Assemblymember Lee honors Latino community leaders

In celebration of Latino Heritage Month, Assemblymember Alex Lee recently honored Latino community leaders alongside co-host Alameda County Supervisor Elisa Márquez.

“During this month, we come together to celebrate the rich histories, cultures, contributions and achievements of the Latino community,” said Lee, whose District 24 includes Milpitas. “The hard work and dedication of Latino individuals is imprinted in every corner of our community and California.”

Honorees included Leticia Garcia, a resident of San Jose’s Berryessa neighborhood. As a bilingual kindergarten teacher at Brooktree Elementary School, Garcia helps young students of immigrant families and Latino backgrounds gain a sense of belonging at school. She often translates for families and helps them with their needs outside the classroom in the Brooktree community.

Patricia Montejano has lived in Fremont with her family for over 30 years. She is the eldest of three and immigrated to the U.S. with her parents when she was 2. She has served on the Fremont Human Relations Commission since 2016 and is a co-chair of the LGBTQ subcommittee. Professionally, Patricia has worked for the Newark Police Department since 1997.

Newark resident Diego Torres served as the student member of the Newark Unified School District board for the 2022-2023 school year. In that role, he organized meetings with student groups and the superintendent to discuss ways to improve and update district facilities. He was a leader in creating a report on improving the quality of WiFi at Newark Memorial High School and bringing a resolution to the board. He also started a recycling program in the school district.

The Newark Promotores Network is a group of volunteer leaders who support almost 1,000 Spanish-speaking families, helping them access services for various educational, financial and social needs.