Dear Friends and Neighbors:
To celebrate women and femmes from our CD1 community during Women's History Month, our team reached out to you to help create a special newsletter to uplift some of the women who have made an impact on our District. I am so encouraged by all of the submissions below — they are an important reminder of the immense value of grassroots people power to make the impact we want to see. So thank you to everyone who participated in this project with us.
And a thank you to the women of CD1 — both those highlighted in this newsletter and not. All too often, our work is overlooked and undervalued, but as we wrap up Women's History Month, I hope you know that our communities are made better every day of the year because you are in them.
Here's to us working together toward a vision of Los Angeles that honors all women — our BIPOC women, our LGBTQ+ women, our working-class women, our unhoused women, and our system-impacted women — and dignifies us all.
Here's to the women of CD1.
In solidarity and gratitude,
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez
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Honoring Aurora Corona: "Aurora and her family have lived in Pico Union all of their lives and are so dedicated to helping highlight the neighborhood’s beauty and tenacity. As a neighbor and community advocate through her leadership work with the neighborhood council, she brings people together and embodies strong community oriented values and kindness." Submitted by Louie Leiva
"Aurora Corona has lived in the Pico Union neighborhood all of her life. I came to know her when we both joined the Pico Union Neighborhood Council. She has revitalized the organization and spearheaded many efforts to engage the community and uplift our unique demographic and needs. Aurora is open to new ideas and connects with everyone by maintaining an uplifting and caring demeanor. Her relationship with other community organizations increases the reach of initiatives that help elevate Pico Union and it’s residents. I am inspired by her dedication!" Submitted by T. J. Spaur
"I proudly nominate Aurora Corona. Aurora is a tireless advocate for her neighborhood, build strong relationships with countless stakeholder groups to have a tremendous impact on our City. Aurora is a lifelong resident of Pico Union and in her many official and unofficial roles, including serving on the Pico Union Neighborhood Council and its various committees, as well as on the Friends of the Pico Library board, she has made numerous lasting impacts on our neighborhood and its stakeholders. Aurora works in solidarity to ensure that the community's voice is heard (whether in English, Spanish, Italian, French or German) on important issues such as safety, education, and healthcare. Aurora's ability to bridge the gap between the diverse communities has been instrumental in creating a more cohesive and collaborative community in Pico Union. In addition to her work with businesses and government agencies, Aurora has dedicated a significant amount of time to organizing events and activities for the residents of all ages. Whether it's the annual Bike Safety Day with Loyola High School or a community cleanup, Aurora is always the first to step up and lend a hand. Her willingness to give so freely of her time and energy is a testament to her commitment to making the community a better place for everyone." Submitted by Daniel A. Perez
Honoring Tina Padilla: "Tina Padilla has lived in the Northeast Community for decades and has served the community by giving of herself and time to make the community a better place. I want to uplift her efforts because she works in the background making sure the at risk youth and their families get the support they need. Tina always makes people feel they matter she always makes sure to get the community new shoes to wear each new school year. She also gets her whole family involved to her spread her positive message of peace and unity. She came from a very humble almost poor family and had to start working at the age of 10 by babysitting and cleaning yards for neighbors in order to make sure her little brother had food to eat. She continues to give to her same community making sure to spread a positive message through food distributions, community events and also helping community with any paperwork they do not understand. She has 5 kids of her own which are all grown, she recently is in the process of adopting a 2 year old, that just goes to show how much love she has. We call her the fix anything lady! Thank you I really hope you can uplift Tina as she deserves it." Submitted by Antonio Duran
"Tina Padilla is the Executive Director of Community Warriors 4 Peace-Northeast (CW4P), one of the first woman-led community violence intervention organizations in Los Angeles. CW4P is a community violence intervention agency that works to prevent and interrupt the cycles of street violence to create safety in communities. Tina grew up in Northeast Los Angeles and gained a passion for helping others in her community. Through her lived experience on the streets and in prison, she sought to break the generational cycle of violence for her family. She had enough of the trauma and pain she went through as a child of gang members. Tina is viewed as city-wide leader in the field of violence reduction and safety and has developed a strong reputation as a peacemaker. Her work to disrupt the cycles of violence and provide opportunities for others who find themselves stuck in the same situations she grew up in offers hope to many. As a community leader, she maintains a high level of integrity and always works to support others in the spirit of peace. She has supported and inspired countless individuals to turn their lives around for the better. Tina earned her certificate in drug and alcohol counseling from Glendale Community College along with an AS. She also went on to receive her bachelor's degree in Human Development. Tina is committed to servicing northeast LA to create positive changes so that future generations can grow in love and healing, not trauma and death. To round out her impressive skill set, Tina is also a nationwide trainer for the Urban Peace Institute and is also part of the Los Angeles Violence Intervention Coalition." Submitted by Fernando Rejon
