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Three decades ago, Mickie Luna and the late Pauline Valdivia, dissatisfied with the honoree committees at the time that did not recognize Latina women, visited local spiritual leader Arminda “Nana” Valdez for spiritual guidance on whether they should start their own women’s honoree committee.
“We went to her house,” Luna said, “and she took us to the altar in the back of her house, she prayed over us and she said, ‘Do it, it’s going to be a success.’”
Following Valdez’s guidance, the Latino Coalition of San Benito County formed the Visionary Women’s Committee. The committee hosted its first luncheon in 1998 with 70 attendees in the back room of the Community Center, now named the Pauline Valdivia Memorial Community Center.
The coalition celebrated its 29th Visionary Women’s Luncheon on Aug. 22, honoring Lucy Rodriguez, Ann Marie Sayers and Rachel Perez.
“This is wonderful because we are honoring women and they are really heroes of this community that don’t get acknowledged at all,” Luna said.
She said the event continues to grow each year and has outgrown three venues over the years to better accommodate attendees.
Ruth Hermosillo, chair of the Visionary Women’s Luncheon committee for 10 years, said the committee meets twice a month to plan the gathering.
“It’s mostly getting the guest speaker and picking the honorees, and we do that as a committee,” Hermosillo said. “We have so many women that we honor and they’re all worthy.”
This year’s keynote speaker, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, advised young women pursuing leadership roles to “get involved” and “ask for mentors.”
“Get appointed to a board or commission so you understand and feel comfortable running or being part of a public board,” Ma said. “Be willing to work hard and harder than the next person.”
In addition to honoring Latina women who have done exceptional work in San Benito County, the luncheon also raises money for the Latino Coalition Scholarship Fund, which benefits local high school seniors. Funds are raised through event tickets and a silent auction featuring art and gift baskets donated by community members, Latino Coalition members and local businesses.
This year’s Latino Coalition Scholarship recipients are Hollister High School graduates Rachel Bueno, Magdalena Carrillo, Jacqueline S. Herrera, Laila Kirkpatrick, Evelyn Diaz Rios, Zamaya J. Rivera, Eaton Scott and Johan Zaragoza, as well as San Andreas High School graduates Julissa “Luka” Hernandez and Julissa Villareal.
Luna’s friend and honorary chair of the luncheon, state Sen. Anna M. Caballero, has attended the event almost every year.
“It’s just great to be able to catch up with old friends and they continue to do really good work in San Benito County and I want to be a part of it,” Caballero said. “I appreciate that they include me even when I’m far away.”
Caballero was surprised with a special recognition from state Sen. John Laird for her lifelong work in public service. Hollister City Manager Ana Cortez and San Benito County Executive Officer Esperanza Colio Warren also received special recognition from the Latino Coalition for their leadership and work in San Benito County.
Rodriguez, Sayers and Perez also received special certificates, awards and recognitions from representatives of the Latino Coalition of San Benito County, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, the Hollister City Council, 29th Assembly District representative Robert Rivas’ office, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s office and Laird’s office.
The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour and Taylor Farms.
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