International Focus Magazine November ’19 Digital | Page 18

seen on the scene
L
Hispanic Heritage Month Awards
LULAC Council #4566 presented the Hispanic Heritage Month Awards rec-
ognizing newly elected officials on Friday October 4th, 2019 at the Amegy
Bank Building in Uptown Houston .In attendance were community lead-
ers, Consuls General, elected officials, students, and artists, all who support
the Hispanic community in Houston. Everyone was there to honor Mrs.
Mary Ramos, treasurer to one of the most respected and admired grass roots
organizations in the U.S. - The League of United Latin American Citizens
(LULAC) District VIII in Houston, Texas. LULAC’s mission is to advance the
economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and
civil rights of the Hispanic population of the United States.
Mrs. Ramos is a community activist. She was influential in convincing the
FBI to investigate the Harris County jail deaths. She has worked with the
NAACP Houston Branch and now sits on the board with WALIPP, Texas
and the Mayor’s Public Safety Advisory Committee. When asked about her
biggest accomplishment, Mrs. Ramos is quick to answer that she is most
proud of developing a statewide resolution that allows Texas NAACP and
Texas LULAC to work together on issues that affect the community. Together
these organizations have been able to initiate the opening of the first Public
Defenders’ office in Harris County and to help defeat the Voter ID bill.
Along with Terry Morales and Elizabeth Gonzales Brock, Mrs. Ramos hosted
a beautiful evening. Awards were presented by the charismatic team of Steve
Stephens, CEO, Amegy Bank and Kenny Mercado, CIO, Centerpoint. Hon-
ored that evening were Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia, Senator Carol Al-
varado District 6, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Commissioner Adrian
Garcia, and Christina Morales from the Texas House of Representatives. An
inspiring panel discussion about upcoming elections was held followed by
questions from the audience.
Arts Houston Magazine’s John Bernhard, Honorary Consul of Switzerland
along with Kelly Foreman, Amegy Bank’s Senior Vice President showcased a
wonderful group of artists from Manteca, the nation’s first online directory of
Latino creatives practicing in the literary, performing and visual arts, based in
Houston. 18 artists out of 200 were selected. Pictured here with John Bern-
hard, Honorary Consul of Switzerland, and Kelly Foreman, VP Amegy Bank
is Peso Zapata, winner of “Best in Show.”
By: Heidi PP-iF Magazine
18 iF Magazine |November 2019