Congratulations to the 2025 Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Award recipients!

Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Baltimore City Hispanic Commission are proud to honor, with the 2025 Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Awards, the following members of Baltimore's Hispanic and Latino communities who have made outstanding contributions toward improving the well-being of their communities:

• Educator of the Year: Gabi Salas
  • Nominated by Alyssa Dispoto Gumabon

  • Thirteen years ago, Gabi Salas joined the Lakeland community as an English Language Development teacher. During this time, she launched Lakeland's first Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, now one of the most well-attended events of the school year, and co-founded Lakeland's Dual Language Program, which now serves almost four hundred students from Pre-K to the eighth grade. The Dual Language Program, a launchpad for multilingual, culturally confident learners, is the only program of its kind in Baltimore City and has become a model for other schools.

• Service Provider of the Year: Mayra Loera
  • Nominated by Giuliana Valencia-Banks

  • From 2019 to earlier this year, Mayra Loera served as Program Manager at the Esperanza Center. Managing a team of six, she fostered a culture of mentorship and collaboration to engage more than four thousand community members annually. Mayra is known for her deep understanding of culturally competent and trauma-informed care. Whether coordinating case management for families affected by the Francis Scott Key Bridge tragedy or addressing daily crises, she prioritized holistic support that nurtured both immediate and long-term resilience.

• Volunteer of the Year: April Lugo
  • Nominated by Stefani Greenwade

  • As President of ALPFA Baltimore, April Lugo has doubled student engagement, multiplied event attendance, and secured record sponsorships. She spearheaded a partnership with United Way of Central Maryland to bring The Lonely Entrepreneur, an initiative that provides free business tools and mentorship, to Latino and immigrant communities. April also launched Mastering Your Personal Brand to connect students and professionals for intergenerational mentorship. Beyond ALPFA, April serves on the boards of Goodwill of the Chesapeake, United Way's RUN, and Maryland Latinos Unidos.

• Volunteer of the Year: Sagrario Ortiz
  • Nominated by Veronica Cool

  • Sagrario Ortiz is the founder of El Poder de Ser Mujer, an organization dedicated to empowering women in Baltimore's Latino community. Through mentorship programs, workshops, and advocacy, she provides guidance and support to help Latina women develop leadership skills, gain confidence, and engage actively in civic life. Outside of her organization, Sagrario also mentors emerging leaders, helping them navigate education, healthcare, and local government. Her partnerships with nonprofits, faith groups, and service providers have strengthened the city's network of support systems for Latina women.

• Delfina H. Pereda-Echeverria Award: Jermin Laviera
  • Nominated by Giuliana Valencia-Banks

  • Jermin Laviera first visited Catholic Charities on her wedding day, just one week after arriving from Venezuela. Within a year, she was volunteering, and soon after, she accepted a full-time role. More than thirty-seven years later, Jermin serves as a Client Services Representative at the Esperanza Center, assisting thousands each year with translations, benefits, and vital community resources. She ensures that every person she serves is treated with dignity and care, and those who know her describe Jermin as the heart of the Esperanza Center.