Latino Lubbock Magazine’s
Top 20 Hispanics of 2011
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Los Hermanos & Las Hermanas Family Advocates & Volunteers
A last request to go fishing with the entire family a day before the death of a hardworking farmer and father, resulted in an organization of men, Los Hermanos, to be created, as well as the inception of the annual Vamos a Pescar (Let's Go Fishing) Free Fishing Event. Los Hermanos, which means brothers, and Las Hermanas,which were added more recently, is made up of about 200 volunteers and 16 organizations - the Vamos a Pescar Committee, Knights of Columbus #8097 San Jose, Knights of Columbus #11807 Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Grace Guadalupanos, LULAC #263, Sigma Lambda Beta, West Texas Lowriders Association, the Hispanic Peace Officers Association, the Hispanic Student Society. The men and women, recognize that involved fathers bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring. Therefore, the group with the Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Game Warden's Association and Fishing's Future has held the Annual Vamos a Pescar (Let's Go Fishing) free fishing event for the past three years. They use the sport of fishing as the hook to engage families. Collectively, the volunteers contributed about 3,260 volunteer hours, and this August welcomed - 3,100 participants!
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Emilio Abeyta Voter Advocate
Justice for all. The three words which punctuate the final stanza of the Pledge of Allegiance aren't simply words Emilio recites off-handedly. For him, its philosophy he has carried throughout the church, the capital and the courtroom. He practices law, and has made it his life's mission to ensure equality for all people. Throughout the past three decades, he has been involved extensively in professional, church, civic, social and educational activities and organizations. One of his biggest commitments is his efforts to register voters and educate them about the issues. He especially works to register Latino voters.
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Patsy Cardona Health Advocate
Patsy is a Clinical Research Nurse and is dedicated to her profession but more so to her community and patients. Patsy works in the Joe Arrington Cancer Research and Treatment Center where she works diligently to try to find a cure for cancer. As an oncology nurse Patsy has been a member of the Oncology Nursing Society, both locally and nationally since 1997. Nationally Patsy has also served in numerous positions and committees, and even went to Washington Hill to lobby for health policy issues. She has been instrumental in lobbying for issues affecting nurses and oncology patients. She also encourages other nurses and healthcare personnel to become involved in advocating helping those in need.
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Sister Santillana Church Leader
Sister Leonor Santillana Has been a nun and servant of the Lord and her community for 57 years on January 25th. She is dedicated to her calling and emulates her faith by working to share the Word of the Lord. She organizes monthly retreats for women. She leads prayer groups, provides communion to sick, she holds meditation groups, and, she provides classes to the aforementioned to nonEnglish speaking adults and children. Sister Leonor is a peacemaker. And, she is involved in humanitarian, civil rights, and any issues impacting her church community “she is there and steps up.”
8 Dr. Enrique Rodriguez Health Provider
“Dr. Rod” as many refer to him, has been interested in rural medicine for a number of years. In the summer of 1993, he moved to Littlefield, TX and for 10 years served the community of Lamb County. During those 10 years he maintained active privileges in Lamb Healthcare Center. From 1995 to 1999 he served as Chief of Medical Staff at LHC. Dr. Rodriguez moved his practice to Lubbock in 2003 and keeps active privileges at many hospitals. He fosters relationships with Spanish-speaking patients making them aware of health issues in a way that has helped to save lives, and brought awareness to many health issues impacting the Latino community. Love Yourself, Care for You!
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Anthony Villareal
Dr. Xochitl Anderton
Sgt. Anthony Villarreal can inspire anyone to be proud to be American. Villarreal served two tours of duty in Iraq, which he is very proud of, and was in Afghanistan on his third tour when an improvised explosive device struck the truck he was driving. He lost his right arm, multiple fingers on his left hand and suffered burns over 80 percent of his body. He was told that after the explosion he crawled out of the vehicle. He survived and is grateful to God to be alive. More so, he is among the Wounded Warriors Project, and is committed to helping other wounded soldiers like him, who need help.
Xochitl (Aztec name meaning “Flower”) has been an advocate for Community Health Center of Lubbock (CHCL) and its mission of “Providing Primary and Preventive services to those in need”. Her firsthand experience of Community Health Center’s began as a patient when she was a child. As she grew older, her personal mission was to become a dentist and to give back to health centers by providing services to those in need as she once received. In 2005, she started out as a dental provider for CHCL and became the Dental Director in 2006. In the last six years, she has expanded dental operatories to 22. This is significant for a nonprofit which serves the medically underserved and uninsured.
Veteran Advocate
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Dental Health Advocate
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Josie Salinas
Olivia Hernandez
Josie assists small business owners with certifications and counseling. For 42 years she has worked for the U. S. Small Business Administration in Lubbock, TX, which she began in 1970 after the Lubbock tornado. Her commitment has been to help with Personnel Staffing, Budgeting Planning and Implementation, Career Counseling, Marketing, and Outreach as the Business Development Specialist, 8(a) BDS. She strives to identify small business owners who qualify for programs, and often assists in showcasing them by nominating them for regional and national awards.
On any given Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, you will find Olivia Hernandez volunteering for Catholic Family Service. In the past nine years, Olivia has served about 4,680 hours. Some of the tasks she completes are stocking groceries, preparing sacks of hygiene products for those in need, and completing vouchers for prescriptions, c clothing, and glasses. As such a dedicated volunteer, Olivia lives by the principle that giving is better than receiving. A motivator to all, Olivia provides vital assistance to Catholic Family Service, providing the staff with more time to help people in need in the Lubbock community.
Business Advocate
Volunteer