Community | Young Latino/Native American Leaders Recognized
Representing California’s District 62 Assemblymember, Wilmer Amina Carter on September 24 honored 30 Latinos and Native Americans under the age of 35 for their accomplishments and community service.
From left, back row, Heidi Strutz, Michael Ryan Chavez, Claúdia Juárez, Ricardo Carlos, Edgar Astor, David James Quiroz, Michael Arteaga,Jesse Felix, Sónia Higuera Villalobos, Stephen Villasenor,Ericka Shuss, Alicia Carrizales, Andy Carrizales, Victor Suárez, Michael Gomez Daly, Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, José Luis Ledezma and Edgar Montes. Front row, from left, Natalie Morales Cleary,Andrea Galicia, Gabriela Ruiz Fonseca, Sendy Sánchez, Mayra Frias, Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter, Yadira Vizcarra,Christabel Saldaña, Christina Zambrano, Evelyn Erives, Renée Garcia Tolson and Corrine Gilbertson. Photo by Martha Diaz-Zuniga
About 300 family and friends of the honorees, community leaders and elected officials attended Assemblymember Carter’s 5th Annual 30 Under 30 Latino/Native American Recognition Breakfast at Cal State San Bernardino. The breakfast recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month and California Native American Day.
“In honoring the accomplishments of the young, successful and motivated individuals in our community, more and more people will be moved to follow such fine examples of success and community activism,” Assemblymember Carter said.
Keynote speaker Assemblymember Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, shared with the honorees the life experiences that fueled his passion for public service and social justice. His grandfather, an activist migrant farm worker, inspired Alejo to want to improve living conditions in the agricultural fields. His educational path led him to UC Berkeley, a law degree at UC Davis and a master’s of education at Harvard University. He returned to Watsonville after his formal education and became a legal aid worker.
“I am inspired by your achievements, and, as young leaders, the roles you are taking within your community,” Alejo told the honorees.
“On your journeys, many of you have faced challenges, some of them quite significant, but you remain focused on your goals and pushed ahead, regardless of circumstances to achieve success,” Cal State San Bernardino President Albert Karnig said.
The 30 Under 30 honorees either live, work or perform community service in Assembly Member Carter’s 62nd District. They were selected by a committee of community leaders. They are: Renée Garcia Tolson of Bloomington; Andrea Galicia, Michael Gómez Daly, Michael Arteaga, Edgar Astorga, Michael Ryan Chávez and Heidi Strutz, all of Colton; Evelyn Erives of Corona; Claúdia Juárez, Cristina Zambrano, Yadira Vizcarra, Christabel Saldaña and Rolando Ortiz, all of Fontana; Ericka Shuss of Hesperia; Sendy Sánchez of Homeland; Natalie Morales Cleary of Ontario; Steven Villaseñor of Rancho Cucamonga; Edgar Montes, Ricardo Carlos, Alicia Carrizales, Andy Carrizales, all of Rialto; Victor Suárez, Corrine Gilbertson, José Luis Ledezma, Sónia Higuera Villalobos, Mayra Frias, David Jamez Quiroz, Gabriela Ruiz Fonseca, all of San Bernardino; Rico Garcia, from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians reservation; and Jesse Felix of Yucaipa.
