DC Hosts “Get Well Tribute” for Angel Luis Irene

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On May 19, 2013, many community leaders attended Get Well and Tribute to Angel Luis Irene at the Channel Inn Hotel in Washington DC. Angel Luis Irene is the Executive Director for Vida Senior Centers. Mr. Irene is currently on extended leave from Vida Senior Centers due to a medical condition; he was recently diagnosed with an advanced stage of Kidney Cancer. During event, Mr. Irene was presented with a DC Mayoral Proclamation establishing “May 19, 2013 as Angel Luis Irene Day,” in the District of Columbia. The Director of the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (OLA), Roxana Olivas, presented Mr. Irene with Proclamation. Mr. Irene also received a DC Council Resolution. The DC Council Resolution was presented by Jackie Reyes, a DC Council staff member with the Office of DC Councilmember Jim Graham. Mr. Irene was also presented with a community recognition by the DC Latino Caucus. DC Latino Caucus President, Franklin Garcia, and DC Latino Caucus Vice-President, Commissioner Grabriela Mossi, presented the community recognition.

Due to medical condition, Mr. Irene was not able to attend event. Mr. Jose Gutierrez, a longtime DC activist, accepted recognitions on behalf of Mr. Irene and read statement from Mr. Irene. The event had various speakers, including Carlos Rosario School founder, Sonia Gutierrez, and a short video presentation.

A Puerto Rican by birth, Angel Luis Irene has a distinguished public service career finding resources for the needs and solutions for the problems in the growing Latino community in the District of Columbia. In 1974, Mr. Irene served as the first Latino Social Worker with the DC Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 1977 he worked as the first Latino Legislative Aide to the District’s Delegate to Congress. From 1979-1981, he served as the Executive Director of the DC Council of Latino Agencies. In 1981, Mr. Irene worked for the DC Office of Personnel to establish a citywide Hispanic recruitment program and later served as special assistant to both the Associate Director of Operations and the Deputy Director of Personnel. In 1999, he was recruited by the DC City Administrator to assist with the establishment of the new DC Department of Motor Vehicles where he held a variety of key positions including Chief of the Management, Planning and Analysis Division. He has also helped to establish the Bilingual Translation Act, the Council of Latino Agencies, the Office of Latino Affairs, and the Latino Commission. Mr. Irene currently serves as Executive Director of Vida Senior Centers (formerly known as EOFULA, Educational Organization for United Latin Americans), the oldest Latino community-based organization in the District of Columbia.

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