Kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month, the Centreville Immigration Forum held its annual dinner fundraiser celebrating diversity and a night of community at the International Country Club Fairfax on Sept. 17. The event honors the non-profit organization’s commitment to opportunity and acceptance to all.

During the event, CIF recognized its 2024 honorees: Karol Escalante Herrera, director of Immigrant Affairs for Fairfax County; Juan Andres, former vice president of Moderna; and Elena De León, fashion designer and influencer.

De León is an Indigenous Mayan Ixil woman from Nebaj, Guatemala. She is an entrepreneur, creator, and designer who creates clothing that combines traditional weaving with modern trends that celebrate her culture and history.

Andres Mascuñana is a Spanish citizen who has worked as a pharmaceutical executive for over 35 years in Spain, the United Kingdom, the US, Puerto Rico and Switzerland. His career in developing and manufacturing medicine included work with Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Moderna.

Escalante is Fairfax County's director of Immigrant Community Affairs. She is part of the One Fairfax team and has experience working on immigration, community engagement, public policy, diversity, inclusion, and strategic planning topics. Escalante served as a diplomat in the Foreign Service of Honduras, with her last post in Chicago as Consul General of Honduras. 

The mission of Centreville Immigration Forum is to implement sustainable programs that provide immigrants in need with the means to improve their lives and become more integrated into the community, improve communication and cooperation among all groups serving immigrants, and build community recognition of our strength in diversity. CIF’s vision is a community that accepts and provides opportunity for all immigrants.

Support CIF’s mission through donating,  hiring and volunteering, all great opportunities to engage in avision of community that provides acceptance and opportunity for all.

Your donation helps Centreville Immigration Forum continue its great work in the community. CIF is able to facilitate job placements, and offer trainings at low to no cost through community generosity. Contributions are key to our success in equity, justice, and inclusion that realizes our vision of a community that provides acceptance and opportunity for all.

Learn more on Facebook @CentrevilleImmigrationForum or Instagram @theCIFva.

https://centrevilleimmigrationforum.org/