ABC7 Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 2016

Hispanic Heritage Month is here and to celebrate we are highlighting Hispanic history, people, and culture here in the Bay Area all month! ABC7 is proud to celebrate the Bay Area's rich cultural diversity, a custom for over 25 years.

NOMINATE SOMEONE YOU KNOW

We invite you to join us in honoring local residents who have made important contributions to the community. Nominate an inspiring community member for our Hispanic Heritage Month campaign on Instagram. In seven sentences, tell us why they should be featured. Send your email to kgo-tv.community@abc.com for consideration or fill out the form below:

Educate2Envision

Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15 thru 10/15) begins today and to celebrate we are highlighting Hispanic history, people, and culture here in the Bay Area all month! San Leandro-born Katia Gomez is the child of a single mother, and financial assistance played a major role in helping Katia become the first in her family to finish college. After graduating from UC San Diego and a volunteer trip to Honduras, she decided to pay it forward tenfold by starting Educate2Envision, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making high school a reality in the farthest corners of Honduras. She has since helped over 100 low-income students become the first in their communities to go beyond sixth grade. Currently, Katia is spearheading a new initiative to bring economic development to these same communities through Adelante Coffee - creating jobs for students and small producers by bringing their coffee to the US market. She also continues her work with connecting Bay Area high school students with students in Honduras to promote cultural exchange and a greater understanding of the challenges youth face worldwide to access education. Photo courtesy of Katia Gomez.

LCF

Jacqueline Martinez Garcel is the CEO of the Latino Community Foundation (LCF) (@latinocommfdn) - the only statewide foundation solely focused on investing in Latino leaders in California. Under her leadership, LCF has already secured over $1 million to expand its work across the state. This includes growing the Latino Giving Circle Network, which currently has over 200 Latino donors committed to investing in Latino-led organizations that are improving the lives of families and youth. According to Jacqueline, "there is no better place than California to lead a movement to democratize philanthropy." Jacqueline is also busy empowering Latinos to be fully engaged in the civic and political life of our state and country. LCF recently launched a statewide campaign to reach 1 million eligible voters and register 10,000 Latinos for the 2016 election. Photo courtesy of LCF. #BeInspired #WhereYouLive #abc7celebrates #HispanicHeritageMonth #Philanthropy #California #LatinoCommunityFoundation #GivingCircle #Latina #LCF #CEO #LatinosVote #YoVoyAVotar

La Luz Center

There is a lot to celebrate at La Luz Center (@LaLuzCenter) in Sonoma right now! They recently celebrated 30 years of providing support to immigrant families in the Sonoma Valley. And the folks at La Luz are thrilled to have just moved into their brand new Community Services Center in early September. As stated by La Luz's Executive Director Juan Hernandez in his speech at the facility's ribbon cutting (pictured here with La Luz Founder Ligia Booker), "This Ribbon Cutting Signifies...La Luz Center's Flight into the FUTURE. Where we will be the catalyst for change in Sonoma Valley, to continue to create a strong, vibrant Sonoma Valley. Viva La Luz! Viva Sonoma Valley! Viva You!" Congratulations to everyone at La Luz on this exciting achievement! Photo courtesy of Sonoma Valley Sun. #BeInspired #WhereYouLive #ABC7celebrates #hispanicheritagemonth #LaLuzCenter #LaLuz #Sonoma #SonomaValley #CommunityCare

Latino Futures

Latino Futures is a brand new Bay Area-based think tank that specializes in research and education, with a critical focus on the importance of the country's growing Latino population. Founded by Mara Perez Ph.D., this platform provides a forward-thinking approach to helping businesses, philanthropy and the non-profit sector find lasting success by tapping into and investing in the growing pool of Latino talent in the United States. Some of the earliest data shared by Latino Futures reveals what Mara calls a "Latino prosperity movement," strengthened through local success in technology, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy. Photo courtesy of Mara Perez. #BeInspired #WhereYouLive #abc7celebrates #HispanicHeritageMonth #Philanthropy #Business #Entrepreneurship #Technology #LatinoFutures #Latina