More than 100 local Latino leaders gathered for emotional speeches and a lively audience at the fourth annual Puente Y Ganas Awards Dinner in Santa Rosa on Saturday.

The highest award at the ceremony organized by Los Cien went to Omar Gallardo, a beloved member of the Latino community in Sonoma County who has inspired local youth and raised environmental awareness in his various roles, including as Community Diversity and Outreach Manager at Landpaths, where he also led the successful revitalization of the Bayer Farm in Roseland.

The Latino leadership organization Los Cien annually recognizes groundbreaking achievements by individuals or organizations for Sonoma County with the Puente Y Ganas Awards.

Ana Horta, member of the board of Los Cien, paid tribute to Gallardo’s work and announced him as the winner of the Campeón award.

“He was an incredible leader, he made profound positive changes in this community, he inspired all of us and me,” she said. “He always strived for unity and never gave up.”

According to Horta, Gallardo was unable to accept his award in person due to health reasons.

Earlier in the evening, Priscilla Jaworski-Quintanilla received the Individual Award for being an exemplary role model for the Hispanic community who focuses on inclusivity. One of her responsibilities as a member of Redwood Credit Union’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is to promote bilingual initiatives that leverage the talents of Spanish-speaking workers.

Additionally, she became the first Latino member of the Mark West School District Board of Trustees. Jaworski-Quintanilla is currently the Assistant Director of Commercial Lending at Redwood Credit Union Bank.

Earlier in the evening, Lisa Carreño, president of Los Cien’s board of directors, offered an apologetic recognition of the Pomo, Wappo and Miwok tribes of Northern California. Carreño said these indigenous communities have not been adequately considered by the Latino leadership organization.

“We have not engaged with Native Americans as authentically as we should have,” she said. “I hope that sharing this information serves as a model for each of your organizations and for each of you as well.”

Senator Mike McGuire of California soon led a spirited fundraising effort to pay for the professional training of a Latino leader who could successfully fill seats on community boards and committees. The Fund-A-Ganas effort is designed to increase Hispanic representation in Sonoma County government, which officially represents 28.8% of the population.

The Organization Award was given to VIDAS, an organization that advocates for immigrants’ issues and has prevented thousands of deportations, according to the organization itself. Members of the team, led by accredited representative Rosa Becerra Ibarra, took the stage to present the award. Among them was legal assistant Daisy Guerrero, who performed a musical number under her stage name Daze Margarita.

The annual dinner was preceded by the Wine Garden, an area where Latin American winemakers offered their spirits for tasting and which also featured small business owners with booths on a green space showcasing their crafts and designs.