2008 Positive Image Award Recipients:

Telacu Chairman /CEO David Lizarraga, UCLA gerontologist Dr. Fernando Torres Gill and Little Willie G, the lead singer for the1960’s band “The Midniters” will be honored at HOT’s 14th annual Positive Image Awards ( PIA) & Scholarship Presentation on May 1st, 2008 at the Onmi Hotel at 6:00pm in Downtown Los Angeles.

This years’s awardees are legends in the Los Angeles Hispanic Community  and have made significant contribution’s in the areas of community economic development, senior care policy and Latino participation in Rock n Roll History”, said Betty Rengifo Tucker. “ their lasting contributions have improved the quality of life for thousands of people for many decades.” Each year more than 400 elected city officials, business people and community stakeholders attend the PIA gala dinner to recognize the community leaders in the areas of education, business, community, affairs and humanities. The gala wil also feature live and silent auctions and a scholarship fundraiser.

At TELACU, Lizarraga oversees the largest community development corporation in the United States, and manages more than $500 million in assets. He’s also credited with creating TELACU’s innovative model that allows for profit activities through TELACU Industries to fund its parent nonprofit CDC, which provide programs for young people, veterans, families, and senior citizens.

Torres-Gil is acting dean of the UCLA School of Public Affairs and is the director of the Center for Policy Research on Aging. He’s an expert in the field of health and long term care, the politics of aging, social policy, ethnicity and disability.

Born Willie Garcia, Litle Willie G’s charisma, stage presence and vocal range helped the Thee Midniters become the greatest Latino rock band of the 1960’s. The group reached Billboard Magazine’s Top 100 nationally with “Land of 1000 Dances”. Today, he serves as an ordained minister and oversees Willie G Ministries in Whittier, which provides young people alternatives to gang activity and crime.

HOT will also present scholarships to college bound high school seniors from throughout the Southeast Los Angeles County area.

The Positive Image Awards (PIA) were created by the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce to combat negative images of Latinos portrayed in the media and to identify and honor outstanding people who contribute in a positive manner to the well being of the Hispanic community especially for our youth in the areas of education, business, community affairs and the humanities.  Previous Positive Image Award recipients include:

2007 Positive Image Awards

Dionicio MoralesLegendary Eastside Activist Dionicio Morales, who launched his career fighting on behalf of migrant farm workers during the Bracero Era, is the founder of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation ( MAOF). Having felt the sting of racial prejudice and inequality early as a young man, Morales established the MAOF in 1963 to provide job training and social services for low income Mexican-Americans- at the same time, creating a national model for nonprofit organizations serving the community. Today MAOF is the largest Hispanic -American community service agency in the Unites States with an annual budget greater than $60 million and offices throughout Southern California. In a career filled with many achievements and accolades, Morales will be remembered as an undying advocate for the Hispanic community and an unyielding champion for civil rights, equal opportunity and justice.
Founder Mexican American Opportunity Foundation

Moctesuma EsparzaAward winning film producer Moctesuma Esparza has carved a niche in the motion picture industry by mastering the biographical film genre and chronicling the contemporary Latino experience in the Unites States. Films like "Gods and Generals", which captured the rise and fall of legendary Civil War hero Stonewall Jackson, and HBO's "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge", which traces the early days of the entertainer's career, demonstrate Esparza's appreciation for historical events and figures. His work in HBO's "Walkout " and the feature film, "Selena," created a vehicle for Hispanic and mainstream audiences to experience these events, which had transformational impacts on the Latino community. Esparza, who's also a successful entertainment industry executive, recently established a chain of movie complexes called Maya Cinemas.
Film producer /CEO Maya Cinemas

The Honorable Pete EspinozaIn a legal career that spans more than 25 years, the Honorable Pete Espinosa, who's currently the Supervising Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court's Southeast District, has served the community from both sides of the bench. In the early 80's he served as a public interest attorney in San Fernando Valley and as a public defender in Orange County. Espinosa is a former presiding judge of the Southeast Municipal Court and Superior Court commissioner. In 2006 he was appointed to the Judicial Council of California, the constitutional policymaking body for the nation's largest court system. Espinosa who sits on the HOT Advisory Board is passionate advocate for higher education and chair's the organization's Scholarship Committee, as well as the Cerritos College Foundation Board.
Supervising Judge Southeast District, Los Angeles County Superior Court

Louis BarajasLouis Barajas is a nationally recognized expert on small business issues and sought after keynote speaker and writer. Born in East Los Angeles and the son of Mexican immigrants, he began his career in his teens by helping his parents with their wrought iron business. Barajas earned an MBA from Claremont Graduate School in 1987 and went on to work for a prestigious Orange County accounting firm. After working with the "yacht and Mercedes" crowd for several years, he left the firm to start his own tax and wealth planning business in East Los Angeles and help working class Latino families make smart decisions with their money. His 2003 book "the Latino Journey to Financial Greatness", received praise from community leaders like Henry Cisneros, Edward James Olmos and David Lizarraga, and captures a Latino Literary Award as the 2004 Best Self Help Book, His second book, "Small Business, Big Life" was published in 2007.
Author/Financial Expert

