22nd Annual Awards & Scholarship Dinner

Abriendo Caminos

Celebrating Mujeres Who are Paving the Future for Latinas in Los Angeles

Please join us on Friday, September 27, 2019 for LLBA’s 22nd Annual Awards & Scholarship Dinner at the Millennium Biltmore in downtown Los Angeles!

5:30pm Cocktail Reception / Registration
6:30pm Dinner & Awards
9:00pm Closing Remarks

Millennium Biltmore Hotel
506 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Mary V. Orozco Abriendo Caminos Honorees

Angela Sierra

Chief Assistant Attorney General, Public Rights Division
State of California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General

Angela Sierra is the Chief Assistant Attorney General of the Public Rights Division, overseeing the work of the Division’s over 400 employees that serve Californians by safeguarding the State’s environment and natural resources, protecting state lands, maintaining competitive markets, preventing fraudulent business practices, protecting consumers against misleading advertising claims, preserving charitable assets and protecting civil rights. Read more>

Maria S. Salinas

President & CEO
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

Maria S. Salinas is the President & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the largest business association in Los Angeles County representing more than 1,600-member companies and serving the interests of more than 235,000 businesses across the Los Angeles region. Ms. Salinas took the helm of the organization in August of 2018 and became the first woman and Latina to lead the Chamber in its 130 year history. Read more>

Maria Ramirez

Director, Bureau of Specialized Prosecutions
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office

Maria has been a prosecutor for the LADA’s Office for 29 years. In January 2019, District Attorney Jackie Lacey appointed Maria to the position of Director of the Bureau of Specialized Prosecutions, where she oversees seven divisions including Major Crimes, Hardcore Gang, Sex Crimes, Family Violence, Major Narcotics, Target Crimes and Juvenile Divisions. Read more>

Graciela Martinez

Head Deputy, Immigration and Civil Commitment Units
Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office

Graciela Martinez is the Head Deputy for the Immigration and Civil Commitment Units of the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office. Ms. Martinez consults with, advises and trains attorneys on issues relating to criminal convictions and the resultant immigration penalties. Read more>

Irene G. Nuñez

Head Deputy, Central Felony Trials Unit
Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office

Irene Guadalupe Nuñez has been a public defender for thirty-two years. After she graduated from U.C. Berkeley and Harvard Law School, she left a Century City law firm for the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office. She traded her private high-rise window office for the preliminary pool and lockup. She was in heaven! Read more>

The prestigious LLBA Abriendo Caminos Award was created to honor the legacy of Mary V. Orozco, who in 1962, became the first Latina admitted to the California State Bar. In Memory of Mary V. Orozco | September 24, 1928 – June 5, 2019.