Alvaro Manrique Barrenechea, Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors
In recognition of your service to ensuring the rights of our community are upheld and improved and for your contribution to our Casa Azafrán family.
As a volunteer English as a Second Language teacher, Alvaro has helped dozens of students with their language skills and transition to life in Nashville. Since joining our partner Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors he has used his legal education from Peru to help hundreds of immigrants access resources to improve their immigration status.
Alfonso Nieto, Hola Tennessee newspaper
In recognition of your outstanding community service, welcoming new Nashvillians, and providing accessible information for our community.
Alfonso has been a tireless advocate in the Latino community in Nashville. As an entrepreneur, journalist, publisher and volunteer he has worked to keep the community informed of the local, national and international news, as well as helping new Nashvillians to connect to resources in the community.
Cecilia Gomez, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
In recognition of your dedication to the community and women’s justice through public service. You are a role model not only to young Latinas but for all Nashvillians.
Today Cecilia is a Metro Nashville police officer , but she has been working for justice for women and victims of crime long before she went through the grueling application and training to become an officer. She has already helped so many in our community and we are proud to see her fulfilling her dream as a new officer with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. The force is lucky to have you and so is our community.
‘Amiga We Love’ Award
Alice Randall, Writer-in-Residence at Vanderbilt University
For embodying our mission of building a welcoming community by creating the occasion to experience the power of a shared meal, a shared book, a shared voice.
Every year during Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize one non-Latino individual whose work, efforts or voice have promoted, in meaningful ways, the vision of a welcoming Nashville and Tennessee where Latinos, and all immigrants, are embraced as integral members of our communities.
This year, we presented the Amiga We Love award to someone who has touched us and inspired us. Alice Randall has become a friend and mentor to our staff and many of our culinary entrepreneurs, and created a little library to share free books with our Casa Azafran community.
She has been a passionate ambassador opening new doors through the sharing of food, books and new friendships. Her light has been such a gift to us the last couple of years and we know we count on her for many more to come.