The Mayor's Latino Advisory Council presented the 2025 Mayor's Latino Heritage Awards to four honorees at a ceremony held at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. State Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn and a representative from U.S. Rep. André Carson's office attended; a mayoral letter from Mayor Joe Hogsett was read aloud to the audience.

The awards recognized individuals for sustained contributions in education, community leadership, immigrant services and cultural preservation. The council said the event celebrated leadership that strengthens Indianapolis’s Latino and immigrant communities and the city at large.

State Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn, who helped arrange the event at the Statehouse, told the audience, "This house belongs to all of you," and said she was glad to host the ceremony. Garcia Wilburn, who represents parts of Fishers, Carmel and the northernmost portion of Indianapolis, said she is available to help constituents "make those connections and provide resources" through her roles as a state representative and as an associate professor at Indiana University.

Kathy Touche Downey, representing the office of U.S. Rep. André Carson, said Carson "reminds us every day, we are here to serve our community," and noted a recent partnership that brought service providers together to deliver information to immigrant families. The representative added that Congressman Carson would extend certificates of recognition to the honorees and that the congressman's office stands ready to "represent our voice in Congress." A letter from Mayor Joe Hogsett, read at the event, praised the honorees for "outstanding leadership, service and contributions to our community" and thanked the Mayor's Latino Advisory Council for its partnership.

The council presented four awards:

- Education Award: Dr. Luis Palacio was recognized for more than a decade of work advancing STEM education and workforce development across Indianapolis and Central Indiana. The council said Palacio has impacted "more than 17,000 Hoosiers" through his leadership at the ENOLA Institute and noted his service as a trustee of the Indianapolis Public Library and leadership roles with the Indiana Academy of Science and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers’ Indiana chapter. Palacio spoke about the long-term bonds formed through teaching and urged continued partnership: "If they all succeed, we all succeed."

- Community Leadership Award: The council honored a Latina leader (named in the program as Tory Duarte Sheffield) for more than 16 years of service as a health educator at the Marion County Public Health Department and volunteer work on multiple councils and task forces, including the Cultural Competency Council and the Indiana Community Health Workers Association. The citation highlighted work advancing equity, health access and inclusion.

- International Ally Award: Terry Morris Downs was recognized for a 25-year career supporting immigrants and refugees in Indianapolis. The council credited her as founding executive director of the Immigrant Welcome Center, which the citation said has served more than 13,000 people from over eight countries, and for establishing the city's first immigrant integration plan. The citation also referenced Downs’s role launching Church World Service’s Indianapolis office in 2023 and work supporting more than 800 unaccompanied children.

- Legacy Leader Award: Cara Núñez Bergen (named in the program) received the legacy award for more than a decade of leadership sustaining Mexican folk dance and cultural programming in Indianapolis. The council said she founded the group Masawani in 2018; the citation described Masawani as growing from about six dancers into a group with more than 40 active members and more than 100 trainees over eight years.

Recipients used their remarks to emphasize community and intergenerational ties. Terry Morris Downs described seeing clients grow into leaders and said immigration "strengthens the economy" and contributes to sectors from health care to agriculture. Dr. Palacio reflected on teaching as forming enduring bonds and closed his remarks with "Si se puede."

Event organizers acknowledged volunteers from North Central High School and featured local artist Milvia, whose artwork was displayed at the reception. The Mayor's Latino Advisory Council chair and awards committee members — identified during the program as Antonio Chapital, Fernanda Ramírez Strickland and Marcela Montero — presented awards and offered closing remarks thanking honorees and council volunteers.

The ceremony concluded with a group photo of honorees and guests and a reminder that the council will continue quarterly programming and community outreach.