Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel Hosts Awards Ceremony Honoring San Fernando Valley Community Leaders

LOS ANGELES, CA — Yesterday, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D - Woodland Hills) hosted a special awards ceremony recognizing the achievements and contributions of 12 individuals and organizations who have positively impacted the San Fernando Valley over the past year. Honorees included educators, activists, firefighters, frontline healthcare workers, small business owners, and notable civic and community leaders.

The celebration, which was held at neighborhood restaurant Soy y Luna in Tarzana, recognized the 2021 Nonprofit of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Educators of the Year, Environmentalist of the Year, Businessperson of the Year, Activist of the Year, Community Heroes of the Year, and Youth Leader of the Year.

“It’s an immense privilege to be able to honor such a remarkable group of individuals and organizations from the San Fernando Valley,” said Assemblymember Gabriel. “In the midst of another challenging year, it was inspiring to see these folks step-up to serve our community and help those in need. I am so grateful to represent such a diverse, vibrant, and caring community in the San Fernando Valley.”

Honorees were recognized for a variety of contributions and accomplishments over the past year, including delivering meals to frontline healthcare workers during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, empowering women restauranteurs through small business grants and mentorship, picking up nearly 50,000 pounds of trash, providing food delivery and vaccination services for homebound seniors, launching a task force to confront racism, and promoting early literacy and parent engagement in child development and education. Honorees were presented with special resolutions from the California Legislature acknowledging their service to the San Fernando Valley.