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This year’s
Chávez Award nominees included José Luna (Bilingual
Education and Related Programs Coordinator of the Toledo Public
Schools), Amelia Nava (Community Volunteer), and Richard
Neller (La Prensa).
Velásquez gave
an inspiring speech about the struggles of FLOC the past 38 years,
emphasizing that the struggles were not over with in light of
needed immigration reform and the dangers of bill HR 4437, which
passed the House last December.
Velásquez
urged that concerned citizens should contact their respective U.S.
Senators to urge them to vote for the McCain-Kennedy Bill,
which was recently adopted by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a
12 to 6 vote and may be voted on by the Senate in full, possibly
as early as Friday, April 7th.
Adelante’s
director, Sonia Troche, welcomed the audience after the
full house was entertained by an area folkloric dance group,
Imagenes Mexicanas.
Opening
remarks were made by Adelante Board of Trustees Chair Dr.
Ardenia Jones Terry and Dr. Lloyd Jacobs, president of
MUO and soon-to-be president of the University of Toledo, when
UT’s merger with MUO becomes effective on July 1, 2006.
Pastor
David Martínez of Cornerstone Church gave the evening’s
invocation.
In addition to
the presentation of the Chávez Humanitarian Award to Velásquez,
ten students were recognized for their outstanding contributions
as Latino Youth. An Adelante Amigo Award was presented to Neller
for contributions to the community.
A documentary
video, prepared by Adelante’s Alex Ramírez, showed much of
the history of Adelante. Robert Torres, director of
Toledo’s Office of Latino Affairs, and Lisa Olvera were the
MCs.
Adelante director Sonia Troche welcomes Ezra
Escudero, director of OCHLA |
