The City of Mesquite has been honored with the Abrazos Award by the Hispanic Forum of Mesquite (HFM), as part of the organization's 20th Anniversary Gala. In recognition of the city's effort to promote equality and partnership within the community, the award comes as a symbol of appreciation and closeness, reminiscent of a familial embrace, which aligns with the fundamental values of the Hispanic culture that esteems warmth and connection.
According to the City of Mesquite, Rachel Lopez, the Founder and President of HFM, highlighted the cultural significance of the award, "Latinos are a culture of ‘huggers.’ When we meet you, see a friend or family member, we hug each other. Thus, we believed it appropriate to name our award the Abrazos Award, to show the recipient just how much they mean to us, just as if they were a part of our ‘familia,’ and show them how much we appreciate all they have done for our organization."
HFM has played a key role in strengthening community bonds by initiating the city's first Cinco de Mayo event back in 2006. This event, now a stalwart annual tradition, is conducted in collaboration with Mesquite’s Parks and Recreation Department. Moreover, the organization has made significant contributions to the educational advancement of the local youth, providing over $94,000 in scholarships to students within Mesquite ISD and Dallas College.
