Mayor Whitmire Announces 2026 Hispanic Heritage Awards

Mayor Whitmire Announces 2026 Hispanic Heritage Awards

Recognition ceremony to be held Monday, Oct. 26.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2026

Mayor John Whitmire and the Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Board have announced the recipients of the 2026 Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Awards. The honorees have excelled in their chosen professions and have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life throughout Houston.

Mayor Whitmire will join the Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Board to celebrate all the honorees at a special reception on Monday, October 26 from 5:30 - 8 p.m. at the Ballroom at Bayou Place, 500 Texas Ave.

2026 HONOREES:

David Medina, Mayor's Lifetime Achievement Award

This award recognizes community leaders who have led a lifetime of community service in the Hispanic community.

Medina recently retired after a 35-year career at Rice University, most of them as Director of Multicultural Community Relations. He focused on enhancing relationships between the ethnic communities of Houston and the university.

David Medina

Medina has served on the Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Board for the past 18 years. He also served as a fellow of the 2010-2011 class of the American Leadership Forum's Houston/Gulf Coast chapter. He served three years as president of the Houston Hispanic Forum. He was co-chair of the 2009 Diversity Summit in Sugar Land. He is a former president of the Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals and a former vice president of the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education. He served on the boards of Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say, Ser Niños Charter School; and Musiqa. He served on the boards of the Chinquapin School and Inprint. He also coached soccer, basketball and Little League baseball at the Garden Oaks YMCA.

In 2026, Houston Mayor John Whitmire presented a proclamation at City Hall and declared April 14 as "David D. Medina Day" in Houston for Medina's contributions to the city through his work at Rice University. In 2017, Medina was named National Top Latino Leader by the Council for Latino Workplace Equity, an initiative of the National Diversity Council. That same year, he was selected as a Comcast Hispanic Hero Award recipient. In 2012, Medina received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals.

In 2012 and 2024, he received Rice's Demaris Hudspeth Endowed Award for extraordinary service to student life and organizations. He was honored with a DiversityFIRST Award from the Texas Diversity Council. He also received the 2010 Willie Velasquez Hispanic Excellence Award for education from the Tejano Center for Community Concerns and Houston TV station Telemundo. He received the 2010 Diversity Champion Award from the Association of Chinese-American Professionals.

Before joining Rice, Medina worked as a reporter for the Austin-American Statesman, the Dallas Times Herald, the Houston Post, The Wall Street Journal and Newsweek magazine.

Sergio J. Selvera, Mayor's Arts in the Community Award

This award recognizes the contribution of an individual whose outstanding efforts have enriched and nurtured the creativity in the Hispanic community through art programs.

Sergio J. Selvera is a Houston-based entertainment attorney, executive producer, and civic leader. He is a co-founder and partner of Rodgers Selvera PLLC, where his practice focuses on entertainment, media, intellectual property, and business transactions.

Selvera serves as chair of the Houston Arts Alliance Board of Directors, the City of Houston's nonprofit partner in advancing arts and culture. He is also an executive producer of A&E's The Chicano Squad, the documentary series chronicling the pioneering Mexican American homicide detectives who transformed homicide investigations in 1970s Houston. The series was a top-rated show when it premiered and received an Imagen Award nomination.

Previously, Selvera served as vice chair of the East Downtown Redevelopment Authority and was selected as a Google Next Gen Policy Fellow in Washington, D.C. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his law degree from Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He also studied international sports law at St. John's University.

Sara Montelongo-Oyervidez, Mayor's Community Activist Award

This award recognizes the outstanding volunteer efforts of an individual dedicated toward improving and educating the Hispanic community through public and community service.

Sara Montelongo-Oyervidez is a Houston native, community leader, and public affairs professional with more than 15 years of experience in government relations, community engagement, nonprofit development, and corporate philanthropy. She currently serves as Manager of Public Affairs for Valero Energy, where she oversees more than $3 million in annual charitable investments supporting communities in Houston and the surrounding region. In this role, she builds partnerships with nonprofit organizations, elected officials, and community stakeholders to advance education, workforce development, and economic opportunity.

Prior to joining Valero in 2022, Montelongo-Oyervidez served as District Director for Texas State Senator Carol Alvarado and previously worked in the Texas House of Representatives. Her professional background also includes leadership positions with the East End Chamber of Commerce, Texans Can Academy, and Incarnate Word Academy.

A dedicated advocate for Houston's East End and Latino community, Montelongo-Oyervidez serves on several boards and committees, including the Gulf Coast Workforce Board, YMCA of Greater Houston, Houston City College Foundation, East End Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and Barrio Dogs Advisory Board. She is also actively involved with LULAC Council 60 and the Latin Women's Initiative.

In 2024, she chaired LULAC Council 60's 90th Anniversary Gala, helping raise more than $90,000 to support scholarships and nonprofit organizations serving underserved communities. She is particularly passionate about empowering women, expanding educational opportunities, and connecting community organizations with resources to strengthen Houston's neighborhoods. Through her professional leadership and volunteer service, she continues to champion civic engagement, community investment, and opportunities for Houston's working families.

Miguel Jacquez, Mayor's Healthcare Award

This award recognizes an outstanding person who has increased awareness of healthcare issues affecting Hispanics in Houston and implemented specific projects leading to improvements.

Miguel Jacquez is a public health professional and community advocate with more than 20 years of experience in HIV prevention, health education, and community outreach. He currently serves as an HIV Navigation Specialist and Program Lead for AmistadesHTX at Legacy Community Health in Houston, Texas, where he works to expand access to healthcare services, reduce stigma, and address health disparities affecting Houston's Latino community.

