SAAHJ Speaker, San Juan, PR Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto, 8-11

SAAHJ Gala Keynote Speaker  San Juan, Puerto Rico Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto will keynote the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists’ 20th annual Scholarship & Awards Gala, set for Saturday, August 11th at the Grand Hyatt. The mayor will accept SAAHJ’s Corazon de Oro Award, a honor given to national figures who have made significant achievements in their chosen fields while making a positive impact on the Latino community, or contributing positively on the U.S. Latino experience. Cruz, who rose to national attention for her role in alleviating the humanitarian crisis created after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico last year, has served as a relentless voice for her people and a fierce critic of the Trump administration’s response to the devastation. An advocate for equality, especially for the LGBTQ community, the deaf community, children with disabilities and those who’ve struggled with gender-based violence, Cruz is also a champion for the rights of immigrants. The San Juan Mayor will join two other honorees at the SAAHJ gala. . The American Indians of Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions will receive SAAHJ’s Community Service Award for its work to preserve and protect the culture and traditions of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation as well as the other indigenous people of the Spanish colonial missions of South Texas and Northern Mexico. Elaine Ayala will receive SAAHJ’s Henry Guerra Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Journalism. She is a reporter and columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and a 38-year veteran of daily journalism. ¡Adelante!  -SAAHJ Board