Since 1991 the Cook County State's Attorney's Office has annually paid tribute to distinguished attorneys, judges, community leaders and organizations in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15.
The El Humanitario Award will honor the accomplishments of outstanding individuals and/or organization in the Hispanic community who has demonstrated a commitment to the prevention of crime and the care of crime victims.
Criteria for this award include:
- Leadership, Honor, Integrity, and Fairness
- Community Involvement
- Charity and/or Pro Bono Work
- Youth Involvement and/or Mentorship Programs.
To nominate an individual, contact the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Community Engagement Unit at 312-603-8710. Each nomination must be submitted in the form of a letter, explaining the reason for the recommendation. This letter should reflect as much information as possible to support the consideration of the nominee based on the criteria for award selection.
El Humanitario Award Recipients
2016
Honorable Carmen K. Aguilar, Associate Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
Rey B. Gonzalez, President & CEO, El Valor
2015
Judge Jorge Luis Alonso, United States District Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Sylvia Puente, Executive Director, Latino Policy Forum
2014
Judge Grace G. Dickler, Presiding Judge, Domestic Relations Division, State of Illinois, Circuit Court of Cook County
Ricardo Estrada, President & CEO of Metropolitan Family Services
2013
Maria S. Pesqueira, President & CEO, Mujeres Latinas en Accion
Mayor Domingo F. Vargas, City of Blue Island, Illinois
2012
Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr., President of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute
Honorable Jesse G. Reyes, Circuit Court Judge of Cook County
2011
Honorable Ronald Amaury Guzmán, Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Juan Rangel, C.E.O. United Neighborhood Organization (UNO)
2010
Honorable Elizabeth Loredo Rivera, Circuit Court of Cook County
Adela Cepeda, President A.C. Advisory, Inc.
2009
Carmen Velásquez, Executive Director, Alivio Medical Center
Michael J. Hernandez, Esq., Partner, Franczek Radelet
2008
Ricardo Meza, Midwest Regional Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
2007
Joseph J. Torres, Esq., Partner, Winston & Strawn
Salvador A. Cicero Dominguez, Esq.
2006
Michi E. Peña, Esq., Commissioner, Department of General Services, City of Chicago
2005
Javier Zamora, Esq., Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
2004
Karina Ayala-Bermejo, City of Chicago’s Dept. of Human Resources
2003
Amalia Rioja, Senior Policy Advisor, Attorney General’s Office
2002
David Cerda, Esq., Cerda & Associates
2001
Jesse H. Ruiz, Esq., Partner, Drinker Biddle
2000
Honorable Ruben Castillo, United States Northern District
1999
Honorable Gregory P. Vazquez, Circuit Court of Cook County
1998
Gery Chico, Board President, Chicago City Colleges
1997
Honorable Patricia Mendoza, Circuit Court of Cook County
1996
Martin Castro, Esq., Chair, Illinois Human Rights Commission
1995
Norma Reyes, Commissioner, Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection
1994
Leticia Magdaleno, U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
