2014 Rising Star of the Year
This award recognizes the contributions of outstanding leadership through an individuals’ commitment
in the areas of business, educations, politics, non-profit sector, community service, and more.
The NYS Community at large will chooses the recipient through a voting system;
the idea is to encourage the Latino/Hispanic community across the state to learn about what others
are doing in their communities and become more involved.
This award recognizes the contributions of outstanding leadership through an individuals’ commitment
in the areas of business, educations, politics, non-profit sector, community service, and more.
The NYS Community at large will chooses the recipient through a voting system;
the idea is to encourage the Latino/Hispanic community across the state to learn about what others
are doing in their communities and become more involved.
Finalist
Natacha Carbajal
Associate Baker Hostetler 35 New York City Region Natacha’s professional career and community activism speak of her commitment to empowering her community. Some of her accomplishments include:
• Ambassador to the American Bar Association's Business Law Section; Commissioner on the American Bar Association's Commission for Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession and Co-chairing the Commission's 2014 Minority Counsel Program to be held in Washington, D.C. in May of 2014. The Minority Counsel Program has historically served as an opportunity for developing attorneys of color to showcase their talents to key potential clients, empowering them to succeed at traditionally non-minority law firms and corporations. • Deputy Regional President of the New York Region of the Hispanic National Bar Association. In addition to being a champion for mentoring programs and all efforts supporting the education of younger generations, including working tirelessly to support the HNBA's evaluation and nomination of various nominees for different judicial positions in the New York State and Federal Courts systems. • Named to the HNBA's Latina Commission, which studies the challenges faced by Latina lawyers in the legal profession. • Secretary, Association of the Bar of the City of New York's Committee for Minorities in the Courts, which hosts different events to support and assist minority attorneys and minority litigants with navigating and succeeding in the court systems of New York City. • Cornell University Council and the Junior Advisory Board of Her Justice (formerly inMotion), a non-profit organization that procures and provides pro bono legal services to women who are victims of domestic violence. • She serves on the Cornell University Council and is a former co-Chair of the Cornell Latino Alumni Association. In these roles, she helps to educate high school students and communities about the opportunities at Cornell and to engage alumni, particularly Latino alumni. |
Finalist
Erika Kastel
Training & Employment Manager PathStone Corporation 36 Mid Hudson Region Erika is committed to making a difference especially among farm workers and is very active in ensuring this demographic is educated and connected to critical resources. Some of her accomplishments include:
• In her position with PathStone Corporation she aids seasonal and migrant farm workers access professional licensing trainings. She provides services to Latino, Jamaican, Haitian, Bangladeshi and American individuals and families. • Co-founder and President of the Grupo Latino Cultural y de Teatro Independiente, focusing on exposing the Latino Art in the Hudson Valley area and has produced two plays in Spanish. • Created the BAT (Bringing Agencies Together) Coalition that meets six times a year with the purpose of providing a cooperative atmosphere with an exchange of information about their region. • Chairs the Dutchess County Resource Fair for Latinos; a yearly event focused on creating awareness about the different services available regardless of legal status. • As radio co-host at WHVW Noche Latina 950 AM helped launch a weight loss contest called Baja de Peso y Gana con Noche Latina in 2009. • Member and workshop facilitator for the Rural Women's Conference event offered by Rural Migrant Ministry; a three-day retreat for farm worker women with motivational and inspirational workshops and presentations. • Erika also served as an organizer for the "Live your Dream Girl's Conference" a day of sharing for 7th grade girls who are facing difficulty as they go through Middle School. • Developed curriculum and taught for an after school Spanish class for children between 5 to 10 years old in the Poughkeepsie School District • She is a Youth Mentor for Youth Build America. • As Board Member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Poughkeepsie Branch, Erika launched an initiative for Immigrant Women called Thinking Globally Acting Locally project. |
Winner!
Edwin Ramirez Jr.
Police Officer Mount Kisco Police Department 33 Mid Hudson Region Edwin is helping to break down the barriers between the police enforcement and Spanish speaking immigrant communities.
• Created and implemented the first community outreach program for the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office geared towards educating Latinos that began in the Village of Pawling. • Facilitated community meetings in Spanish with local immigrant Latinos and immediately began addressing tough issues such as discrimination by police against immigrants, racial profiling, and federal program 287G (Secure Communities Program) vs. local police protocols and jurisdictions. Topics such as vehicle and traffic law, landlord/tenant disputes, workers rights, how to report crimes, and available resources and assistance for immigrant Latinos were also discussed. • Oversees the community outreach program called Police And Community Together (PACT) where he educated Latinos about local laws and police procedures, available resources and assistance and by opening the pathways of communication between the Latino community and the police through breaking down the barriers such as fear of police, fear of deportation, fear of reporting crimes, language barrier, and cultural differences. • Active board member for Mount Kisco Partners in Prevention, formerly known as the Mount Kisco Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Council. • His work with the Latino youth throughout the school district involves the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program to empower the youth to want to strive to work hard in school and get their education. • Works with the youth in the Pipeline Scholars program of Neighbors Link to educate on bullying/cyber-bullying, domestic violence, and gang violence. • He holds regular discussion groups at Neighbors Link on issues like domestic violence and available assistance and resources, how to report crimes, local laws, and the dangers of drinking and driving. |