Honoring Alejandra Flores: "Alejandra Flores is the founder of the LATA in Council District 1. The Los Angeles Theatre Academy (LATA) is a multilingual theater arts organization committed to providing children and adults a safe and welcoming space to express their creativity onstage and behind-the-scenes and the pillar of our community. Its is where our future leaders, presenters, activist, voice are created. Through hard work, Alejandra encouraged students to find their creative voice through immersion in a complete theatrical education that includes acting, directing, set design, production, writing and more. CD1 children perform alongside professional and semi-professional artists throughout Los Angeles County, as well as producing and presenting a summer festival and holiday show in CD1's Elysian Park amphitheater. Alejandra believes in nurturing creativity in children results in a more compassionate and happy adult. Alejandra's LATA is dedicated to providing every student the tools they need to find their creative voice. As Founder and Artistic Director, Alejandra Flores is retiring from her position at LATA to pursue her acting career full time. She is still a special neighbor and friend to Solano Canyon's children and parents." Submitted by Lydia Moreno
Honoring Suzanne Siegel: "Suzanne Siegel has been a generative member of the Mt. Washington community for decades. As a leader in the Arroyo Arts Collective she mobilized women artists in the Mt. Washington/Highland Park communities, creating opportunities for them to exhibit their work and come together for dialogue and community engagement. She also helped to create the annual community Art Walk, creating maps and pr in order to engage the community with artists living in it. She has done numerous public arts projects with youth in the community which have resulted in beautiful permanent tile and bench installations. And she has been a principle force in the Ebell Club in Highland Park composed of older women in the community who gather once a month for a lunch and a talk by a person in the community. This group also, with her leadership, provides scholarships to high school youth in the community. She has impacted youth, artists and elderly in this community with her vision of interaction and community engagement. I believe that she is a gift to the community and deserves to be recognized." Submitted by Sheila Pinkel
Honoring Christina Cabrera: "Christina was born and raised in the Lincoln Heights area and was always adamant about serving her community. Her passion, willingness and love for her community gave her the strength to educate herself while being a single parent and overcome her own barriers and obstacles. Through hard work Christina was able to give back to her community by providing resources/services to those that have been impacted by the justice system as well as those that have been impacted by barriers such as her own with the dream of running her own non-profit one day to better assist those that are in need. Today I am extremely proud to say that she has become a successful woman and an executive director of her own non-profit organization that continues to serve her community and does it proudly. I am very grateful for her and what she contributes to the community and the drive she has to contribute more if given the opportunity. Christina is very deserving in all aspects due to her hard work and dedication to Lincoln Heights." Submitted by Maritza Garcia
Honoring Kathy Gallegos: "Kathy is a core driving center of creativity and community in Northeast LA and beyond. She opened so many doors to myself and others while maintaining strong values that continue to put Avenue 50 Studios on the map. Because of her I got to be part of an exchange between young female muralists from Los Angeles and Cairo. The mural still stands today on the side of the Highland Theatre. She has ensured to the best of her abilities that NELA maintains its sense of cultural identity in the face of erasure due to gentrification. Thank you Kathy for everything we see you!" Submitted by Allegra Padilla
Honoring Maribel Cocino: "Maribel Cocino, born and raised in Lincoln Heights has run Licha's Flower Shop at 2709 N Broadway in Lincoln Heights for a long time now. This is a flower shop, a Legacy Business. Maribel makes floral arrangements cash and carry for our local moms, girlfriends, lovers, valentines. All of the holidays our community stops in to bring something to bring to those they love. Maribel also makes all the flowers for funerals of our community members who have passed. Which has been nonstop the past few years with the pandemic. And it is very sad for her to have to do this. Her business and the property have recently been bought by a developer who is trying to evict her and has increased her rent and told her to go. There is nowhere to go. This shop is a staple in our community, a social center, and to the bone community hub. Maribel looks out for everyone and is a mother, grandmother and hardworking woman carrying on one of the last remaining legacy businesses in Lincoln Heights. She deserves the world. She works so hard for the community. Holding the community together. Just want to give a shout out to this incredible woman on behalf of 90031 and wish to nominate her for the CD1 Women's History Month Newsletter. Thank you!" Submitted by Sara Clendening
Honoring Veronica Huerta: "Veronica Huerta moved to Glassell Park in 2018, but since the pandemic she has stepped up to serve the CD 1 community by volunteering for Northeast Neighborhood Outreach (NENO) providing resources to unhoused members of the district, and serving on the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council supporting for humane solutions to homelessness. She also advocates for unhoused patients in the healthcare setting where she works." Submitted by Matt Wait
