LATINO PUBLIC BROADCASTING FUNDED DOCUMENTARY WINS AWARD

Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB), a non-profit organization funded by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, is proud to announce A CLASS APART, produced by Carlos Sandoval and Peter Miller, received the prestigious Imagen Award in the category of Best Documentary/Television. Funded by LPB, A CLASS APART tells the story of how a band of underdog Mexican-American lawyers take their case,Hernandez v. Texas, all the way to the Supreme Court and win the first decision to begin dismantling Jim Crow – two weeks before Brown v. Board of Education. This historical documentary is more than the story of a case – it's the story of a people. It uses the Hernandez case as a through-line to shed light on the under-reported history of systematic discrimination faced by Mexican-Americans in the Southwest, their early civil rights struggle, and to explore cutting-edge issues of racial politics and identity among Latinos. A CLASS APART was part of the PBS Award Winning series American Experience.

Patricia Boero, Executive Director of Latino Public Broadcasting, accepted the award and read the following statement on behalf of the producers Carlos Sandoval and Peter Miller: “The producers are extremely honored that the memory of the Hernandez lawyers and all the unrecognized heroes who fought long and hard for our rights are being recognized. May they serve as an inspiration for a new generation of leaders to chart us through this time of demographic change and challenge.”

The 24th Annual Imagen Awards, honoring positive portrayals of Latinos and Latino culture in entertainment, took place on Friday, August 21st, 2009 at a star-studded black-tie gala held in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The awards were handed out in front of an audience of over five hundred attendees representing the entertainment industry and Latino community.

A CLASS APART was among other LPB supported programs nominated in the same category: THE LAST CONQUISTADOR, produced by Cristina Ibarra and John Valadez, chronicles the building of the worldÂ’s largest bronze equestrian statue ever created - the statue of Spanish Conquistador Juan de Oñate, a controversial historical figure; and LATINOS '08, produced by Phillip Rodriguez, examines these new Americans through the prism of the 2008 presidential election and investigates a wide range of questions about the past, present, and future of this important electorate – one of this country's most coveted – and fastest-growing group of voters.

LPB has for over a decade developed, produced, acquired and distributed projects that shed light on the Latino American experience. Their history of providing a voice to the diverse Latino community throughout the United States includes the Emmy Award winner MADE IN L.A., about immigrant workers seeking justice; the Alma Award winner ROBERTO CLEMENTE, chronicling the life of the legendary baseball player; and the Imagen and Alma Award winner VOCES, a dynamic series devoted to exploring and showcasing the best of Latino culture, now in its second season, premiering on public television in September 2009.

ABOUT THE IMAGEN AWARDS
The Imagen Awards program was established in 1985 from a suggestion by veteran television producer Norman Lear to encourage and recognize the positive portrayals of Latinos in the media. Imagen Foundation President Helen Hernandez has expanded its programs and initiatives to further its mission to serve as a bridge between the Latino community and the entertainment industry in providing access, education, and resources for Latinos both in the industry, as well as those seeking careers in entertainment. For more information, please visit: www.imagen.org. 

ABOUT LATINO PUBLIC BROADCASTING
Latino Public Broadcasting supports the development, production, acquisition and distribution of non-commercial educational and cultural television that is representative of Latino people, or addresses issues of particular interest to Latino Americans. Over 100 hours of quality program content have been produced by LPB for dissemination to public broadcasting entities. LPB provides a voice to the diverse Latino community throughout the United States. LPB and VOCES receive support from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, the Ford Foundation as well as the MacArthur Foundation. For more information, please visit www.lpbp.organd www.voces.tv.