The Holiday Season is officially upon us, and with it comes a flurry of gifts. For us, the holidays are early because we have been blessed with INSPIRA.

With the collaboration of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) and iNDIGO PROjECT MEDIA, we have created a web-series that seeks to identify Latino leaders who inspire young Latinos to follow their passions and create positive impacts for our society. We have been listening to the stories of so many inspiring individuals, and it’s only the beginning! Take a look at our Newsreel, and let us know what you think. Do you recognize anyone? Who inspires you?

Click on the link to visit Inspira and watch the Newsreel:
www.inspiraamerica.org

We are excited to be part of this journey, and we hope you will join us today, and when we launch in January 2012!

Happy Holidays!

Emanuel & Gaby

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We ask that you play a role in our future by considering INSPIRA and our mission in your holiday giving. We could not do our transformative work and influence young Latinos without the generous support of people like you. Please donate and together, we can inspire America.

Click to visit Inspira’s Fundly page and donate!
fundly.com/loftinspira

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For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rebecca Pleitez: rebecca@pleitezgroup.com or Saray Deiseil: saray@indigoprojectmedia.com

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Who inspires you? We welcome you to submit names, bios, or a 2-5 minute video on you or someone that has inspired you to info@indigoprojectmedia.com

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This is your invitation to subscribe to Inspira and receive webisodes highlighting Latino leaders. www.inspiraamerica.org

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INSPIRA is a web series hosted by Emanuel Pleitez who is on a quest to find inspiring Latino leaders that are shaping communities and driving the economy across America. 

INSPIRA is important in today’s time to spotlight role models that can help inspire young Latinos to follow their passion and create a positive impact in their society.  Each segment, our Host, Emanuel Pleitez and Co-Host will find a Latino leader contributing and enriching their community whether through the arts, politics, non-profit sector or business. INSPIRA will dive into each leader’s life to learn what drives them, how they made it and how you can follow in their footsteps or simply become inspired by their actions.

Each completed segment will be released as a 3-5 minute video profile piece through iNDIGO PROjECT MEDIA and L.O.F.T (Latinos on Fast Track).

If you think you have what it takes to be a Co-Host and interview Latino Leaders, please submit your headshot / photos and your bio to info@indigoprojectmedia.com

*Please note this will start as an unpaid position

Contact:

Saray Deiseil

iNDIGO PROjECT MEDIA

saray@indigoprojectmedia.com

iNDIGO PROjECT MEDIA / Pleitez Group / LOFT (Latinos of Fast Track)

Join Latino leaders online community: LOFT Social Network

 

25^TH ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS HONORED LATINO LEADERS

AT KENNEDY CENTER ON SEPTEMBER 15

2011 Honorees are: Juanes, Ruben Blades, Roberto “Chespirito” Gomez Bolaños,

Juan Andrade, Jorge Vergara, Elizabeth Molina Morgan, and Hugo Sanchez

WASHINGTON, DC – The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) celebrated their 25^th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on September 15, 2011. The Hispanic Heritage Awards recognized the 2011 Honorees along with Latino cultural pride, accomplishment and promise with exciting stage performances produced by Maria Esmeralda Paguaga.  Visit www.TheHispanicHeritageAwards.com for a one-minute video about the Awards.

The 2011 Honorees and Medallion Sponsors are:

Arts                        Ruben Blades                                             Presented by Hispanic Heritage  Foundation Canada

Business                Jorge Vergara                                       Presented by Verizon

Leadership            Dr. Juan Andrade Jr.                              Presented by Amgen

Legend                   Roberto Gomez Bolaños, “Chespirito” Presented by Walmart

Sports                    Hugo Sanchez                                        Presented by Bud Light

STEM Education   Dr. Elizabeth Molina Morgan               Presented by ExxonMobil

Vision                   Juanes                                                    Presented by The Hershey Company

“We are thrilled to honor yet another class of inspiring Latino leaders,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “The Latino community throughout history has made a positive impact in America and the world.  The Hispanic Heritage Awards were created by the White House 25 years ago and we will salute the past Honorees as we pay tribute to this year’s recipients. We are grateful to our sponsors who understand the important role Latinos play in moving America and the word forward.”

A dynamic stage production featured World-Renowned Flamenco Dancer Joaquin Cortes and Singer Carlos Baute. The program will be hosted by Comedian Eugenio Derbez and Telenovela Stars William Levy and Maite Perroni.

