[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 83 (Wednesday, May 17, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING HERMAN J. HERNANDEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2023

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Herman 
J. Hernandez for receiving an honorary doctoral degree from Sonoma 
State University, in recognition of his 50 years of social justice 
advocacy in Sonoma County.
  Born to immigrant parents in San Francisco's Mission District. Mr. 
Hernandez grew up in San Francisco, California and graduated from 
Sacred Heart High School. He moved to Guerneville, California in 1970, 
where he earned his real estate license. Here he began working with his 
father, who had started one of San Francisco's first Latino-owned real 
estate and insurance businesses in 1953. After his father's passing in 
1978. Mr. Hernandez took over Hernandez Realty to continue his legacy 
from Sonoma County.
  Mr. Hernandez quickly became an active local volunteer. In 1973, he 
was invited to join the Russian River Rotary Club. At just 23 years 
old, he became Guerneville Rotary Club's first Latino member. He became 
active in the Rotary Club's Government Relations Committee and began to 
engage in local public policy and community service. He has volunteered 
with Family Justice Center Sonoma County, Sonoma County Health Action, 
the Russian River Park and Recreation District, the Sonoma County Parks 
and Recreation Advisory Commission, and the North Bay Association of 
Realtors.
  Mr. Hernandez is well known in our district as the founder of Los 
Cien, the largest Latino advocacy group in the North Bay. Mr. Hernandez 
founded Los Cien in 2008 to address the lack of Latino representation 
in local politics and to give the Latino community a voice in Sonoma 
County's public policy. Los Cien prioritizes civic engagement and 
education for its members while working to build bridges between the 
Latino community and others in Sonoma County. What began as a small 
group of Latinos talking about civic issues in the back room of pizza 
shops and cafes, has become a leadership organization with more than 
1,500 members. Los Cien provides valuable networking opportunities for 
Latino professionals to delve into local issues, including education, 
health care, law enforcement, and immigration. In addition, Los Cien 
puts on an annual State of the Latino Community Address at the Address 
at Sonoma State University which highlights the priorities and needs of 
the Latino community. Los Cien has also expanded their advocacy by 
connecting with the nonprofit Northern California Latino Leaders to 
inspire similar movements amongst Latino communities in Marin, Napa, 
and Mendocino counties.
  Mr. Hernandez is known for being energetic, passionate, generous, and 
a good listener. He spends his spare time with his wife Guillermina and 
two children, who each continue in their father's footsteps. Mr. 
Hernandez's daughter, Daniella, is a third-generation realtor and his 
son, Herman, became the new executive director for Los Cien in 2023.
  Mr. Speaker. I am honored to recognize my friend, Herman J. 
Hernandez, an exceptional community leader who has fought for Latino 
representation and participation in Sonoma County for decades. It is 
therefore fitting that we honor him here today.

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