Joseph Medina
Editor’s note: Amigos805 will be presenting a regular profile of the winners of El Concilio Family Services’ 2011 Latino Leadership Awards, to be presented March 26 in Oxnard. The awards this year focus on educators who make a difference in the community.
Joseph M. Medina’s goal is to exposing youth to university life, financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
He has a passion for mentoring students by encouraging them to pursue higher education and has created a mentor program using positive role models, El Concilio Family Services reported in a media release. He has worked with local Latino-owned businesses to get more Latino youth to attend college campus tours. He recruits students with the help of family members and friends.
Medina said he has been inspired by the writing of Coach John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success.” Born and raised in Camarillo, he has attended schools in Camarillo and Ventura and is a senior at California State University, Northridge.
Besides Medina, 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.; Lupe Murillo of Pacifica High School in Oxnard; Pilar Pacheco of California State University, Channel Islands; and Alex Rivera of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
Reservations for El Concilio Family Services’ annual Latino Leadership Awards gala dinner are due by March 14. Tickets are $125 per person, $1,500 to sponsor a table.
For more information about the awards or sponsorship opportunities call Yvonne R. Gutierrez at 805.486.9777, ext. 228, send an e-mail to events@elconcilioventura.org or visit www.elconcilioventura.org