Nominations sought to honor outstanding individuals during event
De Colores an all-volunteer organization celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month each October, seeks leadership nominations for community members and students.
“This year’s De Colores celebration takes place in throughout the community, both to leverage our resources as well as to create a unified celebration,” said Jennifer Gomez-Chavez, president, De Colores, and director of the University of New Mexico’s Title V program.
She said that a calendar of events is forthcoming and will be posted on the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce Web site.
“We need volunteers to make this event successful,” she said.
This year’s theme is: Celebrando Nuestra Herencia: Celebrating our Heritage.
The 2007 Hispanic Culture Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary through art, music, dance, song, foods, poetry and leadership recognition. Month long activities will be held at locations on the UNM campus and in Albuquerque.
Awards will be given to seven individuals in the following areas: lifetime achievement, government, humanitarian, education, business, arts and grassroots. Awards are also given to high school or college students who have demonstrated a commitment to the Hispanic community on and off campus, and who perform well academically. A total of four student awards will be given, two to high school and two to college students. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 15.
The De Colores leadership banquet, in conjunction with the AHCC and the Hispanic Organization of Postal Employees (HOPE) Scholarship Golf Tournament, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Pyramid Hotel. The banquet begins with a booksigning at 6 p.m. by authors Jimmy Santiago Baca and Rudolfo Anaya. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Table sponsorships are $600 and individual tickets at $50.
The Mendez Stamp will also be highlighted. The stamp commemorates a California family, Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, who successfully fought against Hispanic segregation in the schools in 1947.
The evening will close with a dance accompanied by New Mexican musician Tobias Renee. To purchase a table or buy individual tickets to the banquet please contact Jennifer Gomez-Chavez, 277-7763.
De Colores is a UNM sponsored event.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at September 10, 2007 04:32 PM