Reconocimiento Award 2005

Presentation Speech for Rose Mary Villarrubia-Izzo, Leadership Service Award.

Presenter: Margaret Sanchez.

A decade after receiving this award, I am thrilled to be presenting this award to another Latina - someone I consider a consummate leader, professional, and volunteer; someone I have known since my arrival in the community some 20 years ago; and someone I consider a friend.

This year's leadership service award recipient has dedicated her life to the Latino youth of our community. She has worked for the Rochester City School District for the past 23 years - 18 of those years has been in the Office of Bilingual and Hispanic Services as a project worker bilingual - and for the past 9 years as the Program Coordinator of MESH (the Math, Engineering and Science for Hispanics Program)

As a volunteer she has served

• on the Boards of United Way, WXXI and the American Red Cross;
• on the Hispanic Leadership Development Steering Committee;
• for 18 years with the Red Cross' Hispanic Youth Leadership Development including its mentoring committee;
• and with the ever-so-successful Soy Unica, Soy Latina annual conferences.

When I think of this year's recipient, the story of a mother eagle comes to mind:

The eagle gently coaxed her offspring toward te edge of the nest. Her heart quivered with conflicting emotions as she felt their resistance to her persistent nudging. "Why does the thrill of souring have to begin with the fear of falling?" she thought. This ageless question was still unanswered for her.

As in the tradition of the speices, her nest was located high on the shelf of a sheer rock face. Below there was nothing but air to support the wings of each child. "Is it possible that this time it will not work?" she thought. Despite her fears, the eagle knew it was time. Her parental mission was all but complete. There remained one final task - the push.

The eagle drew courage from an innate wisdom. Until her children discovered their wings, there was no purpose for their lives. Until they learned how to soar, they would fail to understand the prvilege it was to have been an eagle. The push wqs the greatest gift she had to offer. It was her supreme act of love. And so one by one she pushed them, and they flew!

And so it is with Rosemary. Until the youth she leads, coaches, guides, mentors discover their full potential, she cannot rest. Until they learn how to soar, they fail to understand the privilege it is to be Latino. Her push is her greatest gift she offers.

This year's recipient not only exemplifies the qualities of a successful leader but more importantly exemplifies a life filled with purpose - that purpose is about her commitment to Latino youth - both girls and boys, young women and young men - and making a difference in their success. It is my honor and privilege to present Latinas Unidas' 2005 Leadership Service award to Ms. Rosemary Villarubia-Izzo.