Rose Marie Joyce, Ed.D.
President Emeritus Rio Hondo College

2006 Positive Image Awards

Carlos JacksonCarlos Jackson joined the Community Development Commission in June 1983 and has held various management positions since then. In February 1991 after a national search, he was appointed Executive Director by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. In this capacity, Mr. Jackson oversees the County's community development and redevelopment programs, affordable housing, and special needs housing programs. He is Chair of the Community Services Taskforce Goal #6; CO-Chair of the special needs housing Alliance; and Co-Chair of the Bring Los Angeles Home Committee, which has a 10-year goal to end homelessness. Prior to his career with the Commission, Mr. Jackson was the Assistant City Manager of Compton, California. His first public sector assignment was serving on Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley's executive staff, where he assisted in the coordination of the City's federal and state grants. In addition he was the assistant dean of students at Stanford University and held an administrative position with the school of Public Administration at the University of Southern California. Mr. Jackson received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from California State University, Los Angeles and in 1981 he earned a Doctorate of Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He served a three year term as a National Council Member of the American Society of Public Administrations (APA) and is past (2002-2003) President of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Chapter; has participated in several professional organizations; and has had articles appear in the Los Angles Times, California Counties Magazine; Journal of Housing, California Business Magazine; Guide for Minority Owned Business; and La Opinion.
Executive Director of Los Angeles County Community Development

Victor FrancoMr. Victor Franco was born in Jalisco, Mexico. Victor grew up in Compton California. He attended local public schools and graduated from Compton College. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Los Angeles. He holds an Adult Education Certificate from USC and a Certificate in Business Ethics from Pepperdine University. Victor's professional experience began serving as Public Information Officer for the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center for Developmentally Disabled, a State which serves the disabled community. From 1984 through 2003, Mr. Franco held numerous positions with increasing responsibility and duties within the Miller Brewing Company ultimately appointed to the position of Director, Corporate Affairs, Western Region. In this position, he was responsible for 11 Western States and the administration of the Miller Brewing Company corporate contributions program. From 2000-2003 he was elected to serve as City Councilman for the City of Monrovia. In 2000, Governor Davis appointed Victor to the State Workforce Investment Board. Victor has received numerous awards for his support and work with organizations such as: the USC Mexican- American Alumni Association, the San Gabriel Valley Boy Scouts Council, Black Business Association of Pasadena, the Black American Cinema Society, as well as commendations from Congressional representatives and the California State Senate and Assembly. In response to the lack of scholarships in the technical careers in April 1992, Victor conceptualized TOOLS FOR SUCCESS. Today, it is the nation's first and only scholarship program that provides graduates of the Los Angeles Trade Tech College with Scholarships in the form of the tools students will need to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation. MR. Franco currently holds the position of Vice President, Community/Media Relations for NBC/Telemundo canal 52 y canal 22 based in Burbank, CA. He is the Division head position responsible for establishing working relationships with local, regional, state and federal elected officials. Mr. Franco is also responsible for the corporation's relationship with national, trade and local media and is the official company spokesperson. He works closely with both news departments.
Director of Community Affairs & Media Relations, Telemundo TV 52

Dr. Richard and Mrs. Rebecca ZapantaRichard Zapanta was born and raised in East Los Angeles. He graduated from Garfield High School, East Los Angeles College and received a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology From the University of Southern California. He attended Haverford College in Philadelphia, participating for one-year in a Baccalaureate Fellowship Program. HE graduated from USC School of Medicine in 1973, completing his post graduate training in Los Angeles County USC Medical Center, including a surgical internship, a one year Neurology residency, and a four year Orthopedic residency. Dr. Zapanta has been in private practice since 1979 and is the senior partnered Eastside Orthopedic Medical Associates. Dr. Zapanta has long been very committed to the cause of education in the Hispanic Community. He has supported numerous scholarship funds including Chicanos for Creative Medicine and he is a founding member for the USC Mexican American Alumni Scholarship Fund. He gives a yearly scholarship to deserving Garfield High School student and annually sponsors a student from the USC School of Medicine MedCor Summer Work Program. He frequently speaks to high school, college and medical students, encouraging them to continue striving for a better education. Dr. Zapanta has contributed to numerous non-profit and charitable organizations such as Padres Contra Cancer, Bilingual Foundation of the Arts, the Orthopedic Research and Educational Fund, Eastside Boys and Girls Club, National Medical Fellowships, Beverly Hospital Foundation, NOSOTROS, Los Angeles Music-Art School, East Los Angeles College Foundation, and the Museum of Latin American Art. Dr. Zapanta is married to Rebecca Zapanta, who wholeheartedly supports her husbands commitments and endeavors and is herself, very involved in numerous community activities. They reside in Whittier and have five children. It is Dr. Zapanta's dream that his children will achieve educational success and contribute back to their community.
Orthopedic Surgeon and philanthropist

