Laura Gomez, professor, Law and American Studies, received the Leadership Award in Writing at the De Colores’ 17th annual Hispanic Culture Festival. De Colores recognized 12 individuals and one organization for contributing to improving New Mexico communities with their leadership and talents. One UNM partnership and three UNM students were among those honored.
Photo: VP of Student Affairs Cheo Torres congratulates Laura Gomez, law professor, for receiving an award at the De Colores leadership awards banquet. Gomez also signed copies of her book, Manifest Destinies.
Gomez has lectured widely and published numerous articles, book chapters, and op-ed commentaries, as well as two books focusing on the intersection of law, politics and social stratification of the disenfranchised. In Misconceiving Mothers: Legislators, Prosecutors and the Politics of Prenatal Drug Exposure (1997), she documented the career of the “crack baby”/”crack mother” social problem in the media and public policy. In her 2007 book, Manifest Destinies: The Making of the Mexican American Race, she examines how law and racial ideology intersected to create new racial groups and to re-structure the turn-of-the-twentieth century racial order in the Southwest and the nation.
A UNM community partner, Celebra la Ciencia, also received an award, the Leadership Award in Education. Celebra la Ciencia began eight years ago as a community project to bring science awareness to Latino families through a series of community festivals. It has created bilingual science family events at various science centers and museums throughout Albuquerque. Celebra la Ciencia community partners include the Albuquerque Public Schools, ENLACE New Mexico, STEM Education Outreach Programs at UNM and New Mexico MESA.
Student Leadership Awards were presented to three college and one high school student:
Damien Flores: College Leadership Award
Flores is a UNM senior, majoring in English. Other awards he has earned include the 2008 Lena Todd Award for creative non-fiction from the UNM English Department; “Poet of the Year” in 2007 and 2008 by the NM Hispano Entertainer’s Association; the 2008 and 2009 ABQ-Slams City Champion. He was a member of four ABQ Poetry Slam Teams as well as the ‘06 & ‘08 National Champion UNM Slam Teams. He has written two books, “A Novena of Mud” and “El Cuento de Juana Henrieta.” His work has been anthologized in numerous national publications and is currently Poet-in-Residence at Albuquerque High School.
Andrea Robles: College Leadership Award
Robles is a UNM junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. An Albuquerque High School graduate, Andrea has returned to her school as an ENLACE Mentor to inspire and assist students in realizing their potential for higher education. As a first generation college student, she has made the Dean’s List at UNM and has served as a cheer coach for girls age six and under. Andrea is not only a mentor to students, but also a genuine role model for those around her.
Jessica Martinez: College Leadership Award
Martinez is a sophomore at UNM double majoring in Political Science and Spanish with an emphasis in International Relations. Jessica has been the National Youth President of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) for three years. She is the youngest member on LULAC’s National Board. She is a member and past council president of LULAC Youth Council 53 and has also previously held the position of New Mexico LULAC Youth State Director. She has been a statewide, local and national youth leader. Recently, Martinez was ranked number 10 on the list of Top Latinos Under the Age of 25.
De Colores Inc. is an all-volunteer organization that celebrates Latino culture, achievements and leadership each year during National Hispanic Heritage Month. De Colores will be announcing student scholarship and cash award essay and poster art winners in November.
This year’s De Colores sponsors included APS, UNM, Intel, Youth Development, Inc, and the Atrisco Heritage Foundation.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu