Volunteers : Helping hands : Singing the Praises of Fernando Leon

Fernando Leon, community activist and publisher of an Orange County-based magazine produced for and by former or current gang members, prisoners, troubled youth and adults, has won an “Unsung Hero” award for his work.

Leon won the award for his magazine, La Calle, and his volunteer work in gang-infested communities. Leon said he spends his time delivering his free magazine to the youths he contacts throughout Orange County in an effort to turn them away from gangs.

Two La Calle issues have been published and a third is in the works, Leon said. The magazine features poetry, artwork, columns and letters, all geared toward steering youths away from violence and destructive gang activities.

“I love to work with our youth,” said Leon, a former Compton gang member who now lives in Garden Grove. “I want to see them be successful in life.”

Along with Leon, three other community activists were given Unsung Hero awards, given by watch companies Wittnauer International of New York and Don Roberto Jewelers of Los Angeles.

The winners are:

* Brother Armando Garcia, founder of Instituto Miguel Hidalgo, a free Los Angeles bilingual school that offers classes in parenting, literacy and citizenship.

* Tony Luna, an East Los Angeles Municipal Court commissioner who created Luna Charities to provide food for the needy.

* Juan Manuel Escobar, a Los Angeles Recreation Services manager who oversees social activities for youths and senior citizens, making sure they have safe places to go on weekends and after school.

“They are heroes in our communities that we have to hear about because these are the people who kids should be looking up to and emulating,” said Patricia O’Brien, an award coordinator.