Latino Network honors women who make a difference in their communities

“A sustainable future can only be reached by women and men enjoying equality together,” said Latino Network Chair, Myriam Aragon, in her opening remarks at this year’s Celebración de la Mujer.

The annual luncheon and award ceremony, which honors the contributions and accomplishments of Latinas in their communities, took place Friday, March 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Stratton Community Center at 2008 Martin Luther King Blvd. The 2015 Honorees included Francisca Beltran, Darlene Trujillo Elliot, Patricia Reynolds, Carolina Zaragoza Flores and Mary Helen Ybarra. Reynolds and Flores did not attend.

Each honoree was awarded a plaque by Latino Network and State Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside), who was in attendance along with Riverside city council members Andrew Melendrez and Jim Perry.

Each woman upon receiving their awards, gave a brief speech that highlighted their work and ideas about serving the community.

“I enjoy my job,” said Beltran of the Riverside Community Health Foundation. "It is my passion to see people improving their lives and living a better quality of life. It’s my goal.”

Elliot spoke about her great-great-great-grandfather, Lorenzo Trujillo who was an early settler of the Inland Empire.

"By giving him a voice today, I have found my voice as well,” said Elliot.

She also shared some of her childhood experiences, using the story to focus on future generations of Latinas.

“As a child, I remember looking around and looking at the teachers and looking at the staff and nobody looked like me. Not in the books that I read, not in the magazines, not on TV. Think about that. How limiting that is for a child? That is why, I’m so grateful my granddaughter is here today,” she said.

Latino Network Board Member, Ofelia Valdez-Yeager, accepted the award on behalf of Reynolds and Flores’ daughter accepted the award on her behalf.

Francisca Beltran

Beltran's area of interest is health and wellness. She is a Champion Mom with the Riverside County Department of Public Health's Network for a Healthy California program. She helps other mothers better their health through dieting, Zumba and Tai-Chi. Beltran lives in Riverside.

Darlene Trujillo Elliot

The great-great-great granddaughter of early Inland Empire settler, Lorenzo Trujillo, Elliot has co-founded the Spanish Town Heritage Foundation. Through the foundation, Elliot and her partners have conducted the annual Riverside Tamale Festival and championed the legacy of her ancestor. Currently, Elliot is also an Administrative Analyst for Riverside Public Utilities. Trujillo Elliot lives in Riverside.

Mary Ybarra

Ybarra is the first Latina member on the Corona-Norco School Board. She is an avid volunteer at the Parent Teachers Association, Corona Police Kids and the YMCA. Additionally, she attends numerous ELAC and DLAC meetings with hopes to learn as much as she can about the programs and share them with other families who do not attend due to language barriers or other issues. Ybarra lives in Corona.

Carolina Zaragoza Flores

Flores is a long time member of the Mexican Foreign Service and has held various positions and titles within Mexico and abroad. Her work in the Inland Empire stems from her position as the Consul of Mexico in San Bernardino. Through her network of social groups, the consul has assisted the Inland Empire in the areas of community care, economic promotion and more. Flores lives in San Bernardino.

Patricia Reynolds

Reynolds began working with the Department of Social Services just after graduating from Norte Vista High School. Eventually after working her way up, she landed the position of Assistant Director of Administration for the County of Riverside Department of Public Social Services. She is a member of multiple groups, including Latino Network, YWCA Woman of Achievement Planning Committee, Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and more. Reynolds lives in Riverside.