Mayor
Thomas J. Weisner
City Council
Robert J. O'Connor, Alderman‐At‐large
Richard C. Irvin, Alderman‐At‐Large
Abby Schuler, 1st Ward Alderman
Juany Garza, 2nd Ward Alderman
Stephanie A. Kifowit, 3rd Ward Alderman
Rick Lawrence, 4th Ward Alderman
John “Whitey” Peters, 5th Ward Alderman
Michael B. Saville, 6th Ward Alderman
Scheketa Hart‐Burns, 7th Ward Alderman
Rick Mervine, 8th Ward Alderman
Leroy Keith, 9th Ward Alderman
Lynda Elmore, 10th Ward Alderman
Thank You To Our
Our Mission 2009 Participating Area Schools
Art Contest (Kindergarten‐2nd Grade)
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Dist. 129
Allen Elementary School, Dist. 131
The City of Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory
Annunciation Catholic School
Board, a non‐partisan advisory board that is com‐ Beaupre Elementary School, Dist. 131
munity based and funded by the City of Aurora, Dieterich Elementary School, Dist. 131
serves to act as a bridge between the Hispanic Gombert Elementary School, Dist. 204
community and all other communities in the City of Greenman Elementary School, Dist. 129
Aurora. The Advisory Board recognizes diversity Holy Angels Catholic School
Rollins Elementary School, Dist. 131
throughout the City of Aurora and will; therefore
make a conscious effort to be all‐inclusive. Poster Contest (3rd‐ 5th Grade)
Bardwell Elementary School, Dist. 131
Beaupre Elementary School, Dist. 131
Brady Elementary School, Dist. 131
Gombert Elementary School, Dist. 204
Greenman Elementary School, Dist. 129
Our Vision Hill Elementary School, Dist. 129
Nicholson Elementary School, Dist. 129
Essay Contest (6th ‐ 8th Grade)
* To educate the public and our own Cowherd Middle School, Dist. 131
Jefferson Middle School, Dist. 129
community about the history of Hispanics Simmons Middle School, Dist. 131
who have helped shape the City of Aurora Waldo Middle School, Dist. 129
* To instill pride of our heritage by honoring Youth Leadership and Service Awards (9th ‐ 11th)
East Aurora High School, Dist. 131
those who have come before us and those who
continue to make a difference in our Higher Learning Awards (High School)
Community East Aurora High School, Dist. 131
Oswego East High School, Dist. 308
Marmion Academy
* To participate, support and sponsor activities
Rosary High School
• and education geared to the Hispanic Community. West Aurora High School
Board Members Our Events
Hector Ochoa Jr.
Community Breakfast
(Serving since 2008) The Community Breakfast honors students for excelling in
Through interactions with my customers I identify academics and school. Scholarships are awarded to high
opportunities and solutions to their financial school seniors and college students for their leadership and
needs such as checking, savings, investments, community service. In addition, the winners of the young
estate planning and financing.
artists and essay writer competitions are recognized. The
hochoa@oldsecond.com
Hispanic Board continues to celebrate the memory of Peter J.
Saul Olivas Perez by recognizing a member of the community who
(Serving since 2008) exemplifies his leadership and commitment to the
Employed as an Admissions Representative at community.
Rasmussen College and helping change peoples
lives in the positive direction by obtaining a
El Día de los Niños
higher education. Saturday, April 25, 2009
ProudRunner@aol.com 1 pm to 5 pm
Maria Piceno
El Dia de los Niños is a very special holiday celebrated
(Serving since 2008) throughout Latin America. It is a day for families, schools
Employed as the Executive Director of Aurora and communities to value and uplift children. This event
Shalom Ministries. will include food vendors, many fun filled activities,
office@aurorashalom including rides, moon jumps, clowns and main stage
entertainment.
Fiesta de Luces
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Teresa Rosa‐Jackson
2 pm to 7:30 pm
(Serving since 2000)
Employed as the Executive Director of Bridging Fiesta de Luces is held to celebrate Hispanic Heritage
The Gap of Aurora Inc.
Month, which includes the Festivals of Independence from
trosa‐jackson@d131.org
Spain by Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua. Festival highlights
include the Parade of Nations, with children carrying the
Elizabeth DeLeon, MOSE Board Ex‐Officio
flags of 20 Latin American countries. This event will include
Zacarias Valle, Youth Dept. Board Ex‐Officio
main stage entertainment, food vendors and children’s
activities.
Generous Sponsors
Board Members
Alderman Juany Garza, Ward 2
Alderman Scheketa Hart‐Burns, Ward 7
Best Buy Diana Torres Hawken
95.9 The River (Serving since July 2008)
Employed at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency
Comcast Cable
for Planning (CMAP) in the External Relations
Caterpillar
division as the Latino Outreach Assistant.