Jacquez began his career in public health in 2003 in Lubbock, Texas, serving as a prevention case manager and later Director of Prevention Services for the South Plains AIDS Resource Center. He subsequently coordinated Ryan White HIV/AIDS services in Odessa before relocating to Houston in 2009. He joined Legacy Community Health in 2010, holding positions in patient education, behavioral health, and community outreach.

As a leader of AmistadesHTX, Jacquez has helped develop culturally responsive programs that promote HIV prevention, mental health awareness, and access to care. His work includes community education campaigns, support groups, and partnerships designed to create welcoming environments for individuals seeking healthcare services.

Through his longstanding commitment to public health and community engagement, Jacquez continues to advocate for health equity, inclusive healthcare, and improved health outcomes for underserved populations throughout Houston.

Jessica Campos, Mayor's Education in the Community Award

This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to increasing educational opportunities in academics, healthy living, and sportsmanship in the Hispanic community.

Jessica Campos is a community educator, writer, parent advocate, organizer, homeschool parent, and youth mentor who turns unmet needs into meaningful educational opportunities. As the founder and president of Houston Young Monarchs, she has built bilingual programs, launched literacy and STEM initiatives, mentored young leaders, connected families with essential resources, and helped parents understand and defend their children's educational rights. Her work is deeply rooted in Houston's East End, Denver Harbor and Fifth Ward, but her advocacy reaches families across Greater Houston and in other cities throughout Texas.

Houston Young Monarchs is a bilingual, intergenerational organization that brings education, mentorship, social justice, community service, and hands-on learning directly to children and families. Early literacy efforts began when Campos and her husband started building Little Free Libraries in Denver Harbor and Fifth Ward. That work gave rise to a broader community organization known as Common Good H-TX. Houston Young Monarchs also launched the Book Fairy Brigade Literacy Project, an initiative dedicated to putting books directly into children's hands and helping keep neighborhood libraries stocked.

Houston Young Monarchs also created Discover STEM Together in response to the community's growing need for accessible, hands-on STEM experiences. That work expanded into a collaborative summer enrichment program with YOU Discover Math, Houston Parks and Recreation, Houston Zoo, museums, libraries, elected officials, and other community partners. academics, healthy living, and sportsmanship in the Hispanic community.

Elsa Flores and Willy Gonzalez, Mayor's Public Service Award

This award honors two exceptional individuals who have made significant contributions to enhance the quality of life for the Hispanic community through a lifelong commitment to public service.

Elsa Flores is the President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Texas, where she has served since 2013. With more than 25 years of experience in labor organizing and advocacy, Flores leads efforts to advance workers' rights, improve wages and benefits, and promote economic opportunity for working families throughout Texas.

As president, Flores represents more than 6,500 workers across the healthcare, janitorial, and public service sectors. She oversees collective bargaining, union organizing, legislative advocacy, and strategic partnerships with elected officials and community organizations.

Her leadership has contributed to significant labor victories in Houston, including improved wages and working conditions for janitorial and other service workers.

Flores previously held leadership positions with SEIU Local 1, SEIU International, and SEIU Local 521. She also served as a Vice President of SEIU and participates in community and labor initiatives, including the Texas Climate Jobs Advisory Board and Houston Women's Committee.

Flores remains a prominent advocate for economic justice, equitable employment practices, and strengthening the voices of working families in Houston and across Texas.

Willy Gonzalez

Willy Gonzalez is a labor leader and advocate for workers' rights who serves as Texas Chapter president and director of UNITE HERE Local 23, a labor union representing hospitality, food service, airport, and other service industry workers. Based in Houston, Gonzalez has dedicated his career to improving wages, benefits, workplace protections, and economic opportunities for working families.

Gonzalez has played a significant role in labor organizing and collective bargaining efforts throughout Houston, representing employees at major hospitality venues, including the Hilton Americas-Houston, Marriott Marquis Houston, and George R. Brown Convention Center. He has worked closely with elected officials, community organizations, and labor partners to advocate for fair compensation, affordable healthcare, and improved working conditions.

In 2025, Gonzalez served as lead negotiator during the historic 40-day Hilton Americas-Houston hotel workers' strike, which resulted in a new labor agreement providing wage increases, enhanced workplace protections, and retirement benefits. He has also been involved in efforts to raise wages for Houston airport workers and strengthen labor protections across the region. Through his leadership, Gonzalez continues to advocate for economic justice, worker representation, and policies that support Houston's working families.

Alexavier Mendoza, Mayor's Youth Activist Award.

The award recognizes a young Hispanic person between the ages of 15-25 for outstanding work in the community through volunteerism.

Alexavier Mendoza is a youth advocate and emerging public service leader dedicated to civic engagement, educational opportunity, and empowering underserved communities. Born and raised in Houston's Meadowbrook-Allendale neighborhood, Mendoza is currently a sophomore at Texas State University, pursuing studies in Public Administration and Business Administration.

Mendoza developed his passion for public service through four years on the Houston Mayor's Youth Council, where he served as chair and worked alongside city leadership to elevate youth perspectives in local government.

He is also involved with the Mayor's Office of Education and Youth Engagement, Houston's Child Friendly Cities Initiative Youth Council, and UNICEF USA's National Youth Council.

Mendoza has also gained professional experience in local government, including service with Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's office, further strengthening his understanding of public administration and community engagement.

Contact

Alvaro Ortiz
Director of Communications
Houston Mayor's Office
Office: 832.393.0623
Mobile: 832.584.9279
[email protected]