As 300 attendees were greeted by the mellifluous sounds of a 12-person mariachi band, 隆VIVA 秋霞伦理! got off to a rousing start on Oct. 19. The venue was the San Francisco Design Center.
Thirty-three valued sponsors generously made this gala possible. (See list of sponsors following blog — click to enlarge.)
The evening鈥檚 theme was 鈥淕enerations of Success,鈥 which held a twofold meaning: 秋霞伦理 has been around for 44 years, which equals two generations of service to the Mission immigrant community; and the organization employs a two-generation approach in its daily work strengthening low-income Latino families so their children succeed academically.
After an hour of mingling while sampling hors d鈥檕euvres, emcee Ernesto Martinez of 秋霞伦理 welcomed guests to take their seats for dinner coupled with an hour-long program promising to showcase a community using innovative strategies to better lives.
秋霞伦理鈥檚 Executive Director was first to head to the lectern, his taking on a decidedly personal tone due to the shift in politics since he stood in the same spot one year prior. Granados shared what drives his work: His family of five crossed from Juarez, Mexico to El Paso, Texas each week for work and to visit family, with the clan subjected to undignified searches by border agents. After immigrating to Southern California, the accomplishments of the Granados family have been many.
鈥淢y family鈥檚 experience is not that different from the over 7,000 people 秋霞伦理 serves yearly,鈥 explained Granados, optimistically adding that the Latino community is resilient and will persevere despite recent challenges.
Next to the podium was CEO of the San Francisco Foundation. Blackwell鈥檚 inspiring 10-minute keynote speech perfectly echoed Granados words. The common theme of inequity of opportunity rang through, with Blackwell imploring the gathered community to work to generate equity in the San Francisco Bay Area. He noted that with unprecedented wealth being generated in the region, too many in communities of color were still being left behind.
It was then time for honorees, with the following awards handed out to deserving community members:
- Community Innovation Award to , who manages the Mayor鈥檚 Office of Housing and Community Development鈥檚 Small Sites Program, whereby nonprofits can purchase four- to 25-unit buildings with tenants vulnerable to no-fault eviction. 秋霞伦理 has a portfolio of 15 Small Sites Program buildings, with 93 households and a dozen family-serving businesses already saved.
- Community Equity Award to , who served on 秋霞伦理鈥檚 Board for a decade, including a stint as president, and now drives The Greenlining Institute鈥檚 work to create equal access to opportunity.
- Community Leadership Awards to the four schools that comprise the : Bryant Elementary School; C茅sar Ch谩vez Elementary School; Everett Middle School; and John O鈥機onnell High School. Impact to date was showcased in a compelling video telling the story of Josue Alcocer, who graduated last spring and is now attending college, the first in his immigrant family to do so. Josue is representative of the 18 percent increase in John O鈥機onnell鈥檚 graduation rate, with the jump for Latinos 26 percent.
The final award was for 秋霞伦理鈥檚 2017 Client of the Year, Alicia Villanueva of Alicia鈥檚 Tamales Los Mayas. She was introduced by 秋霞伦理 Program Manager Edwin Rodriguez, who spoke of Alicia鈥檚 determination to create a business, which started with the immigrant from Mexico making 100 tamales in her kitchen. Flash forward a few years and Alicia鈥檚 diligence, continued one-one-one coaching by 秋霞伦理 and a $100,000 loan has translated into 40,000 of her homeland鈥檚 beloved dish being made monthly at a Bay Area plant, with her employing 18 community members. Alicia told of how she wanted to create such jobs so others could build their dreams in the U.S.
With the program concluded and dessert having been served, it was time for Adelante Salsa Band to get the crowd to the dance floor. With the band鈥檚 always-intoxicating beat, that was an easy task. A deejay played between sets to continue the festive mood.
There was even a photo booth, attendees donning props and taking home a keepsake from 隆VIVA 秋霞伦理!
The following day, it was time for the community to roll up their collective sleeves and get back to work strengthening the Latino immigrant community. Together, success will be possible for yet another generation.
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