Harris N.A. DianaTorresHawken@gmail.com
Hoy
Marketing Works (Verizon Wireless)
Marquette Bank
Old Second Mortgage
Olsson Roofing Mayra Johnson
Painted Penguin (Serving since 2002)
Rasmussen College Employed as an Assistant Principal at Bardwell
Reflejos Elementary School.
Second Federal Savings mjohnson.bardwell@d131.org
State Farm Insurance
Scholarship Sponsors: Martin Medrano
ComEd (Serving since 2008)
Hollywood Casino Employed as a Fine Arts Teacher at West Aurora
Latin American Club High School.
medranoaic@hotmail.com
Special Thanks
Mayor Thomas J. Weisner Lisa Morales
Mayor’s Office of Special Events (Serving since 2008)
Invocation: Pastor Mark Smith, Family & Faith Church
Employed at East Aurora School District 131 as an
Keynote: Robert J. Renteria, Author of From the Barrio to the Board Room
Pledge of Allegiance: Area Students Executive Assistant for 18 years.
National Anthem: Joshua Aaron Michael Welton lmorales@d131.org
Music: Robert Stevenson
Location: Long Island Sound
Books for Students: Writers of the Round Table Inc
Cookies: La Chicanita Bakery
Art Contest Judge: Leah Smith
Keynote
Board Members Robert J. Renteria
Robert J. Renteria, Jr., a successful businessman
Delia Nila Basile turned author, is challenging individuals and
(Serving since 2004) organizations to help him put copies of his
Employed with the City of Aurora empowering memoir, From the Barrio to the
(the community she loves) and is also Board Room, into the hands of at least 1 million
collaborating with co‐author Rita Arias Jirasek at risk children and adults who need it.
documenting the stories of Hispanic families Supported by Congressmen and Mayors,
who lived in Aurora during the early 1900's Princeton University Professors and barrio and
through the 1970s. She seeks your help to tell us ghetto middle school teachers alike, Robert’s
these important stories of your family! message is universal in that everyone has the right to live the
dbasile@aurora‐il.org American Dream.
Renteria came from humble beginnings, growing up in an
Javier Burgos impoverished East L.A. barrio and abandoned by his drug and
(Serving since July 2008) alcohol addicted father. As a teenager, he became involved with a
Employed with the U.S. Government tough street crowd, used and dealt drugs, dropped out of high
(Department of Homeland Security, TSA as a school, and went from one dead‐end job to another. However, upon
Civilian Aviation Security Specials assigned to learning that his estranged father had died in a half‐way house on
O'Hare Airport). In addition, he’s also a skid‐row, Robert resolved to start making better choices in his
practicing Certified Public Accountant and life. After going back for his GED and then honorably serving seven
general partner with the Accounting Firm of years in the United States Army, he moved to Chicago and talked his
Gamboa, DeLeon & Burgos, located in Aurora. way into a job at a laundry management and sales company that
Javierb101@yahoo.com eventually led to a position as vice president of a publicly traded
company on the New York Stock Exchange. His success has
Mary Garza convinced him to strike off on his own, and he has now dedicated
(Serving since August 2008) his life to sharing his story with thousands of other people around
Employed as a Civil Engineer with the City of the world so that they, too, can help break the cycle of poverty
Aurora. through education, hard work and determination.
bestgarza@hotmail.com
Robert has given keynote addresses to the Hispanic National Bar
Association in Chicago, the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus
Beatrice Torres Foundation, and the Chicago Public Schools. He has been profiled
(Serving since 2002) in major media, including Univision, La Raza, Hispanic Executive
Employed by the City of Aurora Human Quarterly, Hoy, and WGN (Adelante Chicago) and numerous
Resources Department. newspapers and magazines.
Program
Board Members
Pledge of Allegiance……………………………………...Area Students
National Anthem……………………Joshua Aaron Michael Welton Cynthia G. Hernandez, Chairman
(Serving since March 2007)
Opening Remarks…………………………………...Cynthia Hernandez Employed at the Aldermen's Office, where
HHAB Chairman her mission is to ensure that the citizens of
Welcome………………………………………..Mayor Thomas J. Weisner Aurora have a better quality of life by
volunteering her time and efforts to
Invocation ………………………………………………...Pastor Mark Smith
community of Aurora.
Family & Faith Church chernandez@aurora‐il.org or 630‐768‐2027.
Breakfast Buffet Claudia Rubio, Vice Chairman
Musical entertainment provided by
Robert Stevenson (Serving since March 2007)
Employed as a Bilingual Program
Coordinator, West Aurora District 129.
