three filler for economic growth and job creation. health care reform that provides quality affordable health care for all. energy independence and for the creation of new green jobs and education for all of our children. the house will keep the promise to millions of college students , the congress just passed the greatest contribution since the gi bill. they will contribute one leonard million per year -- 100 million per year. this has been fundamental to all of us for many years. what is different are the people leading the charge. just a few years ago, lee made a promise to create jobs, to provide affordable health care

-- we made from a free stuff

[inaudible] [applause] >> i have to say it is amazing to see the pres -- representation of the latino community. you have people at every single level making the difference in the lives of latinos. [speaking spanish]

>> the one thing that i would say that we as san franciscans is always a city that has welcomed people from all over the world including the latino community. there is a long history that our community has had with the city and county of san francisco. we have always been at the forefront of protecting the right of all people. now important ever, we need to stand firm so that san francisco remains true to those principals. [applause] >> [speaking spanish]

>> so i really hope that this celebration of latino culture is something that inspires us to continue to fight to be a community that embraces a people that is a sanctuary for all people. i hope you can join us in that fight. >> [speaking spanish] >> thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you very much. >> [speaking spanish]

>> i think it's time for us to pay respect to our honorees, what do you think? >> i want to invite one more person to come up here and that is katie faric who is from the office of congresswoman jackie spears. >> let's give her a round of applause. >> i promise to be very brief since we do want to get on to these honorees. congresswoman spears equals the sentiments of speaker pelosi and was touched by the honorees who had far-reaching work from the latino community into every community and every area of our city and congresswoman spears district 12. their contributions in culture and community and business and in education and in the media have a far reaching effect that we appreciate in every community here. thank you for inviting us to be part of it and congratulations on all of the achievements. thank you.

>> thank you very much. [applause] >> i would also like to recognize the presence of a member from the assemblyman's office and a member from the chairwoman of the state board of equalization. and time for the awards. >> it's time for the awards. we're going to start -- i have two pages, but i'm not going to read all the things i should read and say about one of our first honorees. you probably have heard her name. [speaking spanish] >> i want to say a few things. the resource center in san

francisco that has been key since the 1980's in helping out the central american community. this person has been a key element of that success. it's a strong organization. but i want to tell you a little bit more. she is a sister of mercy who believes in leadership, organizational growth and community development. she has been involved in the organization over the past three decades all of which are meeting the basic needs of low-income people, creating opportunities for the emergence of new leaders and mentors. supervisor david campos is going to give the award. and i would go on and on. i want to give a couple of more highlights. in 1999, the organization that was founded in 1980, she really

worked very hard to provide a sanctuary city for immigrants that left their countries in central america to be in san francisco in a place that will welcome them and support them. after doing the work of creating organization and helping others, they decided i have to do more pathways and open pathways and she crated a company which in english means pathways. it still helps immigrants in many, many ways empowering them, teaching them english, helping them integrate into this community. it is an honor that you are one of our honorees and please let's give her a big, big round of because! [applause] >> supervisor david campos will

be giving the latino heritage lifetime achievement award. [applause] >> i would like to especially thank the latino heritage committee for this great honor and so many of you who have helped me to look good, co-workers, volunteers, donors, program participants, and so many community supporters. i would like to especially

thank those of you who have taught me that if it should be, it could be. [speaking spanish] [applause] >> one of the founders of the organization and also the founder of pathways, a long-time san franciscan and a truly hero for the latino community. >> thank you. [applause] >> the next honoree that he'll be horning this evening is our good friend peter rodriguez -- honoring this evening is our good friend peter rodriguez. [applause]

>> we have a member of the mayor's office as a designee. peter rodriguez was raised in both stockton and jackson, california where he first developed an interest in art. his fascination for art grew when mr. rodriguez went on a second trip to mexico in 1956 bringing with him some of his paintings hoping to exhibit during his trip. he found the appropriate venue to display his art, but was faced with a problem, no frames for his paintings. ever resourceful, peter, and relying on his background in advertising and window display used black yarn to draw frames around the paintings. in the 1975 he opened up the

museum to present the artistic expression of the mexican people regardless of their birth nation from the informed perspective of the people themselves. as a museum expanded, it began to attract the attention of a broad scope of individuals including art collectors, and, thus, began to form a permanent collection now consisting of over 14,000 pieces. as the collection grew, so did the number and scope of exhibitions presented to the public. the community has come together to nurture and vision building a resource for the arts and the cultures and a home for generations to come. peter's legacy is closer to realization as the museum board and the arts and redevelopment commission have worked hand in hand with the mayor and board of supervisors to build a permanent home for this wonderful collection in the

cultural art of san francisco. peter, this legacy is yours. we thank you for it. congratulations. [applause] >> i'm really honored to be recognized by gavin newsom, who unfortunately can't be here. i hope when he gets back, he'll come and visit me. it's difficult for me to get to and from places right now.

i have things that don't allow me to travel very far or fast, but i was given supposedly two minutes to mention something that the museum and there is so many people that is incredible, i can't do that and i could name some names but it would be unfair to the others. but i'm very proud of the people that joined the museum and helped make it a wonderful place and the new people in the current museum that are bringing this dream of mine to fruition. i wish to thank them.

my sister lupe has been especially helpful to me and nora wagner is another person that i appreciate for her thoughtful help and being who she is. it's kind of overwhelming to me, but i thank you all and i thank everybody here. i'm very proud of my mexican heritage and although i was born here in stockton, california, i still regard my mexican ancestors as some of the first originators of museums or history to this

world. i thank you all. i really appreciate your kindness in coming and thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you, peter. [applause] >> let's hear a thunderous round of aapplause for our two award recipients this evening. >> i sure you have taken a look at your programs and you can see what is going to be happening next. when we say latinos, we really, really imply art and music and creativity. that's why our next band is going to bring to us the heart and the soul of the latino community in san francisco. and while they get ready, i want to tell you a little bit

about them. you have seen them playing before, right? >> they're truly amazing. how many have seen this band perform? >> what is also very interesting about them is that they are are relatively a new band. they were formed in august 2003. they have 14 young musicians that adore playing music. the director is jose and miguel. so they are here. and we really, really need to give them -- i really like to hear a big, big round of applause for them. [applause] >> i think one of the things that we also need to acknowledge is the great pride in the large inclusion of female musicianses in its ranks including horn players, vocists and even composers. it's a heart-warming symbol of our community's youth can take with the right guidance and support from the elders. this is an amazing institution

out of mission culturele center for latino arts which is one of the recipients of the award tonight as well. [applause]

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[music playing]

[applause]

[music playing]

[applause] >> give it up for our band! [applause] >> so now it's time to honor? of our other outstanding latinos in the arts, business,

community, education, and the media. we would like to call up our supervisor david campos again. he will be presenting these next awards. >> originally born in the san joaquin valley of call to a farm worker family -- california to a farm worker is a graduate of u.c. berkeley. she is know of her depiction of women through prints which have social and ecological themes. she has numerous solos in the ewe and internationally. her work is included in the permanent collection of the national museum of american art, library of congress, oakland museum and our very own museum in san francisco, the national mexican art in chicago

and the chicano collection. [applause] >> she was a 2009 recipient of the women's caucus for art in new york lifetime achievement award. now stanford university has acquired her artistic archives. i think one of the things you also need to know about he is they are is she uses her art to benefit many of the mission-based organizations. more over, over the past 11 years, she has been teaching in san francisco, a visual arts center for developmently disabled adults. you are a true visionary. thank you for all of your hard work. [applause]