Vibrant red lighting, Latin cuisine and the music of Mango Punch provided the special ambience at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston recently when Mayor Annise Parker presided over the presentation of the Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Awards.

More than 500 enthusiasts poured in for recognition of community leaders and to bid an early adieu to Parker as this was her final ceremony with this group as mayor.

Recognized on this evening were Jose Adan Trevino, founder of Univision Channel 45, and Judge Josefina Rendon, the first Hispanic Civil Service Commissioner in Houston, with Lifetime Achievement honors; Metro board chairman Gilbert Garcia with Civic Activist honors; Gloria Zenteno, founder of Barrio Dogs, with Education honors; Daniel Bustamante, founding member of the Go Tejano Rodeo Committee and the Multicultural Arts Cooperative, with Art in the Community honors and James Lee, founder of LGBT Advocates at the University of Houston with Youth Activist honors.

Headlining the evening were Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Board chairman Roland Garcia, event chairs Lauren Soliz and Lenora Sorola-Pohlman and emcees Lizzett Lopez of KXLN Univison Channel 45 and Erik Barajas, KTRK ABC Channel 13.

The lively gathering included politicos, movers and shakers and community leaders including City Council members Dave Martin, Richard Nguyen, Jack Christie and Robert Gallegos, plus Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan, State Rep. Gene Wu, Sofia Adrogué, Karen Garcia, Shannon Buggs and David Medina.