“Simply, I’m a public servant. I exchange my intellectual labor for wages. That’s how I pay my rent; that’s how I feed my children. That’s how I engage with my community,” Armando Ibarra told the crowd at the Centro Hispano 28th Annual Celebration – A Mini Gala and Awards Ceremony at the Madison Club Nov. 17. “I’m a member of the community; I’m not a leader of the community. I engage with my community as an equal. That’s how I live my life. Equality should be at every level of every place that we interact at as people.”

At the event, Ibarra was presented with the 2017 Roberto G. Sánchez Award, which honors an individual, group or organization that has demonstrated leadership in advancing educational and career opportunities for Latinos. Ibarra, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin Extension’s School for Workers, the oldest labor education program in the country said that he was very humbled to receive the award.

“Centro Hispano is an organization that I deeply respect because of the roots that they have in the community and the good that they bring not just to the families that they work with but the community at large,” Ibarra says. “We’re all here. We’re all community. We’re all going to build a better future for everybody.”

Sergio González was presented with the 2017 Ilda Conteris Thomas Award, named in honor of Ilda Conteris Thomas, who was the first-ever executive director at Centro Hispano 34 years ago.

“I’m originally from Milwaukee. I’m proud to have my parents with me here today,” González said. “I’m first-generation Mexican-American and first-generation college student and everything that I’ve been able to accomplish in my life has been because of them and for the opportunities they have provided me and the work ethic they have given me.”

Sergio González accepts his 2017 Ilda Conteris Thomas Award.

González is a doctoral candidate in the Department of History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been lecturing about the history of Latinos in Wisconsin as well as the historical roots of many immigration issues now in the news. He told the crowd that his work is fundamentally about integrating the history of Latinos in Wisconsin to the greater narrative of the history of Wisconsin.

“To remind Wisconsinites from across the state that Latinos are not new to the state,” he said. “And despite the attacks on our community and the attacks on who we are and our sense of belonging here, our community has been here for over 100 years. Latinos have come to this state to make their homes in the 1880s and despite any sort of attack that may be coming down the line – whether its tomorrow or the next day – we will continue to stay.

“It’s an honor to receive this award,” González added. “ I’ve been doing a lot of work here in this community and I’d like to think that this work is a form of service. It’s not something I do for leadership and it’s definitely not something I do for recognition.”

Attendees get ready to dance at the Centro Hispano Annual Celebration.

At the Centro Hispano Annual Celebration, talented young students were honored with High School Beca Awards including Brikny Ayala, Samantha Diaz, Diana Nava, and Karla Torres. Arely Ugalde and Karen Perez-Wilson were honored with College Beca Awards.

Centro Hispano Executive Director Karen Menendez Coller announced that the Centro Hispano board of directors has established a new award to honor the life and legacy of photographer and community activist Marcus Miles that will be celebrated each year at the annual celebration.

“Marcus Miles was 54 when he left us this year. He had the best smile. He was kind, generous. Always optimistic, a gentleman, and a masterful photographer. He was a friend, a supporter of the community, and a gentle soul,” Menendez Coller said. “Marcus photographed so many banquets and annual celebrations that it’s tough to not have him here tonight. As a community, we are at a loss on how to move on without him. He was our voice through pictures – always intent upon catching the beauty in our neighborhoods and always being so respectful of the diverse colors within our city. He was always committed to equity through his lens.

“The Marcus Miles Volunteer Award will be given annually to the individual whose energy and support is essential to the advancement of Centro Hispano in our community,” she added. “Although he’s not here with us physically, we know that he is with us here always. We choose to give the award tonight to Marcus. And here to receive the award on his behalf is our beautiful Rissel [Sanderson,] a member of our board of directors.”

“This is a big honor for him,” said Sanderson, Miles’s longtime girlfriend and life partner, accepting the award. “Thank you, Centro Hispano. This is for you, baby.”

Menendez Coller went on to say that she is going to miss Marcus Miles deeply. “People like Marcus, his energy is essential to this city. They sustain our community, especially during rough times,” she said. “Last year, we gathered in November at Monona Terrace [after the presidential election] when we were wounded and bruised. We felt confused and hurt and I, personally, was very angry. We did not know what the future would hold, but the energy of the room that night told me that we have the resolve to fight to protect our community.”

Rey Cruz and Centro Hispano Executive Director Karen Menendez Coller

This year, Menendez Coller said, Centro Hispano has focused on engagement with youth. “Centro has reinforced itself as the hub. We are a hub for a crisis response team that came together at the site of 2017 prepared and ready to respond to any immigration-related emergency,” she said.

“We have done things this year that I never thought we would do or want to do,” Menendez Coller added. “When I see the strength of my staff and when I see their commitment and resilience, I know that together we are here to continue to act and defend and to seize our dreams. The dreams of El Salvadoran parents who gave up absolutely every dream they could have for themselves … so I could achieve mine. The dreams of a Mexican-American mother who works every single job imaginable so her daughter can be better. The dreams of a student from Costa Rica whose desire is simply to realize her full potential. The dreams of our Puerto Rican community who wish for nothing more than justice and respect. The dream of a Bolivian mother who fails to accept that a clean DREAM Act is not a possibility for their undocumented daughter.

“These are the dreams we are intent upon defending. These are the dreams of your community. These are the dreams of my staff. These are the dreams of my family,” she continued. “I realize this year that all the work that we do at Centro is worth it 10 times over because I am not willing to watch these dreams die. It’s time for action. It’s time to stand together with us and to make a statement. Let’s make sure that Centro starts out in 2018 the strongest it has ever been.”