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Hispanic Heritage Month
KPBS Celebrates Diversity
Every year, KPBS recognizes heroes in San Diego's diverse communities. It's part of our ongoing commitment to diversity, and made possible through our long-standing partnership with Union Bank.
Local Hero Myra Curiel Helps Aging Out Foster Youth with Move-in Kits
Hispanic Heritage Month 2014 Honoree
- Sept. 15
When Myra Curiel aged out of the foster care system and enrolled in Casa de Amparo’s New Directions transitional housing program in Oceanside, she received a welcome basket.
Hispanic Heritage Month Local Hero Carmen Kcomt Advocates for Immigrant Families
Hispanic Heritage Month 2014 Honoree
- Sept. 12
Carmen Kcomt is filled with pride. On June 25th, this 2014 Hispanic Heritage Month Local Hero who hails from Peru, finally became a United States citizen. The journey to citizenship was filled with challenges and setbacks that included 11 years of struggling to maneuver through the system in her quest for political asylum—and spending five of those years as an undocumented immigrant.
Fabiola Navarro, Local Hero & Human Rights Activist
Hispanic Heritage Month 2013 Honoree
- Sept. 13
The world is filled with injustice. All you need do is pick up a newspaper or go online and you’ll find a litany of human rights violations—victims of torture and kidnappings, people being sent to prison camps by their own government, women suffering untold abuse at the hands of their husbands or fathers while authorities look the other way, and children being forced into labor and prostitution. Here in San Diego, Chilean-born Fabiola Navarro sees fighting such human rights violations as a life-long cause.
Andrea Skorepa Advocates for San Ysidro
Hispanic Heritage Month 2013 Honoree
- Sept. 13
Andrea Skorepa is a Hispanic Heritage Month Local Hero who lives and breathes San Ysidro – both as a passionate advocate, and as a life-long resident of the town by the border.
Michael A.V. Cruz Has Passion for Mentoring
Hispanic Heritage Month: 2012 Honoree
- Nov. 2
Michael A. V. Cruz is not used to being thanked for the work he does. Being the humble man he is, he’s never asked for it nor expected it. Besides, he's not in it for the glory.
Danny Gutierrez Gets a Second Chance
Hispanic Heritage Month: 2012 Honoree
- Sept. 13
It's hard to pinpoint the moment that propelled Danny Gutierrez's life into a spiral of self-destruction. After all, there was no singular instant that set him on a path of joining a gang, breaking the law, using drugs, and causing pain to those around him.
Rachel Ortiz
Hispanic Heritage Month: 2011 Honoree
- Sept. 7
Rachel Ortiz is the founder and director of Barrio Station, a youth program that saves the lives of thousands of troubled young people by offering them alternatives to delinquency. Ms. Ortiz lives her life with a passion for justice and a commitment to youth advocacy. Ms. Ortiz is a recipient of numerous awards, including the César Chávez Humanitarian Award, California Legislature's Women of the Year and the Aztec Achievement Award.
Richard Nares
Hispanic Heritage Month: 2011 Honoree
- Sept. 7
Richard Nares is the executive director of the Emilio Nares Foundation (ENF), which he founded along with his wife Diane in 2003 after losing their son Emilio to leukemia. Mr. Nares turned the tragic experience into a program that assists children fighting cancer throughout Southern California. Under his direction, the Emilio Nares Foundation serves as a resource center providing various community services including transportation, healthy meals, financial assistance and staffing for two Family Resource Centers at Rady Children’s Hospital.
Carolina Ramos
Hispanic Heritage Month: 2010 Honoree
- Sept. 23
Since 2003, Carolina Alcoser Ramos has been the coordinator of Latino – Latina Services for the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center.
Gracia Molina Enriquez de Pick
Hispanic Heritage Month: 2010 Honoree
- Sept. 23
For more than 60 years, Gracia Molina Enriquez de Pick has been an educator, feminist, mentor of students and community activist for women’s equality, indigenous communities, labor and immigrants’ rights.
About
Hey Neighbor! is a blog about San Diego's Local Heroes. As director of diversity and engagement, Monica Medina writes about these extraordinary people who reside in our rich, vibrant community. She is keenly interested in uncovering their multitude of voices, perspectives, and stories. She loves hearing from all our neighbors, so feel free to drop her a line. Also, to nominate a Local Hero, just complete the nomination form today.
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