La Movida Radio, the Spanish-language radio station serving the Madison area and beyond, and Mid-West Family Broadcasting will come together to host its annual event to recognize Madison-area community leaders and organizations for their contributions and achievements in the state of Wisconsin on Monday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in downtown Madison. The 14th Annual Hispanic Heritage Luncheon will feature delicious food, speeches, entertainment and awards.
“We’re looking forward to having the event at Monona Terrace again and to hear from our guest speaker, Mexican Consul General Claudia Franco Hijuelos of Milwaukee,” says Luis Montoto, owner of La Movida Radio. Her career as a Mexican diplomat spans over three decades and she was promoted to the rank of ambassador in 2017. “Our emcee will once again be Mario Mendoza.”
Leaders and representatives of local Latino and non-Latino institutions are expected to attend the luncheon including Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, City of Fitchburg Mayor Julia Arata Fratta, and City of Madison Common Council President Yannette Figueroa Cole, who will give the proclamation for the event. Special remarks will be made by Interim Dane County Executive Jamie Kuhn.
“The Hispanic Heritage Luncheon is a chance to honor our local leaders and we believe that we have a really good group of people that we will be acknowledging this year,” Montoto says.
The following leaders and entities will be recognized during the luncheon for their contributions to the greater Madison area:
- The Community Institution of the Year will be awarded to The Rainbow Project Executive Director Sharyl J. Kato,
- The Community Leader of the Year will be awarded to Fernando Cano Ospina, the diversity, equity and inclusion director of RISE Wisconsin
- The Hispanic Achievement of the Year will be presented to Alder Yannette Figueroa the Madison Common Council president
Alder Yannette Figueroa Cole - The Amigo Award will be presented to John Patterson, assistant chief of police for the City of Madison Police Department
- The Hispanic Entrepreneur of the Year will be awarded to Nestor and Ashley Rodriguez Owners of Carbon World Health, LLC
- The Believe and Succeed Award will be presented to Nilson Alejandro Riano, administrative planner for the Goodman South Campus
- The Making a Difference Award will be presented to Nancy Saiz, a community development specialist for the City of Madison
La Mvoida broadcasts special programming during Hispanic Heritage Month featuring local Latino personalities. Each year, the United States honors Latinos’ contributions to the nation with a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration Sept.15-Oct. 15. This annual celebration was first established by the US Congress on September 17, 1968, with a weeklong event. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded this celebration to a month.
“The Hispanic Heritage Luncheon is a really fun time. I encourage everybody who is interested to go to the website and sign up while there are seats available,” Montoto says. “The event is free. The deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 4.”
For more information about this event, contact Lupita Montoto via email at [email protected]. To register for the event, click here.
