New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. honored nine New Yorkers of Latino descent for their accomplishments at his 2004 Latino Heritage and Culture celebration that took place on Monday, October 18 th.

The event, which was co-hosted by ASPIRA of New York, Inc. and the National Hispanic Bar Association, New York Region, celebrated the power, pride, and diversity of the Latino community in New York City.

“We are here to celebrate shared histories, common goals, and the strength of community spirit,” said Comptroller Thompson. “I believe that the key to our city’s future lies in our sense of community. And certainly, Latino values and traditions - which include a strong sense of community, as well as an understanding of the importance of helping the next generation succeed - will play an instrumental role in shaping that future.”

The distinguished honorees were: Eddie Palmieri, Grammy Award-winning Latin Jazz and Salsa Pianist; Rosario Dawson, Film Actress, Writer, Producer and Social Change Agent, Co-founder Voto Latino, Inc.; Hector Batista, Executive Vice President, American Cancer Society; Mario L. Baeza, Chairman and CEO, Baeza Group; Sonia Rivera-Valdes, Professor, Spanish Literature and Women’s Studies, York College; Shirley Rodriguez-Remeneski, Senior Vice President, Empire State Development Corporation, Founder and President, 100 Hispanic Women; Cesar Perales, Founding President and General Counsel, Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund; and, Moisés Pérez, Executive Director, Alianza Dominicana, Inc. and Arnoldo Segarra, who has an almost forty year career in public service.

Alianza Dominicana’s “Conjunto Folklórico” performed at the event.

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