Photos by Arturo Vera
Stockton, CA — two education advocates, one devoted religious volunteer, one health care champion and a dedicated community member form the five exemplary community members being inducted into the 2011 Mexican American Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 27th. The Hall of Fame recipients are:
Yolanda Herrera Tejada – Mrs. Tejada’s family transplanted from Comstock Texas. A survivor of Rheumatic fever she achieved her dream of becoming a nurse. She started her career at San Joaquin General Hospital. Mrs. Tejada’s perseverance moved her up the ranks from nurse to assistant head nurse, head nurse, and nursing supervisor. She was selected to go to China for a medical and cultural exchange and later was selected to go to Japan. Mrs. Tejada continues to give of herself; she was a volunteer with Dr. Vicuna’s SU SALUD program. Currently she is an active member of the Alumni of Delta Nursing, the American Heart Association, and is a Cancer Society volunteer, donor to the St. Judas Children’s Hospital, and is Vice-President of the California Retired Public Employees Assn. She is also an active member of the Latina Democratic Club, and the Mexican Heritage Center and Gallery.
Ruben F. Garza — Born in San Antonio Texas Ruben F. Garza, has a lifelong a devotion to the betterment of education and living conditions of migrant families. In his early career he was an administrator for the Merced County Migrant Education Program. He has served at Stockton Unified School District as Assistant Principal at Fremont Middle School, and he transcended to become the principal at James Monroe School and Maxine Kinston Elementary. Mr. Garza has volunteered at Pacific’s Minority Engineering Program, the Bi-national Education Task Force, served on the BEAM Scholarship Association, visionary Home Builders and the Lakeview Assembly Church of God.
Rosalva V. Garduño — Ms. Garduño, born in Durango, Mexico. She has overcome the hard work of field work while obtaining an education and raising a familiy. She was the first to receive a Preschool teacher award from San Joaquin A+ following her dedicated work at Head Start Child Development Council. Ms. Garduño worked with San Joaquin Delta College Students who aspire to become preschool teachers and presently she is a Project Coordinator of a Nursing Grant and Psychiatric Technician Expansion Program. Additionally Ms. Garduño has dedicated many years to educating families on mental illnesses; through the National Alliance on Mental Illness she has voluntarily offered families in need education, support and resources to cope with their difficult situations.
Amelia R. Moreno is what some people may refer as a “living saint.” Born in Ciudad Miguel Doblado Guanajuato, Mexico, Mrs. Moreno moved to Tracy California. Since 1970 Amelia and her husband Ruben Moreno volunteer at St. Bernard Catholic Church. During her 41 years of volunteer work she has touched thousands of lives, helping the poor by providing them with food, shelter and clothing; also, she visits the elderly in their homes, convalescent homes and the sick in hospitals. Mrs. Moreno has served in the nine Migrant Camps of San Joaquin County, volunteering in the Migrant Ministries of the Catholic Church for the last twenty years. At 81 she continues to volunteer and serve her community.
Gene Acevedo — Born in Washington DC and raised in Paracuaro Guanajuato, Mexico, Mr. Acevedo has a strong history community involvement in San Joaquin County. At an early age, Mr. Acevedo learned the rewards of serving the public sector. He started his public service career at the Council for the Spanish Speaking in the Healthy Families program. He became a Legislative Aide to former Assemblymember Barbara Matthews and Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani; presently, he works for Hospice of San Joaquin as the agency’s Community Outreach Director. In addition to his professional life, Mr. Acevedo is the President and Publisher of Bilingual Weekly Newspaper, and has volunteered in many non-profit agencies by developing business models to make their missions sustainable. Among the many community based agencies he serves as the former president of the Coalition of Mexican American Organizations and co-organizer of the Cinco De Mayo Parade for 4 consecutive years, President of the Mexican Heritage Center and Gallery, the Vice President of Marketing for the Stockton Symphony, former board member of Comerciantes Unidos, Board member of San Joaquin Film Society.
The 2011 Mexican Hall of Fame will be held at the University Plaza Hotel on Saturday, August 27, 2011. The community is invited to this historical moment. Tickets are available by contacting Connie Martinez at (209) 598-9802.
Photos by Arturo Vera
Discussion
No comments yet.