, Families in Schools, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), InnerCity Struggle, New Ways to Work, Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Fund (SALEF), Digital Equity LA, Bay Area Council, College Futures Foundation, J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation, The California Endowment, Kaiser Permanente, L.A. Care, Sobrato Family Philanthropies.

Congratulations to ABC's Board Member, Dr. Michael Mendez for receiving the Paul Davidoff Book Award at the ACSP Annual Conference Faculty Awards Luncheon. He is honored for his work, "Climate Change from the Streets: How Conflict and Collaboration Strengthen the Environmental Justice Movement." This award recognizes excellence in literature focusing on participatory planning, social change, and the fight against poverty and racism.

Once again, Felicidades, Dr. Mendez, on this well-deserved recognition!

Vanessa Aramayo, ABC’s Executive Director, co-hosted a celebration alongside Jarett Barrios, Danny Feldman, Suzy Jack, Michele Siqueiros, and Elizabeth Zamora to mark the release of Alejandra Campoverdi’s new book, “First Gen: A Memoir.” Alejandra’s book is a compelling and insightful read for anyone who has ever navigated the complexity of being a first-generation Latino/a in America. She humanizes the concept of the American Dream, drawing readers in and encouraging them to share in her vulnerability. Vanessa Aramayo and Jarret Barrios, Senior Vice President of Strategic Communities and Programmatic Initiatives at California Community Foundations, also shared their experiences and emphasized the importance of sharing our stories as Latino/as who have paved the way for our own unique American Dream.

We have an incredible opportunity for a passionate advocate to join our dynamic team.

As the Policy and Advocacy Manager, Multilingual Learners, you will be at the forefront of advancing policy and advocacy initiatives for multilingual and dual language learners as part of the Consortium for English Learner Success. Your role includes representing the Consortium in various coalitions and overseeing a coalition of 100 organizations committed to enhancing English learner and dual language learner policies in Los Angeles. You'll collaborate with elected officials, strengthen coalition-building efforts, and spotlight key issues impacting multilingual learners in Los Angeles County. Your work will identify high-visibility opportunities to elevate multilingual learner policy priorities at the state and local level.

If you're passionate about advocacy, policy, and making a lasting impact in our community, we encourage you to apply. Together, we can create positive change for multilingual learners in Los Angeles!

“For more than two decades, Latinos have taken huge leaps in attaining master’s and doctoral degrees. Nearly 2.5 million Latinos held advanced degrees in 2021, compared with only 710,000 in 2000”

The article sheds light on the remarkable progress that Latino/as in California, particularly in Los Angeles, have made in pursuing advanced degrees. This achievement not only reflects the determination of the individuals involved but also signifies a positive shift in the educational landscape of our city. This progress is also a testament to the collective efforts of educators, community organizations, and support networks that have worked towards creating equal opportunities for everyone. It reaffirms our belief in the importance of quality schools from PreK-12th grade to prepare Latino/as for higher education and careers.

As we celebrate this remarkable achievement, we also acknowledge the importance of continued advocacy for equitable education. It's not just about celebrating the present; it's about creating a future where all Latino/as, can pursue their educational dreams.

“While the statewide Latino[/a] population is 39%, Latinas make up less than 3% of California physicians, and Latinos overall account for only 6%.”

Dr. Veronica Contreras, a family medicine physician in Jurupa Valley, highlights the underrepresentation among Latino/a and Black doctors in California. This underrepresentation stands as a major barrier to achieving healthcare equity, impacting the patients who lack access to providers who understand their cultural and linguistic needs. 

We envision a thriving Los Angeles where every family can access high-quality healthcare. As Dr. Contreras emphasizes, the path to achieving this vision lies in actively engaging with those familiar with the challenges at hand—our community members and healthcare professionals from underrepresented communities.

The Hechinger Report, a national nonprofit newsroom that reports on education, launched the College Welcome Guide, an interactive tool that allows you to search by state or any college in the nation for factors such as the racial diversity of students and faculty, freedom of speech, whether the college has an LGBTQ+ resource center, local regulations on abortion access and whether the state has enacted any legislation that might prohibit the way certain topics are taught.

We are grateful to work towards creating a more just and equitable society for the Latino/a community and the Los Angeles region through power building and policy advocacy. However, we can't do it without the support of people like you! Your donation, no matter the size, will help us continue to make a real and meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve. Thank you for your support and for believing in our mission.