CDLH 2017 Spring Gala Journal

Growing Stronger Toge t her

Growing Stronger Toge t her

Luis Figueroa

Mateo Flores

Deputy Mayor Village of Hempstead

Director of Hempstead Nassau County EOC

A Village of Hempstead resident for the last 32 years, Luis Figueroa was appointed Deputy Mayor on April 6, 2015. Previously, Deputy Mayor was elected as a Village Trustee in the March 2013 elections. He is married to his childhood sweetheart Evelyn for 41 years and raised their son and daughter in the village. Today they are the proud grandparents of two young boys. Deputy Mayor Figueroa has been long dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life for all residents in the Village of Hempstead. His involvement as a grass roots leader include serving as Vice Chairman of the Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association for the past 22 years. Through his leadership in the community association, he has worked diligently to improve opportunities for Hempstead residents seeking education, housing, employment and a honest way of life. Luis was instrumental in securing the funding for the construction of a multiple affordable housing complex within the Village of Hempstead and he is presently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the newly established Community Development Corporation at the Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association. Luis was appointed by Mayor Hall as the Vice Chairman of the Community Benefit Agreement Committee. As such, he and other like-minded community activists have pioneered the way to ensure that the Village residents get maximum benefits from the Downtown Revitalization Plan. Deputy Mayor Figueroa received acceptance to attend the University of New York, College of Staten Island, in June of 1983. He received a degree in Industrial Management and took employment with Con Edison of New York in 1973 where he recently retired after 39 years of service. An entrepreneurial business man at heart, he continues to own and operate a travel agency in the Village of Hempstead. As a man of faith, he has served on his church council where he lead men and youth ministries along with a wide range of community driven missions locally and around the world. By volunteering abroad, Deputy Mayor Figueroa has contributed towards the preservation of some extraordinary ways of life and continues to work with local residents to achieve common goals. Deputy Mayor Figueroa maintains active membership in the New Hempstead Democratic Club, the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is a Lifetime Member of The NAACP. In summary, he has dedicated his life to making leadership work for people, especially within the Village of Hempstead. Deputy Mayor Figueroa encourages all fellow community members to get involved and express their Village vision. It is his firm belief that with the participation of the people in partnership with Village Administration, Hempstead will "move forward" together.

Mateo Flores was born in El Salvador, Central America. He came to the United State in 1981. Married and a proud father of three beautiful children, his dream and desire when coming to the United States was to improve life conditions for himself and his family back in El Salvador. He worked several jobs upon his arrival here including maintenance, dishwasher, and later as a cook. He attended Westbury High School in New York and graduated in 1987. He continues his education at SUNY, Old Westbury College New York, in Child Psychology. He later attained a family development credential from Cornell University and was certified as an American Red Cross Emergency Disaster Team Member. He has participated in extensive professional trainings in the human services field, and is an immigration advocate. Mateo Flores became part of the Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, Inc., in New York, as a Community Organizer working in the communities of Westbury, Carle Place, New Cassel and Hempstead, New York. He was soon promoted from Community Organizer to become Community Supervisor, and was quickly promoted again to Acting Director. Today he holds the position of Hempstead Community Action, EOC of Nassau, Inc., Executive Program Director for Hempstead and Westbury. As the Community Action Executive Program Director, Mateo Flores works with low-income and disenfranchised youth and families, providing direct services and advocacy including, but not limited to: immigration, human rights, employment family development, emergency food and shelter, summer youth programs, youth council programs, parenting skills classes, links to ESL and GED, after school homework assistance programs, voter education, and oversees the Hempstead EOC Soccer Club/ JLK Soccer Youth Program development, which is a championship winning program with twelve traveling teams. His strong belief in higher education has transcended into his commitment of helping over eighty low-income youth graduate from college through the Hempstead EOC Soccer Youth Program. Many individuals and organizations have recognized Mateo Flores for his leadership and dedication to youth and families, including the following: Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi,(Nassau County Heritage Night Award for Upstanding Leadership within the Latino Community); Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray; Hempstead Town Clerk Mark Bonilla (Youth Development); New York State Senator Craig Johnson (Community Service Award); Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, Inc. (Employee of the Year Award);Chief Executive Officer EOC of Nassau County, Inc. (CEO Above and Beyond Annual Award and Employee of the Year), recognition by New York State Assemblyman Charles Levine; Nassau County Girls Scouts of America (Community Service Award); 5 Employees of the year as Hempstead Community Action Program Director, among others. Mateo Flores is President of the Westbury Hispanic United Association of LI NY, Co-Founder of Westbury Youth Soccer Club, Vice-Chair of the Nassau County EOC-CAP Director’s Association, and an active member in the following institutions: Long Island Family Development Association, New York State Family Development Association, President of the Long Island Hispanic Soccer Association, Inc., Member of the Long Island Junior Soccer League, Etc. Mateo Flores’ dedication in helping others and advocating for them has characterized and distinguished him as a community leader and a human rights advocate for all. He understands that all people have strengths and that with the right assistance and advocacy they could change their lives, even from humble beginnings. He resides in Westbury, New York, with his wife and three children.

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