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MAKE A DIFFERENCE

YOUR DONATION COUNTS

D.H.D.C.
1211 Trumbull
Detroit, MI 48216

Phone: (313) 967-4880
Fax: (313) 967-4884
TDD: (800) 649-3777

Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

Funded in part by the MI Department of Labor & Economic Growth Career Development; Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion; and the City of Detroit's Workforce Development Department.

DHDC is Accredited By
ª CARF
(Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities)

DHDC is an affiliate of
DHDC is an Affiliate Of
ª National Council of La Raza
DHDC is a Member Of
ª Hispanic Business Alliance

ª Detroit Regional Chamber

ª Community Development Advocates of Detroit

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
SONIA MARTINEZ
Sonia is a beautiful Puerto Rican woman with many talents such as poetry, arts & crafts and has a passion for advocating and for and helping her community. Sonia Martinez has been an exemplary GED student. Despite the fact that she is actively involved in her grandchildren's care, she found time volunteer teaching mathematics to her classmates. It was due to her efforts that D.H.D.C. was able to continue to provide advanced math to GED students in Spanish. For her dedication and commitment, Ms. Martinez was elected to the D.H.D.C. board of directors. We proudly honor Sonia Martinez as the Volunteer of the Year.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
MARIA ROBLEDO
Maria Robledo is a young Mexican woman, and mother of two beautiful children. Maria demonstrated dedication as a student with perfect attendance at Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation's G.E.D classes despite the challenges of childcare as the mother of two toddlers. She managed to attend classes both morning and evening in order to pass the G.E.D exam, which she successfully achieved in December 2003. We encourage Ms. Robledo to further her education, as she is an extremely intelligent woman and a mind like hers should not be wasted. D.H.D.C. is proud to recognize Ms. Maria Robledo with the Dream Maker's Award.

BADRIA RIVERA
Badria Rivera was born in Iraq and came to the United States during the Iraq/Iran war in the early 80's. Badria and her husband have three beautiful children, all of which are honor students. Despite a family illness, Badria had perfect attendance in GED classes at D.H.D.C. She volunteered at numerous agency events and has donated as much as she can to D.H.D.C. and her children's schools. Mrs. Rivera received her U.S. citizenship this year and will be completing her English GED classes this fall. D.H.D.C. recognizes Badria for her perseverance and dedication and all that she has accomplished over the past year.

BYRON GONZALEZ
Byron arrived in the United States in May of 2002 with the goal of improving and empowering himself economically, socially and culturally. During this process, he realized that he needed to be able to speak English in order to achieve his goals. Since studying English classes at D.H.D.C., his newly acquired skills have helped him in everyday life situations such as his job, at the hospital, in gas stations, at the movies, in the stores and even in reading traffic signs. Mr. Gonzalez believes that education provides individuals with the "opportunity to realize how much a human being is capable of when one reaches for an educational level higher than what he or she thinks they can achieve. He or she can gain as much as possible if that person has desire, interest and dedication." We applaud Byron for being a role model for other students and reaching his dreams.

PREVENTION DEPARTMENT
ADAM WILLINGHAM
Adam Willingham is a twenty-year-old young man that was born in and lived his whole life in Southwest Detroit. Adam enjoys creating graffiti art, volunteering his time with youth, and working on promotional and marketing material for ME Entertainment. Adam started out as a client in the youth program at D.H.D.C., and has since become a major asset to both the community and this agency. As a new member of the D.H.D.C. board of directors, Adam represents the voice of the youth, and has proven both his dedication and commitment to the Southwest Detroit community. He has volunteered his time on several different projects, such as: helping to fix up the youth center, painting graffiti art, building and painting various signs for our programs. He also helped to coordinate the G.A.M.E. (Getting Active in My Environment), a positive community youth event at Clark Park held to spread awareness on issues that affect the Southwest Detroit community on a daily basis. Adam has overcome many obstacles in his life and has chosen to become a role model and positive influence for other young people. For his accomplishments, D.H.D.C. presents Adam the Dream Makers Award.

EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING DEPARTMENT
JOHAYDE VASQUEZ
Johayde Vasquez, a 25-year-old mother of 5 children, was born in New Jersey and moved to Southwest Detroit. Johayde has overcome many barriers to successfully complete the Work First Program and find employment. During the course of the program she developed skills in job readiness, communication, time management and computers., and as a result, is working full time for Sprint Communication. But Johayde hasn't stopped there - she is continuing her goal of improving herself by completing her GED so that she can have a real career. Ms. Vasquez stated "Each day I thank God for the Work First Program at D.H.D.C. and the people who worked with me. The Work First staff has provided me with confidence and self-esteem that assisted me with interviewing skills and helped me increase my self-sufficiency." For her dedication and commitment to improving her life and that of her 5 children, D.H.D.C. is proud to honor Johayde with the Dream Makers Award.

WILLIAM BISHOP
William Bishop is one of those individuals who, despite injustices done to him, seeks justice for others; despite being discriminated against, he embraces the humanness of all people; despite being disrespected, he respects others; despite being hated or stereotyped by labels such as "ex-offender" or "ex-felon", he wants to free people form the illusions and trappings of mental slavery. Mr. Bishop's passion, love and commitment to assist others while he is continually bettering himself are to be honored. Mr. Bishop thinks about the good of the whole, not just the self. There is an expression used in our Breaking the Chains Program, "A warrior is not geared towards winning or losing; a warrior is geared towards the struggle." William Bishop exemplifies this statement in his actions, facing challenges of today so that tomorrow our children will have a better life. Making dreams manifest is a dream maker, and William Bishop is truly a dream maker.

COMMUNITY ACTIVISM DEPARTMENT
DELTA SILVA VILLAPONDO
Delta Silva was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, who moved to Southwest Detroit 3 years ago. Delta is married with four loving daughters. She has been an ESL student as well as actively involved in the community Activism Department. Delta enjoys helping and volunteering her time and has her whole family participate with her. She is passionate and believes that, as an immigrant, volunteering and participating in Southwest Detroit community events can make a huge difference. She has been active in attending meetings about the DIFT (Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal), and the NCCJ , which is working on a project to improve the relationship between community residents and the Detroit Police Department. D.H.D.C. recognizes Delta for her continuing hard work and commitment to her community and presents her with the Dream Makers Award.

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
JUAN SANDOVAL
Juan Sandoval is a person who has a story of recovery and healing. HE came to believe that he is to follow a new path - a path that he may have to walk alone, without his family, without his usual friends. Juan cam to D.H.D.C. looking for something in his life that was missing. He found his connection here and was able to transform his life and find that new path he knew he was to follow. He walks that path with new friends in recovery, and in fellowship with others who follow the same path to healing. We honor Juan Sandoval for his courage to change his life and present him with the Dream Makers Award.