In addition to the Medallion-level supporters, sponsors included: Bud Light – Official Beer, GMC – Official vehicle, Southwest Airlines –Official Airline, Hilton Worldwide, NFL, UPS, AstraZeneca/Crestor, SHPE Foundation, University of Phoenix, Pamp LLC, Lado Be, Coca-Cola, The Walt Disney Company, M&T Bank, Mada Woodlands, The Raben Group, Washington Hispanic, Erwin Gomez Makeup Artist and Artistic Friends, Select Confections, and Vicalia.

The Hispanic Heritage Awards are considered the highest honor for Latinos by Latinos and uniquely brings together cultural superstars alongside physicians, educators, public officials, community and business leaders, and even young leaders, in celebration of their achievements. The Hispanic Heritage Awards serve to kick off the year-round mission of HHF, which inspires, identifies, prepares and positions Latino leaders in the classroom, community and workforce to meet America’s priorities.  HHF’s focus is to help a Latino to help a hundred more.  The day before the Hispanic Heritage Awards, HHF’s LOFT (Latinos on Fast Track) leadership program will hosting the LOFT Actionable Leadership Summit and train 50 college students to make an impact on 15,000 members of their community which will be supported by LOFTnetwork.org, an online community of 75,000 17-30 year-olds. Visit www.HispanicHeritage.org for more information or to contribute to the mission of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.

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NFL, Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Bud Light Launch NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards

Presented by Bud Light, 32 Hispanic Leaders Recognized During Hispanic Heritage Month in Every NFL Market

The NFL, Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) and Bud Light have partnered to launch the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards Presented by Bud Light during the 2011 celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.  The awards recognize the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each NFL market.

Each award recipient will be recognized in-stadium at a Hispanic Heritage game in their local market.

The New York Giants award recipient, Lillian Rodríguez López, president of the Hispanic Federation, has been selected by the NFL and HHF to be recognized during HHF’s prestigious 25^th Hispanic Heritage Awards at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 15.  The Hispanic Heritage Awards honor notable Latinos who have distinguished themselves in various fields and made an impact on America and globally. The Awards are considered the highest honor by Hispanics for Hispanics in America and serve to kick off HHF’s year-round leadership programs.  In 2011, the Hispanic Heritage Awards mark their 25th Anniversary, which is also the anniversary of Hispanic Heritage Month in America.  Bud Light is the Official Beer of the Hispanic Heritage Awards.

For complete release, click here

Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) website

To join Latino leaders online social network, click here: LOFT Network

Chances are someone you know is filled with great ideas on how to make your community and our country better. We’d love to meet them! Please tell them about New Leaders Council.

Now in our seventh year, the NLC Institute—a nationally-recognized leadership training program—has expanded to 19 chapters. This year, Rhode Island, Orange County, Miami and St. Louis will accept their first classes of fellows.

Today, we open our nomination and selection process for 2012.

Nominate someone for the 2012 New Leaders Council Institute.

Apply to be a 2012 New Leaders Council Fellow.

America needs smart successful, and engaged changemakers now. NLC provides the tools and the network. We need ambitious young minds ready to make a difference.

Will you aid our search for top progressives? Help NLC train the next generation of political entrepreneurs.

Sincerely,

Mark Riddle
Executive Director
New Leaders Council

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq-uq5b4UMo

Julian Alcazar is currently a Management and Program Analyst for the Office of Innovation and Improvement for the U.S. Department of Education and Technology Fellow and Chief Technology Officer for the LOFT Institute. Previously, Julian served as an intern for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, where he was instrumental in analyzing graduation and retention rates for the Latino population and disseminating the Initiative’s work through on-line network outlets. Prior to being an intern for the initiative, he was the communication specialist for The Latino Education and Advocacy Day where he helped coordinate an education event focused on the educational equity and achievement of Latino students. He currently serves on the board for Latino Education and Advocacy Day, and is one of the Advisors for The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Julian earned his B.A. in Sociology from California State University San Bernardino where he received the Presidential gold award for volunteering. He enjoys traveling, basketball, and being active in the community. Julian is the son of Mexican immigrant parents and was born and raised in Compton, California.

Community mourns loss of iconic United Farm Worker leader, brother to Cesar Chavez, and partner-in-life to Dolores Huerta

LOS ANGELES, CA - The civil rights community has suffered a major and heartbreaking loss; Richard E. Chavez, long-time advocate for farmworker and civil rights and brother to Cesar Chavez, has passed away in Bakersfield, California. He was 81.

