Nuestra Latina awards: HCC to honor standout Latinas
The public is invited to a program honoring outstanding area Latinas. On Oct. 1, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City (HCC) will recognize the women with awards across five categories. The first annual Nuestra Latina awards event being held in the BEST Conference Center on the University of Kansas Edwards Campus in Overland Park will acknowledge exceptional accomplishments in entrepreneurship/business, health and wellness, STEM education and philanthropy. One Latina will receive a lifetime achievement award.
The Chamber on Sep. 19 announced the inaugural Nuestra Latina award winners. Mariana Ramírez Mantilla, director of the Juntos Center at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) is the winner of the health and wellness award
The entrepreneurship/business award goes to Joelsette Hernandez, founder and CEO of Pharos Partners, Inc., a Merriam, Kan.-based IT and engineering staffing firm. .
Denisse Osorio de Large, an engineering executive at Cerner Corp. will receive the STEM/education award. Valerie Coyazo, manager of supplier diversity at KCP&L is the recipient of the philanthropy award. CiCi Rojas, partner and president of Tico Productions and Tico Sports will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement award.
An awards committee made up of Hispanic Chamber members chaired by Marcella Aguirre and Zoraya Rowlands selected the winners on Sep. 14 from nominations by chamber members and non-members.
Committee chair Aguirre will present the personalized art glass awards at the Oct. 1 program.
Tickets to the event are on sale now by calling the chamber office at 816-472-6767 during business hours. Tickets are $15 per person for members, $20 for non-members and can be purchased with cash or credit or debit card. Admission includes appetizers and a beverage. The program runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Tickets for last-minute guests will be sold at the door, but Aguirre says, “We prefer that people RSVP and purchase their ticket by calling the chamber office by 4 p.m., Friday, Sep. 28.”
The venue has a seating capacity of 200.
Geena Mayback is the featured guest speaker for the awards program. Mayback is managing director, market executive at U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management.
Ramírez, winner of the health and wellness award says, “I feel very honored and humbled. I’m also very happy that the chamber is dedicating this award to women.”
The Juntos director has earned high praise for her long-time work at the health advocacy organization for Latinos in rural and urban Kansas communities. Several members of faculty and staff at KUMC “collaborated” on Ramírez’s award nomination, says a co-worker. Along with her family, the “Juntos team and KUMC leadership” will be there to see their esteemed colleague honored.
Ever forward-looking, Ramírez reveals something new in the works.
“We’re working with the Migration Policy Institute on a report titled Improving Latino Immigrant Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Health Care in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.”
Ramírez has had a transformative impact at KUMC, says her supervisor, Dr. Edward Ellerbeck, a professor at KUMC and chair of the Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department. He cites her efforts to forge meaningful relationships with community members and community organizations to better identify ways the university can address the needs of the local Latino community.
Ellerbeck remarks on Ramírez’s ability to help KUMC students, faculty and staff connect with community members. And he enumerates some of the health programs she’s helped to develop and implement – programs like smoking cessation, diabetes prevention and improved birth outcomes.
“Mariana is clearly committed to the community,” Ellerbeck says. “Her enthusiasm is infectious and has inspired others to service.”
