The 2002 Anna Maria Arias
Congressional Trailblazer Awards

Two extraordinary Latinas became the first recipients of the Anna Maria Arias Trailblazer Congressional Award. The award was created in memory of Anna Maria Arias, the late Publisher and Editor of LATINA Style magazine, who tragically lost her life in October 2001. The award recognizes two Latina leaders whose contributions to the legislative process have made the greatest impact for Latinas across the country.

California State Senator Nell Soto and Miami-Dade Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, the awardees, were flown to Washington D.C. to be honored during a special ceremony on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, July 18, 2002.

The day began with a breakfast in the congressional lunchroom hosted by Congresswomen Grace Napolitano (D-CA) and Nydia Velázquez. (D-NY.)

Also in attendance were Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, Co-Chair of the Women’s Political Caucus and the late Congresswoman Patsy Mink (D-HA.) Following the breakfast, the honorees were given a private tour of the Capitol and visited with some key committee members, including Congressman David Dreier (R-CA) Chairman of the Rules Committee.

The award ceremony took place in the Rayburn Building - the same place where LATINA Style was launched in October 1994 - and was hosted by the six Latina Members of Congress: representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Nydia M. Velázquez, Loretta Sanchez, Grace Napolitano and Hilda L. Solis.

 

It was a touching and motivating event. The ceremony brought to light the amazing accomplishments of two women of different backgrounds and political persuasion, who work hard every day to make a better life for their constituents and for Latinas in particular. Congresswoman Napolitano presented the award to her longtime friend Senator Soto, a sixth-generation resident of Pomona, California. In her comments Napolitano said, “I can’t think of a more appropriate recipient for this award. Nell represents the qualities that made Anna Maria Arias such a successful and beloved representative of our community. She is persistent, tenacious and compassionate. She has never been afraid of standing up for our community and has fought all of her career to secure that Latinas and Latinos receive an equitable representation.” In accepting her award, Senator Soto said “I am proud to be known as a problem solver, a legislator that can work with people of different backgrounds and philosophies to achieve a common goal. If we try hard enough we can all win together.”

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a friend and mentor to Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, presented her award. In her remarks Ros-Lehtinen said “It seems like yesterday that we were all here in this same venue launching LATINA Style magazine. Then, we were only three Latinas in Congress. Now we are six. Anna Maria’s mission of empowering Latinas throughout the country has been a great success and her absence is greatly felt by all of us, but her mission continues. I am delighted to introduce our award recipient, a woman, a Latina that truly represents the qualities that Anna Maria worked so hard to highlight in our community. Commissioner Sosa has been an educator, a Mayor, and an advocate for Latino families. She has been a leader in health issues, housing and the environment. She is a true leader and a great representative of our community.”

Commissioner Sosa, in accepting her award, stated “I believe that children and Latino children deserve the strongest advocates we can provide. They are the future of our country and we cannot neglect them. As elected officials, we are responsible for creating the conditions that will allow children to learn and families to prosper. Although I never had the pleasure of knowing Anna Maria I appreciate her work and commitment and I am proud of receiving this award.” U.S. Department of Energy Director, Theresa Alvillar-Speake, one of the highest-ranking Latinas of President Bush’s Administration, presented to the two awardees a letter from First Lady Laura Bush congratulating them on their work and their award.

The Anna Maria Congressional Trailblazer Award is produced in partnership with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. The awards are sponsored by PepsiCo, Inc., Ford Motor Company, Walt Disney Company, American Airlines and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.