Introduction of Mr. Robert Renteria…...Cynthia Hernandez
HHAB Chairman crubio@sd129.org
Guest Speaker…………………………………..Mr. Robert J. Renteria
Author of From the Barrio to the Board Room
Tina Viglucci, Secretary
(Serving since October 2008)
Awards Ceremony Employed as a Spanish Resources Librarian
at the Aurora Public Library
Introduction of Recipients ………………………….Mayra Johnson mcvigl@aurora.lib.il.us
Breakfast Committee Chair
Presentation of Awards ………………….Mayor Thomas Weisner Joel Castillo
Art, Poster & Essay Awards (Serving since March 2007)
Hispanic Youth Leadership & Service Awards A Mortgage Consultant serving the Aurora
Hispanic Youth Leadership and Service Scholarships Community assisting buyers, sellers, and those
refinancing their homes the opportunity to obtain
Introduction of Pete Perez Award ……………….Mayra Johnson right Mortgage Loans. He has over 17 years of
Breakfast Committee Chair experience in banking, crediting, and financing. In
addition, Joel serves as the Communications
Pete Perez Award……………………………………………….Jesse Torres Director for the Northern Illinois Tejano Cultural
Founder of Jesse “the Law” Torres Boxing Club
Society for over ten years, Midwest's only non‐profit
Tejano Organization. (630) 788‐4181
Coloring Contest
Peter J. Perez Award Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
1st Place
The City of Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board celebrates the Abigail Rodriguez
memory of Peter J. Perez each year by recognizing a member of the 2nd Grade
community who exemplifies his leadership and commitment to the Beaupre Elementary School
community. Mr. Perez was born in the boxcar community of primarily
Mexican railroad workers just outside of Aurora. He attended Marmion 2nd Place
Military Academy and the University of Illinois and went on to play Jennifer Sandoval
football for the Chicago Bears. Upon retiring from his sports career, 2nd Grade
Perez joined the Aurora Police Department where he served for 21 Lincoln Elementary School
years. He went on to serve as Kane County’s Undersheriff for 13 years.
He died of cancer in 1999 at the age of 74. The recipient of the 2009 3rd Place
Peter J. Perez Award is: Orlando Franco
2nd Grade
Beaupre Elementary School
Jesse M. Torres
Jesse “the Law” Torres Boxing Club
“Keeping the Punches where they belong” Poster Contest
3rd – 5th Grade
1st Place
Annahi Contreras
5th Grade
Beaupre Elementary School
Jesse Torres was born in 1962 in Lares, Puerto Rico and moved to
Aurora at the age of four. He is a husband and father of three
2nd Place
residing in Montgomery Illinois.
Julissa Delgado
Jesse became an Aurora police officer in 1987 where he is still 4th Grade
actively employed. He is a retired professional boxer, holding a Beaupre Elementary School
record of 30 fights as the #1 contender. His boxing carrier began
at the Avendano Boxing Club in 1975. 3rd Place
With his passion to give back to the community, and strong Frances Ramirez
belief that there must be an alternative to using your fists on the 5th Grade
streets, in 1995 Jesse incorporated the non‐profit organization Bardwell Elementary School
“Jesse The‐Law Torres Boxing Club.”
Essay Contest Winners Youth Leadership & Service
6th – 8th Grade Scholarship Winners ‐ 12th Grade
1st Place Best Buy Leadership/Excellence Overall
Cynthia Amaro Gilberto Chaidez
6th Grade West Aurora High School
Cowherd Middle School
Comcast Leadership/Excellence in Academics
2nd Place Andres Garcia
Paulina Meraz East Aurora High School
8th Grade
Hoy Leadership/Excellence in School Community
Simmons Middle School
Yesenia Melendez
3rd Place East Aurora High School
Sheah Foster Caterpillar Leadership/Excellence in Aurora Community
8th Grade Gabriela Valenzuela
Jefferson Middle School Rosary High School
Leadership/Excellence Awards Youth Leadership & Service
9th – 11th Grade Scholarship Winners ‐ College Students
Leadership/Excellence Overall ComEd Leadership/Excellence Overall
Rosalba Torres Yanet Favela
11th Grade North Central College
East Aurora High School
Leadership/Excellence in Academics
Leadership/Excellence in Academics Frida Arroyo
Jorge Antunez Waubonsee Community College
11th Grade
East Aurora High School Leadership/Excellence in School Community
Fatima Garcia
Leadership/Excellence in School Community
University of Minnesota
Jessica Vargas
11th Grade
Leadership/Excellence in Aurora Community
East Aurora High School
David Luna II
Leadership/Excellence in Aurora Community Western Illinois University
Janitza Munoz
9th Grade