From left LEON members Barbara Finch, Mary Robles, Xochitl Camarena (Co-Chair), Marco Quintanar (Chair) and Yolanda Perez (Secretary). Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — Latino Elders Outreach Network (LEON) was presented with a Santa Barbara County resolution in honor of Hispanic Heritage month. On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, First District Supervisor Salud Carbajal presented the award in recognition of the impact LEON is making in the Santa Barbara community, the organization reported in a media release.
“I am so grateful to LEON and its dedicated partners for playing such a crucial role in our community,” said Supervisor Carbajal. “Through collaborative efforts and special events, LEON makes sure that our Latino and Hispanic elders have the visibility and connection to services they need to remain as healthy, happy and actively engaged as possible, especially at a time in their lives when they deserve to receive the same care they have given to others throughout their earlier years.”
LEON is a group of individuals who connect to coordinate efforts on behalf of the elderly of the Latino community. LEON’s main goal is to engage and empower the Latino community, educating the public about the needs of the elderly and of the resources available to them in the community. LEON operates as a subcommittee of the Adult and Aging Network, part of the consultative body of the Board of Supervisors of Santa Barbara County.
LEON recently hosted its signature event, Dia De Los Abuelos, on September 10, 2015. This free event celebrates Latino elders with a lunch, raffle prizes, traditional music, and honors guests for personal accomplishments including the longest living elder in attendance.
LEON will next be servicing the community by offering translation services at the upcoming Senior Expo, which will take place on October 7 from 9a-12pm at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. All elders and their family members, caregivers and supporters of all ages are encouraged to attend.
Contact LEONsantabarbara@gmail.com or 805-699-6281 for more information.