Carmen Martinez, Recreation Program Specialist, South Park Community Center. received the 2010 Latino Heritage Award at City Hall Thursday, Oct. 14. Two awards, a large orange art glass vase, and a commemorative mug, were presented to the elated South Park resident by Mayor Mike McGinn, and Seattle Department of Transportation Project Control Analyst Sonia Palma who chairs the Latino City Employees Organization which sponsored the award. Palma is a Morgan Junction resident.

McGinn and Palma were joined by Acting Deputy Superintendent of Seattle Parks and recreation Eric Friedli in praising and introducing Martinez during the sixth annual presentation.

Musicians from the Fandango Project performed following speeches, including Yesenia Hunter, of Morgan Junction, and her daughter, Amaris 11, who attends Pathfinder, but took the day off to perform the traditional dance. They were invited as part of the Seattle Presents Free Noon Concert series at City Hall, which tied in well to the program. The Fandango Project is sponsored by the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs.

Friedli said that Martinez was deserving of the award for "displaying leadership, initiative, creativity, and dedication" on the job and in the South Park community.

Said McGinn, "South Park is a community like a lot of communities in Seattle that deserves some special attention. Maybe it's been neglected or hasn’t got the attention its deserved. Being able to actually help improve these communities and not just talk about their problems is something that motivates me in my job. (...) We know it’s a bad economy right now, but where it's tough times for some, it's desperate times for others."

McGinn said that education and positive community role models for kids is key.

"Carmen exemplifies that," he said. "(It's important) to have a community center and have someone who shows up every day working with members of the community, helping youth find opportunuites to succeed."

"I love my job, and I love working at South park Community Center," enthused Martinez at the podium. "I also a resident there. Theres two words, 'community' and 'family'. This award would not be possible without either one of those. The South Park Community has so many strengths, the staff, beautiful individuals, and organizations. (Police Chief John) Diaz so instrumental in South Park, and my immediate family."

About 10 family members attended, including Martinez's mother, Beatrice De Leon of West Seattle.

"Family is important because(...) when there are struggles, those are the people who keep pushing you upward.

"In the spirit of the award I invite you to South Park. I'm not asking for any money or resources. Come to the library, Halloween carnival, haunted house, and our beautiful restaurants and parks. Come visit South Park and see what I get to look at every day of my beautiful life."

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