On the last day of this year’s National Hispanic Heritage Month, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer hosted the 10th Annual Hispanic and Latinx Leadership Awards at the Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside.
“Western Queens is an amazing place, we love these neighborhoods that we call home for a reason and part of that reason, I believe, is because of our diversity — because we are so rich in so many cultures and nationalities, races, people of different sexual orientation and gender identities, all coming together to make one community,” Van Bramer said during the Oct. 15 ceremony.
The intimate event recognized six Queens-based Hispanic and Latinx community leaders.
The honorees were Beny Castro, marketer and liaison for Sunnyside Shines BID; Kevin Montalvo, founder of Queens Distance Runners and race director of Queens Marathon; Maritza Silva-Farrell, executive director of ALIGN NY; Martha Sanchez, education activist and community organizer; Memo Salazar, filmmaker and activist; and Rosalie Quinones, Queens community advocate and former public school administrator.
To read the full article, visit QNS