OXNARD : Awards to Honor Latino Civic Leaders

Six civic leaders will be honored next month for outstanding contributions to Ventura County’s Latino community.

Amada Perez and Michael Angel Maynez of Ventura and Ralph Revelez, Adriana Jasso and Ray and Mena Rios, all of Oxnard, will receive Latino leadership awards from El Concilio del Condado de Ventura during a Jan. 27 banquet and dance.

For the past six years, the Oxnard-based Latino advocacy group has recognized those who have excelled in the areas of education, community service, youth leadership, cultural arts and business.

Revelez, winner of El Concilio’s leadership award, is an Oxnard firefighter who has served on the board of directors of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the Oxnard Boys & Girls Club and the Police Activities League.

Perez, a teacher in the Ocean View School District, will be honored for her commitment to bilingual education. She is regional representative to the state board of the California Assn. of Bilingual Educators.

Cultural arts award winner Maynez has been executive director of the Plaza Players for the past 40 years. In addition to running the Ventura-based theater company, the World War II veteran has helped other actors launch professional careers.

Jasso, who will be honored with the youth leadership award, attends Oxnard College and is a member of Movimento Estudiantil Chicano de Atzlan, a student advocacy group. She also volunteers with the United Farm Workers and other community organizations.

The Rioses, who are being honored for business leadership, have played key roles in developing the Ventura County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. They have been involved with the organization since 1982. Earlier this year, they were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.

The awards ceremony will be held at the Mandalay Beach Resort in Oxnard. Reservations may be made by calling 983-2336.