Meet the 2022 Award Winners!
2022 Frances McClelland Vision Award Winner - E. Liane Hernandez
E. Liane Hernandez is a staff member of the YWCA Southern Arizona in Tucson. She is a convener and works to create space for individuals and organizations to do the work of inclusive community building. Trained at the U of A and Pima Community College as an art historian, chef, and cultural anthropologist she is student of the questions of what community is, who gets to participate, when, and how.
For years, she served the Tucson nonprofit arts community as staff as well as on boards, committees, grant review panels, and was a founder of Raices Taller 222. She currently Co-Chairs the Bond Oversight Commission. She is a member of Cohort 14 of the Lodestar American Express Leadership Academy. Formerly, Liane served with Tucson Meet Yourself Festival as the City of Gastronomy Culture Kitchen Coordinator, was a 2016 Fellow of the Tucson Voices OpEd Project, a Commissioner with the Pima Tucson Women’s Commission, and part of the Latino Graduate Training Seminar on Qualitative Methodology at the Smithsonian Institute. She was recognized as the Adelita Del Año by Las Adelitas PAC in 2015.
A native of Arizona, she lives in her beloved city of Tucson, Arizona with her partner, Peter and their two dogs.
2022 Richard Elías Legacy Award Winner - Maria Vianey Valdez-Cardenas
Maria Vianey Valdez-Cardenas worked for the University of Arizona Chicano Hispano Students Affairs, City of Tucson Parks and Recreation as a Recreation Assistant, Arizona State Program Coordinator for Project Ayuda (on the job training program for 50+ Senior Citizens), Community Family Liaison and Folklorico Group instructor at Tucson Unified School District Mission View Elementary, Primavera Foundation as a Resources Specialist for Rapid Rehousing programs for the homeless population in Tucson, and lastly, she worked at U.S. Census Bureau in June 2019 as a Partnership Specialist for Arizona State Local Governments and Hispanic organizations till September 2021.
In 2017 Valdez-Cardenas opened her own Business as a Paralegal Document Services of Arizona helping families with legal documents. She has been an advocate for the Pima County and Tucson community for 25+ years and builds relationships through community engagement. She has been part of several nonprofit organizations and board of directors, holding a seat on the executive board for LULAC as the State Treasurer. She is currently the City of Tucson Ward 5 appointee for Pima County Tucson Women’s Commission and the Treasurer for Citizen Diplomacy Alliance for International Visitors with US Department of State, Las Vistas Neighborhood Association President as well as the Founder and Executive Director of United Hearts of Arizona/Corazones Unidos de Arizona. Throughout her career, Valdez-Cardenas had the opportunity to see the need of basic services for low-income families. In 2014, She founded her own non-profit organization to improve the lives of children and families in Arizona by providing resources that will help them to be prepare for personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible citizenship. She provides work and support to cities and towns in Southern Arizona by establishing community partnerships and engagement.
Valdez-Cardenas currently lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her 3 children. She enjoys spending time with her family playing Mexican bingo.
2022 Frances McClelland Youth Vision Award - Daniel Trujillo
Daniel Trujillo, a 15 year-old Tucson, Arizona native, has spent much of his youth passionately advocating for the safety and well-being of those most marginalized, especially transgender youth. Advocating in his local community, across the state and the country, he has held a deep commitment to supporting his community and friends since the age of 9. His dedication to building an equitable community where the next generation can thrive has included participating in advocacy across the country, including to the White House. Daniel continues to communicate regularly with those writing federal policy. When Daniel is not publicly advocating, he finds ways to express himself through his love of drawing and creating, building LEGO, playing music, and singing in choir.
2022 Frances McClelland Spirit Organizational Award - Youth On Their Own
Youth On Their Own’s mission is to support the high school graduation and continued success of youth experiencing homelessness. They strive to eliminate barriers to education and empower Southern Arizona’s housing insecure youth to stay in school by providing financial assistance, basic human needs, guidance, and more. Through this unique combination of financial, material, and motivational support, YOTO helps youth experiencing homelessness stay in school and achieve their dreams of high school graduation. Since their founding in 1986, they have served tens of thousands of local children and youth. This year alone, they expect to enroll approximately 1,500 young people in our program. Moreover, with a high school graduation rate of 84% for YOTO-enrolled youth, they know their program works!
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