32nd Annual Awards Gala
"Latinos Leading in the Arts"
The hallmark event of Hispanic Heritage Month, CHCI's 32nd Annual Awards Gala, drew more than 2,200 guests, including 62 Members of Congress, ambassadors, celebrities, dignitaries, CHCI sponsors, fellows, and alumni to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. During an elegant night to remember, CHCI honored "Latinos Leading in the Arts."
CHCI Chair Nydia M. Velázquez and CHCI President & CEO highlighted the organization's leadership development programs for Latinos and CHCI's 2009-2010 class of Fellows took to the stage to be recognized as the next generation of Latino leaders.
The introduction of the evening's guests read like the "Yellow Pages of Latin Power" combined with many of our nation's leaders. The list included the president of the United States, the First Lady, the Speaker of the House, the Senate majority leader, an A-list of senators and congressmen, Cabinet secretaries, and ambassadors, and many more.
President Barack Obama returned to this year's gala, no longer a candidate, but the first minority president of the United States. In addition to appointing the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice in Sonia Sotomayor, he said that the list of Latinos and Latinas, in about equal measure, in high-level positions in his administration exceeds any other administration in history: and he's not finished yet. 
But he noted that he not only selected the best Latino for the job, but the best person for the job. He said that his proudest moment as president was when Justice Sotomayor was sworn into office. "Across America," he said, "millions of American children set their sights higher. Our success depends on our willingness to see our challenges together."
He pledged to tackle the dropout rate and return America once again to the highest college graduation rate the in the world, to press forward to ensure Americans work in the clean energy jobs of tomorrow, and to provide affordable health insurance for all Americans. He noted that Hispanics are more likely to be uninsured and Hispanic small businesses are likely, like all small businesses, to be struggling to provide coverage.
"No one," he said, "should be dropped from coverage due to preexisting conditions; no one should go broke because they got sick." While he noted that the undocumented won't be covered under the plan, it underscores the need to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi quoted President Kennedy, "There is a connection between achievement in public life and the arts," in recognizing the importance of Latino culture in our nation. She said that the House is studying a new museum for Latino culture to honor the ways Latino immigrants have enriched our culture. She added her commitment to pass comprehensive healthcare reform, seek energy independence, create new green jobs, and provide a world class education for all our children, including $100 million per year for Hispanic-serving institutions.
Puerto Rican music icon Marc Anthony, accompanied by his wife Jennifer Lopez, was on hand to accept the 2009 Chair's Lifetime Achievement Award and celebrate his birthday. He was recognized as the most influential artist of his generation, who ushered in the 1999 Latin pop explosion with his smash single hit "I Need to Know."
Also recognized were CHCI 2009 Medallion of Excellence Winners, Eduardo "Lalo" Guerrero and Soledad O'Brien. Guerrero was internationally recognized as the "Father of Chicano Music" and wrote hundreds of songs during his seven-decade career. Soledad O'Brien is an anchor and special correspondent for CNN/U.S. Her upcoming documentary "Latino in America" examines the growing diversity within our nation.
The evening's festivities were hosted by news anchor Maria Hinojosa and included a special appearance by actor and comedian John Leguizamo and a featured performance by Ozomatli. The 2009 CHCI Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented posthumously to Anna Maria Arias for her strides to advance Latinas within the United States.
The 32nd Annual Awards Gala was hosted by CHCI's Legacy Partner, Walmart.
To view photos and video highlights from the 32nd Annual Awards gala, click here.
