By Hola America News
On Friday, October 17, at the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Gala, Daisy Moran, Director of the Hunt and Diane Harris Center for Nonprofit Excellence at the Quad Cities Community Foundation, received the inaugural Sergio Mendoza Advocate of the Year Award. Her powerful acceptance speech brought the audience to its feet in a standing ovation.
Speaking from the heart, Moran paid tribute to the late community leader Sergio Mendoza and called for unity, courage, and continued advocacy in the face of discrimination. With deep emotion and conviction, she reminded everyone that the fight for equity and dignity is far from over.
Below is her full speech—an inspiring call to action that resonated throughout the room and beyond.
Buenas Tardes,
Thank you to those who nominated me for this honor— and to my family and colleagues joining me tonight in celebration. This recognition is the most meaningful to me because it comes from my community and honors my querido friend Sergio Mendoza.
Sergio’s leadership is the kind we should all aspire to. He never did it for titles, awards, or recognition. He led con corazon and for the love of his community. He fought tirelessly to dismantle systemic barriers and open doors for others, ensuring that everyone had the tools they needed to thrive. Serving alongside him was not just an honor but a gift—a chance to witness a selfless, empathetic leader who gave everything to better his community.
That’s why being the inaugural recipient of the Sergio Mendoza Advocate of the Year Award moves me so deeply. And tonight, in his remembrance, I want to use this moment to advocate. Because while this award honors advocacy, the truth is: our communities still need it—urgently as they are currently being targeted and under attack.
Society labels me as Hispanic, Latina, Mexican-American, but I know my community and the people I descend from, and my community knows me.
My relatives have always been stewards of Turtle Island (what is now known as Canada, US, and México) for thousands of years. Since the millennia, this land has always been our home.
I am Popoluca, Olmec, Purepecha, and chichimeca. My lineage carries resilience.
We must not normalize what we are experiencing and witnessing. It is crucial, now more than ever, that we all stand in solidarity in the face of hate, discrimination, and oppression.
On Indigenous People’s Day, a person followed me into a store and yelled they were going to call ICE on me. This isn’t just happening in LA, Portland, and Chicago. It is happening here, in our Quad Cities Community.
This isn’t our first fight, our elders endured the Mexican Repatriation of the 1930s—when families, both Mexican immigrants and U.S.-born citizens, were deported simply for the color of their skin. For over 600 years, our people have resisted oppression. We have fought for our existence—and we are still fighting.
Right now, there’s a little girl and a little boy—hiding, writing in their journals—hoping the world will see them. Hoping someone will stand up for them. That someone is us.
So I ask you:
When your grandchildren look back at this moment in history and ask what you did—what side of history will you be on?
Let us be the generation that refuses silence.
Let us be the ones who carry Sergio’s light forward.
Let us build a community where love is stronger than hate—and where every child grows up unafraid.
Because our story did not begin with oppression.
And it will not end there.
Muchas Gracias.
Stay in the know with stories that matter — visit HolaAmericaNews.com for the latest news, culture, and community updates!
Facebook Comments