Community activists and friends honored Mona Noriega, the city's new commissioner of The Department of Human Relations, on June 13. Noriega, who co-founded Amigas Latinas and the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Midwest Regional Office, was greeted with loud applause from all who attended the reception at the National Museum of Mexican Art.
In attendance were longtime activists from Amigas Latinas, the Association of Latino Men for Action, The Civil Rights Agenda, the Center on Halsted, and Chicago Dyke March Collective, Affinity Community Services, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) , and the Gender and Sexuality Center.
Also please see an interview with Noriega at www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=32248
Community members praised Noriega's longtime commitment to community and activism.
"Mona, what you created was nothing short of magical," said Rosa Yadira Ortiz from Amigas Latinas. "Thanks to your leadership, Latina LBQ women have been able to have a home away from home."
David Ernesto Munar, president of AFC, said he "couldn't think of a better person" for the job. "Why the City didn't pick you 15 years ago…" he said, trailing off with laughter.
"This work is not really about any one of us," Noriega said. "It's not about what any one of us achieves because without one of us, without each one of us coming out and making a statement and working together, we would not have this community that we have here."
The city council confirmed Noriega's appointment June 8. Text by Kate, photos by Tracy Biam