HIP Members Named Among Latino Leaders Magazine's List of “Movers and Shakers of 2004”
Antonia Hernandez and Arturo Vargas (see excerpts below) were among Latino Leaders Magazine's List of “Movers and Shakers of 2004” which also included The Ford Foundation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The MacArthur Foundation, The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and the Lozano Family.
For the entire list, please click here.
Antonia Hernandez
President CEO of the California Community Foundation
Age: 56 Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Who she is: A native of Mexico, Hernandez was formerly General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). She obtained a BA from UCLA in 1970 and a law degree in 1974. In 1979 she was recruited for the Senate Judiciary Committee. Hernandez has an extraordinary record for the zealous advocacy and representation of Latinos in both the philanthropic and legal arenas.
Why she made the list: As head of the California Community Foundation, Hernandez has partnered with over 1,000 major donors and philanthropic organizations to affect major community change in LA. She leads a foundation responsible for the management and diffusion of $600 million to both nonprofit and public institutions dedicated to health and human services, affordable housing, the arts, and education.
Our Prediction: Antonia Hernandez will continue to shine and excel with her renowned mix of intellect and personality. Her vast experience in a variety of fields, as well as her firmly rooted history in Los Angeles, will assure that the momentum that she has built with MALDEF will continue on with the CCF.
Arturo Vargas
Executive director, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)
Age: 40 Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Who he is: Vargas was only 10 when he joined his parents in a picket line to protest the overcrowding conditions at his elementary school in the Pico Union area of Los Angeles. While in high school, he was encouraged by his history teacher to apply to Stanford University and he did. Graduating with a master's degree in education and a bachelor's degree in history and Spanish, Vargas accepted a position in Washington, DC, as an education policy fellow at the National Council of La Raza. After three years at NCLR, Vargas returned to Los Angeles to work for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a national litigation and advocacy organization.
Why he made the list: Vargas has devoted most of his professional energies to ensuring the success of NALEO. His responsibilities also included coordination of MALDEF's 1991 redistricting efforts, which led to an historic increase in the number of Latinos serving in the California legislature. NALEO is one of the most prominent Latino organizations.
Our Prediction: Definitely a powerful man, Vargas will continue to drive a growing organization. People like him are often offered higher positions when they finish their serving terms. The accumulated experience, contacts and leaderships that he’s gained are something that many are not willing to waste.