Alderman celebrates Latino Heritage Month – Mercury News

Latin Heritage celebrated

Councilmember Alex Lee celebrated Latino Heritage Month on Sept. 23 by honoring six Latino community leaders and a local Latino business. The event was hosted by 5th District San Jose City Councilman Peter Ortiz.

Among the honorees was San Jose’s Berryessa School District Superintendent Dr. Roxane Fuentes; Riko Mendez, CEO of SEIU Local 521; Jessica Paz-Cedillos, co-director of the School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose; Victoria Salas Salcedo, English teacher at Rancho Milpitas Middle School; Fernanda Morales, a recent graduate of KIPP San Jose Collegiate who collaborated with the mayor of San Jose to create an ordinance to protect student safety; Tatiana Villaseñor Carrillo, community organizer for Latina Coalition Silicon Valley; and Tacos Al Pastor, which hosted the event at its East San Jose location.

Neighborhood Notes

CAMBRIAN>>Leigh High School is among 356 schools nationwide and 33 in California recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School. This recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance or have made significant progress in closing achievement gaps between different groups of students.

Leigh was named an Exemplary High Performance School for students’ performance on state assessments and/or national normed tests.

“Leigh has award-winning music, athletic, visual and performing arts programs along with rigorous academics and has over 100 clubs to serve student interests,” he says National Blue Ribbon Schools website.

Leigh was also recognized as a 2024 California Distinguished School.