In San Diego, the name of Mrs. Gracia Molina de Pick is synonymous with leadership, community service, and education.

    Molina de Pick founded the Department of Chicano Studies at San Diego Mesa College in 1969.

    She has also been a leader in the fight for women’s rights in Mexico and the United States.

    Late last year, Molina de Pick made a strong monetary donation to the new library in Barrio Logan to create educational programs for the community.

    Molina de Pick will be recognized along with two other Latina women and other Native American leaders for their community work as part of San Diego’s Local Heroes Awards 2010, presented by Union Bank and KPBS.

    The award ceremony will be on Thursday November 16 at 6 pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, in La Jolla.

    “Our Union Bank Local Heroes program began in San Diego in 1998, and we are proud of this expanded partnership with KPBS,” said Union Bank Executive Vice President George Ramirez. “We honor and thank these community leaders, who have committed themselves to improving the lives of others who live within the vibrant and rich cultural mosaic of San Diego. Their contributions are vital as they advocate for, support and provide inspiration to members of our communities who are often underserved.”

    Besides Molina de Pick, other Latinas being recognized include Carolina Alcoser Ramos, coordinator for Latino services for the LGBT Community Center of San Diego and Irma Cota, president and CEO of North County Health Services.

    KPBS General Manager Tom Karlo said, “KPBS is excited to again partner with Union Bank to celebrate this year’s Local Heroes. These heroes embody a strong, ongoing commitment to community service, and we are pleased to showcase their work through our video profiles which are currently airing on KPBS TV and KPBS.org. We want residents of San Diego to have an opportunity to learn more about and appreciate the extraordinary contributions these dedicated individuals provide to our community.”

    Indeed the three Latinas who will be receiving the recognition are committed to the community.

    Molina de Pick is one of the most powerful Latinas in the Democratic Party in the county. She has been an educator, a mentor of students and community activist in defense of equality for women, indigenous communities, labor and immigrant rights for more than 60 years.

    “It’s a great honor to receive this recognition,” Molina de Pick said. “I am happy but I consider it as part of the recognition that the Chicano community is finally getting. This recognition serves as a positive statement to our youth, for our students at all levels, and I firmly believe that what I have done will be repeated in the future quite often by many of our youth.”

    Her book, , published in 2008 in Spanish, highlighted the women in Mexican history from the indigenous period prior to 1492 until the first half of the twentieth century. This book certainly has become a classic that should be read by all young people of Mexican origin in San Diego County to see what so many Mexican women have contributed to the nation’s history.

    The Local Heroes Award, which is in its 13th edition, each year honors individuals in San Diego who are recognized for their exemplary dedication and leadership in serving their communities.