NOCHE DE GALA!

Stars align to celebrate 10 years of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts
October 2, 2006 · Residence of the Mexican Ambassador October 3, 2006 · The Renaissance Mayfl ower Hotel

GALA AND PRE-GALA PHOTOS BY PAUL SIMKIN OZIO AFTER PARTY PHOTOS BY RACHEL SMITH

In 1996, actor Jimmy Smits experienced a real-life prelude to his role as the country's 44th president in West Wing. It came in the form of an East Wing sit-down with then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. Smits, along with fellow actors Sonia Braga, Esai Morales, Merel Julia and Washington, D.C. attorney Felix Sanchez were bending Clinton's ear to get her support for a foundation to increase access for Hispanic artists and professionals while fostering the emergence of new Hispanic talent. As Smits put it, "There were no empty promises, the First Lady looked us in the eye and said, 'how do we move forward?" NHFA was formed later that same year.
A decade later, no one was surprised to see New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton speaking at the organization's 10th annual gala. Aside from tagging Smits as "one of her favorite people," Clinton gave a rousing keynote address, commenting: "As you look at the way the media has changed just in 10 short years, it may seem long to those who were anxious to see someone who looked like and sounded like you, but it has happened, and now we have keep the pressure on, so that even more happens."
Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez followed with his own inspirational words. The former Cuban political refugee told of his rise from selling Kellogg cereal out of a van in Mexico City to becoming the corporation's president and chief executive in 1999, followed by his eventual 2004 cabinet appointment.
But the night belonged to artists, specifically Raul Juliá Award for Excellence winner, film director John Singleton (Hustle & Flow, Boyz N The Hood) and the Horizon Award winners, actors Michael Peña (Crash, Million Dollar Baby, Babel); and Wilmer Valderrama (That 70's Show, Fast Food Nation). Emcee Esai Morales kept the night flowing smoothly by being one of the rare people capable of getting laughs during a sponsors introduction. The night was underwritten by Ford Motor Company Fund and United Airlines. In between award presentations, guests were treated to the live sounds of Colombian musical sensation Fanny Lu.
The party continued until the wee hours at downtown hot-spot Ozio at the exclusive Washington Life Magazine sponsored after-party. As the sounds of salsa reverberated through the room, award winners mixed with the many artists who attended the event. The night before the gala, Mexican Ambassador Carlos De Icaza and his wife Luisa hosted a private VIP gathering at their residence for the award recipients and many of the supporters and sponsors of the NHFA over the years.
The People: Carlos de Icaza, Amb. of Mexico and Luisa De Icaza, Paraguayan Amb. James Spalding; Reps. Charlie Gonzales, Hilda Solis, Loretta Sanchez and Linda T. Sanchez; Inter American Development Bank President Luis Moreno, NBC Universal Television Studios President Jay Ireland, Jim Kimsey and actors Adriana Barraza, April Hernandez, Wanda De Jesus, Jacqueline Piñol, Yvonne DeLaRosa, Kurt Caceres, Paulo Benedeti and Diego Serrano.

SPEAKING FOR THE ARTS

What does it mean to be active in the community?

I believe in what Senator Clinton said, that "it takes a village." Being active is finding your role in the
evolution of that village. - ESAI MORALES
People need roles models. And to the extent that I, along with other prominent Hispanic-Americans,
can be part of events such as the NHFA gala tonight in the capacity of a role model - I think that is
important. - SECRETARY OF COMMERCE CARLOS GUTIERREZ
As mi madre used to tell me: When you have been blessed with certain things, you should always think
about where you came from, and think about those who are trying to get a leg up. You should find ways
to give back to the community. That's what NHFA's Urban Foundation is about - helping people who
financially can't afford the wonderfulness of higher education. - JIMMY SMITS
I've never professed to be an activist. I'm not about any of that. I'm about being the best person that
I can be and doing the right thing. - JOHN SINGLETON
For me, one of the best ways to be active as far as what the public sees, is to do your job as well as
possible and have a good head about you - to set a good example. - WILMER VALDERRAMA

What would your campaign promise be if you were running for office?

I'm not the corruptible type. I've been around too long. If someone hasn't completely bought me out
yet, then they're not going to! - ESAI MORALES
Clean the air. - PAULO BENEDETI
Create change together! - JACQUELINE PIÑOL
Re-green the earth. - YVONNE DELAROSA
Stay true to the pulse of the people. - JIMMY SMITS
I'd be more interested in saying what I can do for the arts than for politics. - JOHN SINGLETON
More movies are going to be made. Better movies are going to be made! - MICHAEL PEÑA
Listen to what the people really need, and when I say "the people," I mean the "real people" from the
inner cities. - WILMER VALDERRAMA

What are some challenges for emerging hispanic artists?

There are more Latin actors, but less roles. We need the number of acting jobs to grow and progress
as our community does. - PAULO BENEDETI
Personally, if a [casting director] sees my picture and it says "Jacqueline Piñol," they immediately know I'm
Latin, and I'll get: "Oh, we're not looking for a Latin actress." That's a tough barrier. I don't want to change
my last name just so that more people will look at me and think, "She could be anything."
- JACQUELINE PIÑOL
It would be great to have more Latino writers and producers getting our
stories out, especially on television. - YVONNE DELAROSA
Everyone in Hollywood has a stereotype they are placed into. All you can do is get a good script, a good
director, a good team and do good work ... and try not to pay attention to all the challenges or obstacles.
- MICHAEL PEÑA
There are a lot of manufactured artists and artificial stars that are getting a lot of headlines for not doing
very much. - WILMER VALDERRAMA

Esai Morales, Michael Peña, Wilmer Valderrama, Jimmy Smits, John Singleton and Felix Sanchez	Merilay Fernandez and Esai Morales

Ivette Rodriguez, Michael Peña Merilay Fernandez and Esai Morales and April Hernandez	Diego Serrano

Thome Nicocelli and James Figetakis	Kat Castameda and Angel Rivera

Daniel Garza, Belinda Garza and Nicolas Ibarguev	Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez

Tom Gorman, Elaine Howard and Eloy Martinez	Jacqueline Piñol, Fanny Lu, Yvonne DeLaRosa and April Hernandez

Esai Morales and Felix Sanchez	Esther Coopersmith, Jimmy Smits and Connie Coopersmith

Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, Marty Hinojosa, Gen. Harley Hughes, Grace Flores Huges and Mark Contreras	Elvis Cordova and Diana Mendoza