Community celebrates El Concilio’s Latino Leadership Awards

Virginia Espinoza, of Rabobank, presents an award to Javier Gomez, when El Concilio Family Services presented its 22nd Latino Leadership Awards on March 26 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Photo by Frank X. Moraga/Amigos805.com ©2011

It was a full house when El Concilio Family Services presented its 22nd Latino Leadership Awards on March 26 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.

The awards this year focused on educators who make a difference in the community.

The award winners being honored this year include Elmelda P. Almanza, retired from the Oxnard School District; Javier Gomez, founder of the Inlakech Cultural Arts Center in Oxnard; Carmen Guerrero, dean of Career & Technical Education at Oxnard College; Ventura County Community College Trustee Art Hernandez; Fundi Legohn, an educator, musician composer/arranger and the performing arts director at Oxnard High School; Joseph M. Medina of CSU Northridge; Lupe Murillo of Pacifica High School in Oxnard; and Pilar Pacheco of California State University, Channel Islands and Alex Rivera of Ventura College.

Joe I. Mendoza, of the Ventura County Office of Education, served as master of ceremonies. Presenting sponsors included AT&T, Citi, Rabobank, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Co., St. John’s Regional Medical Center/St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital, the Ventura County Star, and Wells Fargo.

Media sponsors included Amigos805.com, Gold Coast Broadcasting LLC, Lazer Broadcasting, the Ventura County Star and Vida Newspaper.

The reception sponsor was the Ventura County Health Care Agency, with Verizon serving as the dinner sponsor.

For more information, call 805.486.9777 or send an e-mail to events@elconcilioventura.org or visit www.elconcilioventura.org

Click here to see the full set of photos from the event