by Raquel Sharp-Mendoza
Hispanic Heritage Month Left to right: Guillermo “Memo” Morantes, Mary Helen Rocha, Marcia Treidler, Cío Hernández, Marcia Treidler, Martín Mora, and Tony Ramírez hold their certificates received from KQED as Latino heroes. (photo by Marvin J. Ramírez)
To open Hispanic Heritage Month, KQED presented its annual Local Heroes event, honoring those who have excelled with their contribution to the advancement and better the lives of Latinos.
This year’s heroes included Cío Hernández, from the Marín County Health and Human Servicews Department; Martín Mora, Fire Fighters of Northern California; Guillermo “Memo” Morantes, New York Life Insurance; Tony Ramírez, Dover Elementary School; Mary Helen Rocha, The Perinatal Council; and Marcia Treidler, with ABADA- Capoeira San Francisco Grazilian Arts Center.
During his acceptance speech, Morantes said that in the Spanish language there is no concept of volunteering.
“When it comes to deciding where to volunteer or ‘to help’ with, it should be something that is dear to your heart and there should be some personal interest to make sure you stay committed.
For example, I started volunteering because of my sons,” Morantes said.
Helen Rocha pointed out: “I came up in a time in the U.S. when Latinos were not acknowledged and much less recognized for our involvement and contributions. I had to fight to get elected and had to fight stay in.
