New America Media, Video, Odette Keeley, Posted: Nov 01, 2010

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom recently honored El Mensajero managing editor, Maria Mejia, who confesses she herself was surprised at this recognition, because the paper has been a strong critic of the mayor on certain issues, especially towards immigrants. These include his revision of San Francisco's sanctuary city law to allow the city to turn over undocumented minors convicted of crimes to federal immigration authorities. And he also postponed the city's plan to grant IDs to residents regardless of their immigration status.



Maria Mejia and Marcos Gutierez of "Hecho en California" radio show were the honorees in the field of Media, during this year's Latino Heritage Month Celebration and Awards held at San Francisco City Hall. The Dolores Huerta Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by Mayor Newsom to the family of the late Luisa Ezquerro, a lifelong educator and community activist, including 43 years of teaching in San Francisco's Unified Public Schools.



Many of the honorees emphasized the critical role of this event in empowering the Latino community, especially in making sure they vote in the midterm elections and to share their voice in the continuing struggle for immigration reform.



"New America Now" anchor Odette Keeley covered the event and also spoke to some of the awardees including Benjamin Bratt and Peter Bratt for their award-winning film, "La Mission" -- for the Arts; Dr. Sandra Hernandez, CEO of the San Francisco Foundation -- for Health and Medicine; Ana Perez, Executive Director of the Central American Resource Center [ CARECEN ] -- for Community Service; and, mother and son Paulo Acosta Cabezas and Cruzita Cabezas of Mama Art Cafe -- for Business.

Odette Keeley is host and executive producer of “New America Now”, NAM’s TV show on COMCAST - Comcast Hometown Network CHN 104 & COMCAST ON DEMAND. This video report was filmed by Jesus Cruz of "Upside" of COMCAST Hometown Network-CHN 104, and was also featured by Keeley on the weekly NAM segment on "Upside.";