Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and over 150 members of the Queens community celebrated the Council member’s 9th Annual Hispanic & Latinx Leadership Awards at Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside on October 15. The awards ceremony, held every year during Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizes outstanding Hispanic and Latinx community leaders for their service to Queens.

This year, Van Bramer presented the Distinguished Public Service Award to Jessica Ramos, a lifelong community organizer who won the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th State Senate District on September 13. He also honored the following leaders for their tireless work on behalf of the community:

Janice Quiles-Reyes, PS 150 Parent Coordinator

Janneth Calle, Girl Scout Troop 4079 Co-Leader

Eleazar Rubi, Girl Scout Troop 4079 Co-Leader

Oscar Escobar, LGBTQ Community Activist and Founding Member of Out Rockaway

Nora Gomez-Strauss, Director of Digital Strategies at Public Art Fund

Ruben Ramales, Managing Director at American Institute of Architects (AIA), Queens

Adolfo Steve Vazquez, Founder of Queenscapes

Claudia Corcino, Founder of Ciclistas Latinoamericanos de New York

Felix Figueroa, Shop Steward, Local 32BJ, SEIU – Social Justice Leadership Academy