Honoring Helene Schpak: "Helene Schpak has been, and is, active in a variety of causes for most of her life. Over the years she has been active in an array of social justice causes. Helene was an original member of Act Up LA. She is currently doing an Oral History Project giving voice to those activists who made LA and national history during the Aids Epidemic. She has also served on various boards, including the neighborhood council. Helene currently serves on the Glassell Park Improvement Association board improving the quality of life in the community. I am thankful for her continuing dedication to the community." Submitted by Pat Winters
Honoring Fernanda Sanchez: "Fernanda Sanchez is a Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council member and is a grassroots activist that generates community well being and prosperity which echos vividly. Ms. Sanchez has been prominent figure in promoting tenants rights and crafting many community coalitions. Ms. Sanchez continues to cross examine the non english speaking survival while focusing on immigrant diaspora, houselessness in her neighborhood, as well as cracking down on gentrification and developers who threaten Lincoln Heights. Fernanda Sanchez is a born and raised activist who stands as a true beacon of hope." Submitted by Rene Camarillo
Honoring Amarilys Ortiz Herrera: "Esta mujer es una reconocida lider Hispana de gran trayectoria en la comunidad cerca de 30 anos de levantar la bandera por las causas nobles, las causas humanitarias, de defensa de los derechos, firme en contra de la violencia y la discriminacion racial, de genero, de edad, etc. Destacada lider en el ambito comunal ocupando cargos importantes en organizaciones de la comunidad como Capellana, coach profesional, facilitadora grupal, Co Fundadora de la Asociacion Guatemalteca Americana, Co Fundadora del Dia del Guatemalteco en la Ciudad de Los Angeles y a nivel Estatal, Directora de Cofeca, Fundadora del Dia de la Mujer Guatemalteca y creadora de la celebracion de la Antorcha centro Americana de independecia." Submitted by Brigitte Cordero
Honoring Brigitte Cordero: "Brigitte Cordero es una profesional en educación y con gran formación en liderazgo político y comunal, defensora de los Derechos Humanos contra toda acción de discriminación en los grupos sociales. Fundadora de la organizacion ACUDE inspirada en el desarrollo humano de niños, jóvenes y adultos con base en la educación, el arte y la cultura. Fundadora del reconocimiento y Homenaje a Ciudadanos Distinguidos de la comunidad Latina en Los Angeles." Submitted by Amarilys Ortiz
Honoring Margarita Darett: "Quite honestly, no one I know exudes community service more than my friend, Margarita "Maggie" Darett. I came to know her as a fellow preschool mommy volunteering at Ribet Academy but over the last 10 years, I have come to admire her extreme "can do" attitude for not only advocating for the community of Glassell Park but for the greater North East Los Angeles community. Whether it is calling in graffiti or picking up garbage to beautify our streets, to organizing food distributions for Glassell Park families in need during the Covid pandemic, to rallying her friends and community members to give donations for her Annual Glassell Park Backpack Giveaway (which she founded), to finding sponsors to always light the Glassell Park Christmas Tree and hosting toy fundraisers to make sure kids in our communities get a toy for Christmas, to picking up clothes, furniture and whatnot to redistribute to families in the community in need, Maggie is always pushing and exuding community spirit. She inspires her fellow neighbors to get involve and makes you care like she cares. I don't think I can pass any trash or graffiti now without thinking about Maggie and how she would either pick it up or call it in. My friend saved our beloved Glassell Park Community Pool from permanent closure with an extensive community campaign and she started the Glassell Park Community Garden that inspired the youth of Drew Street to get involved with community beautification. Day in and day out she collaborates with community leaders, local and state politicians for various community initiatives and she even ran and was elected a local Assembly Delegate, District AD52 running because she cares about her neighbors and the community we all live in. She advocates for our seniors whether it's getting them the needed chairs for events or delivering flowers to retirement homes to cheer them up. We will go have lunch or run an errand and everyone always smiles and waves at her because they too know her to be "a champion" of our community! To me, my dear friend, Maggie is the face of Glassell Park and I would love to see her celebrated for her endless dedication and accomplishments for our much loved community!" Submitted by Kelly Buller
Honoring Juana Calel Ajanel: " Juanita (Juana) Calel Ajanel, is an indigenous woman from the Maya Kiché community of Guatemala. She speaks Kiché, Spanish, and English. Juanita is a Health Promoter who has worked in the Westlake Pico Union area of District 1 since 2001. As a Health Promoter, she has worked on numerous projects. Some of these projects include: lead poisoning prevention, nutrition education and obesity prevention, (NEOP) with the Champions for Change campaign. During the Pandemic she was outreaching, promoting, registering and supporting families in the community to obtain the Covid-19 vaccine with St. John's Community Health mobile clinic. She also assisted Casa De La Cultura Maya to gather the most in need families to provide financial support to buy groceries and or pay their rent. Juanita, has 18 years participating with the Folkloric group Mi Bella Guatemala, promoting her culture, folkloric dance, and typical costumes of Guatemala here in the United States. She has received numerous recognitions from the newspaper La Opinión in 2012 as a Health Promoter as well as from other organizations where she has participated."
