New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. with honorees and co-sponsors at his Latino Heritage and Culture celebration at S.E.I.U. 32 BJ Headquarters on Monday, October 16, 2006. Pictured (back, l to r) are: Rev. Luisa Celeste Martinez, Pastor, Grace United Methodist Church, Manhattan; Nelson Peña, President, Dominican Day Parade; Juan Rojas Campos, Owner, Mama Mexico; Thompson; Dr. Max Gomez, Health & Science Editor, News Channel 4; Natalie Gomez-Velez, Associate Professor of Law, City University of New York School of Law; (front, l to r) Angela Diaz, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center and President, Board of Trustees, The Children’s Aid Society; Diana Sen, Esq., President, Hispanic National Bar Association, New York Region; and, William Malpica, Esq., Mayer Brown, LLP and Member, New York City Commission on Human Rights.
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New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. honored six New Yorkers at his 2006 Latino Heritage and Culture Celebration on Monday, October 16. The event was co-hosted by ASPIRA of New York, Inc. and Hispanic National Bar Association-New York Region.

“We are here to honor the rich cultural traditions that thrive in our communities, the outstanding contributions that Latino New Yorkers make to the life of our City, and the shared dreams and common goals that unite us all,” Thompson said in addressing the crowd.

“Let us keep breaking down barriers – seen and unseen – in all professions so that everyone has the chance to develop their talents and skills and have their work recognized,” Thompson said. “And let’s celebrate the achievements of Latinos and Latinas who have excelled in their fields and given hope to others in their pursuits.”

Thompson noted that the honorees have excelled in a wide range of professional and civic pursuits. They are leaders in journalism, business, medicine, law, and community service.

The first honoree, Dr. Max Gomez, was presented with the Media Image Award. Gomez is health and science editor at WNBC-TV. His medical and health reports appear live Monday through Friday on News Channel 4’s "Live at Five" show and he also contributes medical segments to the station's various newscasts. The recipient of numerous journalism awards, Gomez has received four New York Emmy Awards, two Philadelphia Emmys and a United Press International honor for "best documentary" for a 1986 report on AIDS.

Gomez also serves on the board of directors for the New York chapter of the American Heart Association, the Princeton Alumni Weekly and the Partnership for After School Education.

Gomez is on the board of advisors for the Science Writers Fellowship at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA; the Hope and Heroes Children’s Cancer Fund at the Children’s Hospital of New York; and is a member of the honorary board of the Long Island chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.

“In recognition of his tremendous achievements in journalism, his outstanding contributions to the life of our City, and his dedication to charitable endeavors, it is my pleasure to present this award to Dr. Max Gomez,” Thompson said.

The next honoree, Juan Rojas Campos, is owner of Mama Mexico, a chain of Mexican restaurants. He settled in New York City in 1980 and began working his way up through the restaurant industry. Mr. Rojas Campos began as a dishwasher and then worked as a busboy and a waiter. Eventually, he became general manager of numerous Mexican restaurants throughout New York City.

After years in the industry, Rojas Campos decided to open his own restaurant. In 1996, with backing from the Small Business Administration, he opened up the first Mama Mexico restaurant which he located at 102nd and Broadway. Rojas Campos eventually expanded to Midtown Manhattan and Englewood Cliffs, NJ. The restaurants have been written about in numerous publications including Crain’s, Zagat and Time Out. They were also featured on Emeril Live. In addition to his work, Rojas Campos also takes time to support different community groups and provide lunch for kids that attend schools in underserved areas.

“In recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit, his dedication to fostering a greater appreciation for Mexican cuisine, and his community leadership, it is my pleasure to present this award to Juan Rojas Campos,” Thompson said.

The next honoree, Dr. Angela Diaz, is director of the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center (AHC). AHC provides confidential comprehensive medical, mental health, family planning, and health education services to young people between the ages of 10-21. Diaz is also president of The Children’s Aid Society Board of Trustees. She is the first doctor and the second woman to be elected president of the Board.

Diaz was named one of the Best Doctors in New York by New York Magazine. She is listed in America’s Top Doctors and Guide to America’s Top Pediatricians and was awarded the American Academy of Pediatrics Founders of Adolescent Health Award in 2001.

Diaz recently received the Alexander Richman Commemorative Award for Ethics and Humanism in Medicine from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Dr. Sidney Grossman Humanitarian Award from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Alumni Association.

“In recognition of her outstanding commitment to caring for young people and her dedication to community service, it is my pleasure to present this award to Dr. Angela Diaz,” Thompson said.

William Malpica, Esq., an associate with the law firm Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP. One of his major pro bono projects is representing the National Board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for general corporate matters, including the drafting of the organization’s national constitution and by-laws. Recently, Malpica was one of a handful of lawyers from Mayer Brown to receive the NAACP’s Civil Rights Champion Award for their service.

Malpica is also a member of the New York City Commission on Human Rights. He also serves as a member of the board of directors of Practicing Attorneys for Law Students (PALS) and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF). Malpica is a member of the corporate advisory board of the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families and a member of the Committee on Recruiting and Retention of Lawyers of the City Bar. He is a recipient of the PRLDEF’s “Lucero Award” and was previously named on of New York’s 25 most influential Latinos by the New York Post.

“In recognition of his outstanding achievements, his dedicated service to civil right causes, and his contributions to the quality of life in our city, it is my pleasure to present this award to William Malpica,” Thompson said.

The next honoree was Natalie Gomez-Velez, an associate professor at The City University of New York School of Law. She teaches public institutions/administrative law and lawyering. Prior to her appointment, Gomez-Velez served as special counsel to Jonathon Lippman, Chief Administrative Judge of the New York State Unified Court System. She has also served as Assistant Deputy Attorney General for public advocacy for New York State Attorney General Elliot Spitzer.

Gomez-Velez is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York’s Committee on Administrative Law. She also serves on both the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Legislative Policy and Committee on Minorities in the Profession. Gomez-Velez currently serves on the Board of the City Parks Foundation. In recognition of her work and contributions, Gomez-Velez was inducted to the Hunter College Hall of Fame in May 2006.

“In recognition of the outstanding contributions she has made to the fields of law and education, it is my pleasure to present this award to Professor Natalie Gomez-Velez,” Thompson said.

The final honoree, Nelson Ramón Peña Guzmán, is president of the Dominican Parade in New York. Founded in 1981, the parade is a celebration of the rich Dominican culture, heritage and history. Peña is a life long community activist. Born, in Santo Domingo, he was a leader of the student movement at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, where he served as president of the Club Juventud en Acción del Sector de Villa Consuelo. In 1974, he emigrated to New York and has become involved in numerous community-based organizations.

Peña also is president of Club Enriquillo in New York; Federación Dominicana del Voto de los Dominicanos en el Exterior; and Partido Revoluccionario Social Demócrata. He is a member of the board of directors of the Asociación de Clubes y Grupos Culturales en Nueva York. Peña is also former president of the Dominican sports league and was a member of the board of directors of the Asociación de Clubes y Grupos Culturales en Nueva York.

“In recognition of his outstanding community leadership, it is my pleasure to present this award to Nelson Ramón Peña Guzmán,” Thompson said.

Mama Mexico Mariachi Band performed at the event. Rev. Luisa Celeste Martinez, pastor at Grace United Methodist Church, gave the Invocation and Benediction.

To receive photographs, please contact Marla Maritzer at (212) 669-2597 or at mmaritz@comptroller.nyc.gov.