Richard Chavez lived a rich and full life dedicated to laying the foundations for future generations and building up the community and people around him. By trade, Richard was a carpenter and building contractor; he has been credited with building the United Farm Workers of America’s headquarters at the Forty Acres complex in Delano, California.

And yet Richard laid foundations in our communities and in the civil rights movement that will prove to be stronger and longer-lasting than the concrete and timber that compose the buildings he helped build. Richard joined the United Farm Workers of America as a young man and dedicated the rest of his life to chasing the dream envisioned by him, his brother Cesar Chavez and others of a day in which farmworkers and all Latinos would achieve full access to justice.

Through his tireless efforts seeking greater justice for farmworkers, for Latinos and for all citizens and residents of our country, Richard used his time and talents to help build and sustain a justice and civil rights movement that continues strong to this very day. A symbol of Richard’s contributions, the UFW’s black Aztec eagle symbol – also designed by Richard – continues to fly high as a statement of the enduring impact of Richard Chavez on the movement, the community and the nation. For his life’s work, in 2010 at the Washington, D.C. Awards Gala, MALDEF honored Richard Chavez alongside his partner-in-life Dolores Huerta with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Community Service Award.¡Si Se Puede!

A full biography can be found below.

The following quotes can be attributed to MALDEF leadership, staff, and supporters.

Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF President and General Counsel

“Richard Chavez was a gentle and unsung hero of the farmworker and broader civil rights movements. His quiet and reassuring presence will be greatly missed.”

Eva Longoria, MALDEF Board Member, Actor and Activist

“My dear friend Dolores Huerta and her children are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. The impact and spirit of Richard Chavez’ dedication and commitment to the underserved will live forever.”

David Damian Figueroa, MALDEF Vice President of Development and Communications

“Richard was my paisano from Yuma, Arizona and a very dear friend. I will forever cherish all of the times I was privileged enough to spend birthdays and holidays together. He and Dolores Huerta always welcomed me like a member of their family. I will miss him and always remember his incredible zest for life.”

Gina Montoya, MALDEF Vice President of Education and UFW Foundation Board Member

“Richard Chavez was a hard-working champion dedicated to improving the quality of life for farmworkers. He never sought the limelight, but worked tirelessly to support and serve farmworkers in whatever capacity he was needed. A behind-the-scenes hero, his life of public service and contributions to our community will never be forgotten.”

Biography – Richard E. Chavez, National Farm Workers Service Center

Richard Estrada Chavez was born November 12, 1929 in Yuma, Arizona. When he was eight years old Richard’s family was forced into migrant farm work when the family farm was lost to taxes during the Great Depression and migrated to California.

As a child Richard worked alongside his family in the fields while also attending over sixteen schools. As an adult Richard established a career as a carpenter. As such he served to establish the Self-help Housing Program with the American Friends Service Committee and served on the State Rural Housing Commission. He was a past president of the Delano Chapter of the Community Service Organization.

In 1966 Richard gave up the security of his carpentry job and joined his brother, Cesar Chavez, as a full time volunteer for the United Farm Workers organizing and fighting for farm worker civil rights.

In his long career with the United Farm Workers, Richard has served in many capacities. From 1972 to 1984 he served as Third Vice-President of the Union. He was in charge of negotiations and field Operations, administering collective-bargaining agreements secured for farm workers through the struggle of farm worker strikes and boycotts. Richard worked on both the grape and lettuce boycotts as the Director of the Detroit, Michigan boycott in 1972-73 and the New York City Boycotts in 1973-74. He also served as Director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Fund, a UFW service program for farm workers and Executive Director of the National Farm Workers Health Group that ran primary health clinics for farm workers.

Richard Chavez was the first director of the National Farm Workers Service Center, and continued until his passing to serve the Service Center as a board member. The National Farm Workers’ Service Center builds affordable housing for farm workers and La Campesina, the farm worker radio network.

Richard was a skilled carpenter and building contractor. Many of the UFW offices, clinics and service centers have been designed, built and remodeled by Richard Chavez.

Richard also served on the Board of the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation and attends speaking engagements on behalf of the foundation and the United Farm Workers Union.

Richard Chavez is survived by ten children, seven stepchildren, and three great grandchildren. He lived in Keene, California.

Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.