Human Relations Commission to Honor 21

Their deeds include helping teen-agers stay out of gangs, guiding low-income residents through the government’s bureaucracy and organizing forums against racial hostility and bigotry.

And on Sunday night, during its 23rd anniversary awards banquet, the Orange County Human Relations Commission will honor 21 people for their contributions to the community.

“People can make a positive difference in the lives of others,” Commission Chairwoman Fran Williams said, “and we salute 21 Orange County residents who decided to take action and do something about racial intolerance and misunderstanding.”

Those being honored include:

* Jorge and Carmen Barrios, leaders of a group of Latino parents in Costa Mesa who this year formed Save Our Youth as an alternative to gangs and street life for children.

* Edmundo Cardenas, a leader in Orange County Together--a coalition to increase racial unity--who has been involved in school career days, violence prevention programs and other school events.

* Ho Young Chung, a Garden Grove resident who for more than 15 years has sought to build bridges between Korean Americans and others.

* Belen Garcia, a teacher at Patrick Henry Elementary School in Anaheim who strives to help children feel proud of who they are and to value others.

* Jacob Green, a freshman at Los Alamitos High School who has been active in the school inter-group relations program.

* Mike and Adrienne Henigan, whose actions in behalf of their gay son helped guide a school board decision to favor “equal access” for a gay and lesbian club.

* George Jaramillo, an attorney and Garden Grove police sergeant whose work involves many different cultures and the message that anyone can succeed.

* Emma King, a social service assistant at Maple Community Center in Fullerton who volunteers to help parents and children find food, shelter, health care or anything else they need.

* Patricia Lopez, a community volunteer who assists low-income, Spanish-speaking residents through the complex social services system.

* Candy Martinez, a student at Golden West College whose efforts to increase ethnic understanding include founding the Independent Latino Students Assn.

* The Rev. Stephen J. Mather, who in the past year assumed local leadership of Planned Parenthood.

* Suzie Xuyen Dong-Matsuda, who helps bridge the gap of cultural misunderstanding for troubled youth and their families in the Vietnamese community.

* Keith Swayne, a founding member of the Orange County Human Relations Council board of directors who has created a diverse work force and family-type atmosphere within his own company.

* James Tippins, a Santa Ana businessman who volunteers with events involving the African-American community.

* John and Marie Zackowski, of Fountain Valley, who have spent 17 years making trips to a Tijuana mission to deliver food, clothing, toys and medical supplies to the poor.

* Georgia Garrett-Norris, an attorney who devotes many hours of free legal assistance in support of human and civil rights, especially for gays and lesbians.

* Andy Saavedra, the co-chairman of Orange County Congregation Community Organization, which works to empower those in disenfranchised communities.

* Orange County Superior Court Judge Donald E. Smallwood, an organizer of the Orange County Domestic Violence Task Force.

Tickets are $10 and may be obtained by calling the commission office at (714) 567-7470.