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(Foto por Sara mayordomo)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Many community leaders were in attendance at the luncheon. Of those leaders, several political figures attended including Senate pro tempore Toni G. Atkins, Assembly member Todd Gloria, Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Council member Barbara Bry.<\/p>\n
One of the openers of the ceremony was Atkins, introduced as a \u201ctrailblazer\u201d representing the compassion and values of the organization, such as being pragmatic with goals and firm in her beliefs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a day in our time and country in which it\u2019s kind of hard not to think about what\u2019s going on all around us,\u201d Atkins said. \u201cAnd there is nowhere better to be than here with the [inaudible] people celebrating the diversity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year is about 35 years since I graduated from college and I have taken 30 years to find this kind of community. It is you,\u201d she continued, eliciting a roar of applause from the audience.<\/p>\n
She referenced the four programs RISE has \u201cto help the community become stronger so that our voices become louder, and that we empower each other and support each other so that some of the things going on in this country and in this world that are absolutely unacceptable \u2013 we don\u2019t take it. We rise up. That is what we are here to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following Atkins, other speakers included San Diego State President Adela de la Torre as well as RISE fellows, Janice Luna Reynoso (2018 program) and Tamara Muhammad (2015 program).<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes a collective in order to get this work done,\u201d Muhammad said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough these different portions of RISE, I call them, a familia was born. That familia has gotten each and every one of us out of our seats to do something for our community,\u201d she continued, adding that this \u2018familia\u2019 extends past Southeast San Diego to North County; Tijuana, Mexico; and all over the San Diego.<\/p>\n
In addition to the numerous speeches, live music was performed throughout the event, with a focused theme on community and connection.<\/p>\n
And the artistic influence didn\u2019t end there. Various videos \u2014 focusing on RISE programs and community projects \u2014 played on a projector throughout the event between the speeches and performances. In particular, one video highlighted \u201cVinnie: A Love Letter,\u201d a novel written by Ronald Preston Clark, which was sold at the event.<\/p>\n
This publication is Clark\u2019s community action project; through some of the proceeds of the novel, a program will be started a scholarship fund for a black, male, high school senior student from Southeast San Diego. Additionally, Clark will be collecting written work from high school books and publishing an anthology entitled \u201cBrave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to give our young men spaces to express themselves in a positive manner,\u201d Clark said. \u201cI know how much writing has saved my life. I know how much my community sent me to college. I want to do the same for our young men.\u201d<\/p>\n
Concluding the event was the moment everyone was waiting for \u2014 the awards. All of the community leaders, as well as a representative from each of the sponsors, were invited onto the stage for the ceremony.<\/p>\n
These awards are intended to \u201chonor local champions of diversity, equity, and inclusion that are advancing opportunities for all,\u201d according to a press release. The organization sought nominations of individuals and organizations making a difference and leaving a positive impact throughout the San Diego region, including Uptown neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
2018 ILIA Awards nominees:<\/strong><\/p>\n RISE awarded nominees in four categories: Prosperity, Democracy, Security and Economy. Inclusive and diverse leadership in these fields.<\/p>\n The Prosperity Award highlighted achieving \u201ca successful, flourishing and thriving condition \u2026 focused the areas of community, education, health and environment.\u201d The honor was given to Joseph Ruanto-Ramirez of UCSD.<\/p>\n San Diego LGBT Pride won the Democracy Award, which \u201clooks to evidence of diversity, equity and inclusion in voting among public officials and through voice.\u201d<\/p>\n The Security Award focused on \u201cproviding individuals and communities with a sense of security about public safety, community policing, and fire and emergency medical services.\u201d Sean Shephard for Game Changer received the award.<\/p>\n The final honor, the Economy Award, was presented to Made in Paradise Hills for inclusion and diversity when it comes to \u201cincome, inclusion and housing.\u201d<\/p>\n Event sponsors included more than 25 organizations, institutions and businesses, including KPBS, Cox Communications, Jacobs Center, and University of San Diego, among others. A full list can be found online.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you to all the sponsors. You are investing. You are investing and you will get a return on that investment in ways you may never, never fully get to see, but you will,\u201d Atkins said.<\/p>\n Read previous coverage of RISE San Diego \u2014 from our sister publication, Gay San Diego \u2014 at gay-sd.com\/when-we-rise<\/a>. For more information about the organization, visit risesandiego.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n