LCCR Honors Civil Rights Leaders in Communications: Mónica Lozano
Feature Story by Tyler Lewis - 4/21/2006
Mónica Lozano, publisher and CEO of La Opinión, the nation's leading Spanish language daily newspaper, will be honored by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) at this year's Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinner on May 4, 2006 in Washington, D.C.Lozano is being recognized for her trailblazing media work, which has elevated the Hispanic community's voice in the struggle for equality, and for her work in the field of education to advance social justice.
"Mónica Lozano is not only a strong leader in the Hispanic community, but a powerful voice for justice and equality in America," said Wade Henderson, executive director of LCCR, when the awards were announced in December. "Day in and day out, she acts on the values that the civil rights community stands for and as CEO of La Opinión, she is a beacon of hope to millions of Americans."
Lozano's grandfather, Ignacio E. Lozano, a journalist who left Mexico during the 10-year revolution, founded La Opinión in 1926. He gave the newspaper the slogan "Diario Popular Independiente" or "Independent Daily of the People," because Mexican newspapers at the time reflected the government's views, not those of the Mexican people.
Lozano assumed leadership of the newspaper in 1985. Under Lozano, La Opinión shifted its focus from Mexico to domestic issues concerning Hispanics, including South and Central Americans, as well as Mexican Americans.
Initially reluctant to go into family business, Lozano saw the newspaper as a unique opportunity to have a positive impact in the growing Hispanic community. "I understood the power of the press and I had a strong belief that with information and news you can improve people's lives and empower them," she said in a 2003 HispanicTrends.com cover story.
Lozano serves on the board of directors of the Walt Disney Co., the California Health Care Foundation, the National Council of La Raza, and the Weingart Foundation. In 2001, she was appointed to the Board of Regents of the University of California. And in March 2006, she joined Bank of America's board of directors.
The Civil Rights Award honors the legacy of former United States vice president, senator, and civil rights pioneer Hubert H. Humphrey, whose years of public service, leadership, and dedication to equal opportunity changed the face of America.
Awardees are selected based on their distinguished contributions to the advancement of civil and human rights. Previous recipients include Senator Edward Kennedy; Representative John Lewis; civil rights leader Julian Bond; disability rights advocate Justin Dart; and actor-activist Danny Glover, among others.
