photo credit: Courtesy of Nashelly Chavez/ Press Democrat
From left to right, recipients of Los Ciens first-ever Puente & Ganas Awards Nohemi Palomino Andrade, Alicia Sanchez and Gabriela Bernal on May 3, 2019.

Awards is one way the organization does that, said Los Cien Executive Director Herman Hernandez.

"The Los Cien Puente y Ganas Awards Dinner is a community celebration that's really focused on our Latinx culture and celebrating individuals and organizations in Sonoma County who are doing incredible work to uplift and support our Latine community," Hernandez said.

The works and efforts recognized run the gamut, Hernandez said.

"Education, promoting health, working directly with farm workers, working on diversity, equity, inclusion training, and things of that nature," Hernandez said.

Hernandez said the variety extends to the awards winners as well. 

"In 2019 it was KBBF Radio," Hernandez said. "And really they won because of the work that they did during the 2017 Tubbs Fire and communicating a lot of that emergency information in Spanish. And then individuals, it varies. We've had a volunteer recognized like Nohemi Palominos in Roseland, but we've also had people who run their own business or nonprofit."

As for award nominations, Hernandez said, "You don't have to be Latino, Latinx, Hispanic to nominate anyone. The main criteria that we're looking for is the individual or organization, community group business, are they engaging with the Latinx community?" Hernandez said ""How are they elevating the Latino community in perspective and advancing our community, and what types of services are they offering?" 

In addition to the Puente y Ganas Awards, Los Cien is looking for nominees for the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts Latino Community Leadership Awards.

Nominations for both awards ceremonies are due April 8, 2024.

Hernandez said those with ideas for nominations should get in touch with Los Cien and they'll help with the process. He said Los Cien's website is currently under construction, so the best place to find more information is via Los Cien's Facebook page.