Honoring Carlyn Oropez: "Carlyn Oropez has been the Director of Operations of the L.A. Boys and Girls Club for many years and works tirelessly to bring opportunities for the youth of Lincoln Heights. As a teacher, I appreciate the activities and programs the Club offers for my students. It has been a pleasure to collaborate with Carlyn and The Club because I have personally witnessed how her hard work helps my students and their families!" Submitted by Art Licon
Honoring Angélica Loa Perez: "Angélica has served the families of our community for several years. As the director of the Lincoln Heights Youth Art Center, she creates spaces for youth to express themselves and flourish. My daughter has been attending LHYAC since This is evident in how many families and students come back year after year because it is such a nurturing and encouraging environment. The teaching and support staff also come back year after year and that is so special for the youth and speaks to Angélica's amazing leadership. She is so thoughtful and intentional in everything she provides for the community - from the beautiful community alter she builds every year to honor our ancestors and community members who have passed on; to the classes she includes in the programming that speak to our culture and ties to our beloved neighborhood. She is an incredible matriarch in our community, deeply invested, humble and gracious. It is my honor to nominate Angélica and recognize her contributions to our community." Submitted by Rosemary Serna
"I have worked for and with Angelica Loa Perez for over 10 years. I’ve been there from the beginning when Lincoln Heights Youth Arts Center had a mere handful of students and only a few classes to offer. Under her direction, along with the assistance of her dedicated staff, I have watched the center grow exponentially. Focusing on the local community of students and parents, we now offer classes in visual arts, musical theater, music production, poetry, early childhood music education, Latin ensemble, beginning & advanced guitar, bass, Son Jarocho, yoga, knitting, and many more. Throughout the pandemic Angelica worked tirelessly and effectively to create new ways of keeping the community serviced and involved. As LHYAC Director, she was determined to keep our students from falling through the cracks when they needed us more than ever. Judging by the number of students who have returned for classes since our reopening, she has succeeded. With a leadership style that inspires her staff, teaching artists & the community she serves, I cannot think of a more deserving woman or person for this honor. I therefore nominate Angelica Loa Perez!" Submitted by Inez A Woods
Honoring Melissa Avila: "Melissa has worked throughout the Lincoln Heights Community and neighboring communities for several years. Before graduating from Lincoln High in 2015 Melissa was already working on grassroots campaigns, helping to plan community murals, and actively working in educational reform movements. Since graduating from Lincoln she has worked at Lincoln High and around the community through a collaboration between UTLA, LAUSD, and the Asian Youth Center, her current employer. She has performed food distribution projects in and around Lincoln Heights before and during COVID, including weekly groceries and holiday meals. She has also supported student projects, local labor movements, and immigrant rights work." Submitted by Arthur Licon
Honoring Diana Cruz: "Diana Cruz is a Koreatown resident, animal lover, law student, and program manager/law clerk with HEART LA, a legal services nonprofit promoting housing security for pet owners. She came to HEART LA as a client in 2018, having experienced two wrongful evictions in Koreatown, and joined the team in 2020, now working to keep renters and pets across LA housed and together. Prior to joining HEART, Diana worked in a variety of community engagement roles as a Student Affairs professional at Occidental College. She holds a B.S. in Sustainable Environmental Design with a focus on Participatory Urbanism from UC Davis (‘17). Since then, she has moved back home to continue learning, growing, and organizing with her neighbors. She is now a student at the People's College of Law. P.S. The image is Diana and her self-described Super Mutt, Ranger!" Submitted by Isabel Naturman
Honoring Margarita Darett-Quiroz: "To celebrate the woman in my life, Margarita Darett-Quiroz, who deserves a recognition in the newsletter for Council District 1. She goes above and beyond with her activism examples are annual tree lightings, backpack giveaways, Easter egg hunts at the local park, food drives during COVID for individuals in the community health and wellness awareness for those less fortunate clothing drives for those families in need and help of resources are for all individuals in Los Angeles. She is a very proud Latina woman for the area and says the community she lives in with pride, she not only helps on an as needed basis. She helps the community grill daily and worship all of our local politicians, especially the council office to make sure everyone succeeds in with love to my wife. Sincerely, a very proud husband." Submitted by Mark A. Quiroz
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We’re working on opening our district offices soon so there are more ways to connect with us, so stay tuned for updates. In the meantime, you can find us at our City Hall office:
200 N. Spring Street, Room 460
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Office Hours:
M-F 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Website: cd1.lacity.gov
Phone: (213) 473-7001
Email: Councilmember.Hernandez@lacity.org
Follow our #TeamCD1 accounts for updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for City Council meetings, district events, resources and more.
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