Arturo Velasquez (left), who accepted his sister Carmen’s Award, and Michael J. Hernandez (right), with Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

By Marie Balice Ward

Michael J. Hernandez, of the South Loop based Dearborn Park Advisory Council and partner and diversity officer at the Franczek Radelet law firm, and Carmen Velasquez, executive director of Alivio Medical Center in Pilsen, were the recipients of the 2009 El Humanitario Awards by Anita Alvarez, Cook County State’s Attorney. The recipients are chosen by Alvarez’s Hispanic Advisory Council.

In addition, two scholarships with internships at the State’s Attorney’s Office were awarded to Leticia R. Arceo of Mother McAuley High School on the Far South Side and Abiel D. Martinez Jr. of Benito Juarez High School in Pilsen. Sondra Solarte, Fox 32-TV traffic and general assignment reporter, served as host. Sponsors were Walgreens Inc., represented by Rafael Malpica, and State Farm Insurance, represented by Benito Almanza. The event was held at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen and featured music, flamenco dancers, and singing.

Alvarez said Hernandez and Velasquez represented leadership, honor, integrity, and heritage. “We are proud to honor both of these distinguished role models, who are most deserving of the El Humanitario Award,” she said. Hernandez specializes in education, labor, and employment law. His expertise involves litigation at all levels of state and federal courts and administrative agencies, including property tax appeal work.

He was appointed as his firm’s first diversity officer in 2006. Hernandez “has been deeply involved with affirmative action and desegregation matters as well as education, employment, and other legal issues,” Alvarez said, noting that he also has been active with the National Latino Education Institute and is a founding member of Teach for America, which offers financial assistance to future teachers with the understanding that they teach in low-income communities.

Hernandez also has been involved with the Chicago Public Schools’ Real Men Read program of men who volunteer to help underprivileged children learn to read. He also mentors young attorneys and high school students. Hernandez thanked Alvarez and the corporate sponsors; his wife, Laura; and daughters Theresa and Christina.

“I am here standing on the shoulders of those who came before me and sacrificed,” said Hernandez. He shared his memories of visiting Hull House’s reading and writing room with his grandmother “who unlocked the adventure and knowledge of books” for him. He explained that his mother was a bilingual teacher, and also mentioned a cousin and uncle who served in the Vietnam War, where his uncle was killed in action.

“For all of them,” Hernandez said, “I accept this award this evening.”

Martin Castro, vice presidentexternal affairs for Aetna, chairman of Alvarez’s Hispanic Advisory Council, and chairman of the National Museum of Mexican Art, noted that the El Humanitario Awards traditionally have been “given to lawyers who work toward the betterment of the Hispanic community and role models for future generations of Hispanics. This year, for the first time in its history,
the award has been bestowed on someone who is not a lawyer, Carmen Velasquez.”

“She’s not an attorney but she has contributed so very much to the Hispanic community that we have broken with tradition,” Alvarez said. Velasquez founded Alivio Medical Center and is a strong advocate for universal health care. Alivio is a not-for-profit health center where 20,000 Latino patients are served annually. It celebrates its twentieth anniversary in 2010. Velasquez was unable to attend the ceremony because she was in Washington, DC. Velasquez told the Gazette, “I was surprised, honored, and delighted to receive the El Humanitario Award.”

Velasquez’s brother Arturo accepted the award from Alvarez at the ceremony. “Carmen was an activist even when she was seven or eight years old,” he stated, explaining that he is “very proud of her work for Latinos, immigrants, and unfortunates.”

Arceo and Martinez earned $1,000 scholarships, as well as internships in Alvarez’s office. The scholarships were awarded, explained Melinda Barrett, co-chair of the event, for the most outstanding essays on how to combat gang violence. The judging committee consisted of members of Alvarez’s Hispanic Advisory Council.