Junta Honors
Johnsky, La Voz

New Haven’s leading Latino advocacy group celebrated its birthday by honoring community leaders who help in the fight for ​“La Independencia.”

The celebration took place Thursday night at Amarante’s Sea Cliff, a night full of dancing, dining, schmoozing, and paying tribute marking the 41th year of operation of Grand Avenue’s Junta For Progressive Action.

The ​“independence” theme focused on groups that, like Junta, work on not just delivering social services, but helping people get on a strong footing to help themselves.

During a formal program, Mayor John DeStefano presented Junta’s Community Advocate Award to Fair Haven School Principal Kim Johnsky. The school has a large immigrant population. Johnsky has enlisted students and parents in some ground-breaking, community-building efforts. Read about some of the good news that happens at Johnsky’s school here, here, and here.

And former Junta Executive Director Kica Matos, who spearheaded the agency’s revival in the first half of the ​“aughts” decade, presented the Kica Matos Award For Creativity to La Voz Hispana. Click on the play arrow to watch some of what Matos said about Norma Rodriguez-Reyes, publisher of the Spanish-language weekly (with which the New Haven Independent shares office space and works closely). In the clip, also check out the hot sounds of Carlos y Su Momento Musical, which brought the crowd onto the dance floor after the presentations were complete.

The hall was filled with people who make things happen in town, including city Corporation Counsel Victor Bolden and Assistant Police Chief Thomas Wheeler …

… START Bank President William Placke (at right in photo), who’s itching to start START, a community-development lender with branches on Grand and Whalley Avenues, next month …

… and community organizers Lee Cruz and John Lugo.