The Rev. James Manship, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in New Haven, and Angel Fernandez-Chavero, a pastoral council leader, were honored Tuesday by the National Conference of La Raza for their work in bringing to light the abuse of members of the community by the East Haven Police Department; creating a church task force to help undocumented youths go to college; and passing the Connecticut “Dream Act.”
La Raza is giving them the Graciela Olivarez La Raza Award, according to a statement from St. Rose of Lima Church in New Haven.
The award is given “to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to promoting the interests of Hispanic Americans," the statement said.
Other winners include U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s former chief of staff, Reynaldo Martinez; El Diario-La Prensa’s publisher and CEO, Rossana Rosado; former world champion boxer Jesse James Leija for his support of the Miracle League of San Antonio; Christine M. Owens, senior vice president of communications and brand management at United Parcel Service; and a La Raza affiliate, Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans, a Texas nonprofit community organization, the statement said.