Ignacio RojasIgnacio "Nacho" Rojas was born in Boyle Heights, grew up in Tijuana Baja California, Mexico; attended elementary school there and graduated from Garfield High School in East Los Angeles. He then attended California State University, Los Angeles. He completed two bachelor's degrees and a master's degree in Education; became a high school teacher for the Whittier Union School District at Santa Fe High School; and then worked as a director for Title I / Expanded Horizons Program. After joining the Los Angeles County Office of Education Migrant Education Program, he has had an integral part in the development of various programs for parents. He is currently the coordinator of the Parent Academy for the Los Angeles County Office of Education, as well as an educational consultant and presenter. Nacho and his staff established the first Parent Education Center for Los Angeles County, including he development of the Home School Connection Series, the first curriculum and first bilingual curriculum for parent education in the County and the State of California.
Coordinator of the Parent Academy for the Los Angeles County Office of Education

2004 Positive Image Awards

Dr. Carmella S. FrancoSuperintendent of the Whittier City School District, Dr. Franco culminates over a quarter of a century of educational service to children. Her manta has been, "I will do anything I can see that our students receive the quality education they deserve". At the same time, she has provided the necessary support to the schools to see that it indeed occurs. Before moving to Whittier, Dr. Franco taught and began her administrative career in Rowland Unified School District; she served in two principalships in Basset Unified School District, and headed the Lennox School District personnel department. She did her undergraduate work at California State University, Los Angeles, graduating Cum Laude with a degree in Music. Her Master's Degree, also from CSULA, was in Elementary Education. Dr. Franco later earned a doctorate of education with a major in Educational Management from the University of La Verne. The topic of her dissertation was nontraditional negotiation methods. Dr. Franco has taught Educational Administrative courses at CSULA and has lectured for the Doctoral program and for the Educational Administration department at the University of La Verne.
Superintendent of Whittier City School District

Rose EspinozaRose Espinosa is the youngest of 8 Children. She was raised in a migrant camp known as Campo Colorado in the City of La Habra. An advocate of volunteerism, 860 hours per year went to a program she founded called Rosie's Garage, a nationally recognized after school-tutoring program started in 1991 out of concern for growing gang activity and low educational attainment of children in her neighborhood, Camp Corona. Living in a low income neighborhood with a high rate of gang involvement among youth, Espinosa took it upon herself to change that, for the good of her neighborhood, but also for the good of her then 8-year old son, Chris , Whom she says was born to shake and wake her out of her reluctance to get involved . Gang activity began phasing out and was an example of a neighborhood helping itself with Espinosa at the helm as Volunteer Executive Director. The program, started in 1991, has received national recognition from former President Clinton in 1994 as the Points of Light Presidential Service Award recipient. Co-founders of The New American Alliance, Henry Cisneros and Raul Yzaguiree of NCLR, nominated Espinosa to receive their first ever 2002 Philanthropy award and her work with Children was the subject of a documentary " Rosie's Garage" which aired in 2002 on KCET.
La Habra City Council, Founder of Rosie’ Garage an after school tutoring program for at risk youth in La Habra.

Tony PlanaTony Plana was educated at Loyola Marymount University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree through the Honors Program in Literature and Theater Arts, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He received his professional training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. Plana starred in Showtime's landmark, groundbreaking hit Series Resurrection Boulevard. It was the first English speaking weekly series in the history of television to be produced , written, directed and starring Latinos. It was the first of its kind to be renewed for three seasons on a television network and the most awarded series in Showtime's history. He was nominated for the 2001 and 2002 ALMA awards for Best Actor and received the 2002 ALAM award for Best Television Series- Resurrection Blvd. In addition Tony has started the East L.A. Classic Theatre group comprised of Hispanic Americans theatre professionals and Beyond Borders which utilizes the performing arts to impact literacy skills in academically at risk bi-lingual students.
Actor, producer, director and educator

Manuel HidalgoManuel Hidalgo was co-founder of the Mexican American Lawyers Club, which is now known as the Mexican American Bar Association. (MABA) Mr. Hidalgo has handled criminal, divorce, workers compensation, product liability, medical malpractice and class action lawsuits. His biggest accomplishments include filing many appeals on over 20 different decisions involving laws in the State of California. These cases have helped establish new laws in the state. Manual attended Michigan State and graduated from Wayne State Law School.
Attorney at law