South Omaha Latino Leaders Celebrated at 2025 Viva Business Awards Luncheon
In a room alive with community pride, cultural celebration, and heartfelt applause, Casa de la Cultura hosted its 2025 Viva Business Luncheon on Thursday, a signature event that honored some of South Omaha’s most influential Latino leaders and awarded more than $74,000 worth of scholarships through the Barrientos Scholarship Foundation.
Held at the Metropolitan Community College South Campus, the luncheon drew dignitaries — such as Omaha Mayor-Elect John Ewing, Mexican Consul Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes, acting Salvadoran Consul Javier Prudencio — business owners, community advocates, artists, educators, and neighbors alike, all eager to recognize the remarkable contributions of five honorees whose work has shaped the heart and soul of Omaha’s Latino community.
“These are not just names we’re celebrating today,” said Josefina Loza, Lozafina CEO, who presented the awards. “These are the people whose stories, sacrifices, and leadership have built the foundation we stand on.”
(L-R): Josefina Loza, Dr. Theresa Barron-McKeagney, Linda M. Rivera Garcia and Jose F. “Chato” Garcia Rios, Manuel and Annie Gonzalez.
Dr. Theresa Barron-McKeagney, the first honoree of the day, was celebrated for her four-decade-long career as a trailblazing Latina educator, author, and advocate. A proud Council Bluffs native and first-generation college graduate, Barron-McKeagney rose to become a professor, director, and associate dean at the University of Nebraska Omaha, where she has championed mentoring programs, Latino and Native American research, and initiatives that uplift marginalized voices. Even in phased retirement, she continues to teach and write, reminding the community of the power of authentic storytelling and the transformative potential of education.
Though unable to attend, legendary South Omaha jazz saxophonist Jorge Nila was honored next. Born and raised in the neighborhood, Nila’s music journey took him from local school bands to the bright lights of New York City, where he performed with jazz luminaries like Eddie Palmieri, Jack McDuff, and Paul Simon. Known for blending jazz, Latin, funk, and Caribbean sounds, Nila returned to Omaha in the 1990s to perform, mentor, and educate. His 2018 album Tenor Time climbed to #12 on the national jazz charts. Yet for Nila, one of his proudest moments was being named Grand Marshal of the 2025 Cinco de Mayo parade, a role that let him shine a light on his beloved South Omaha roots.
Artistic leadership and cultural preservation were front and center as Linda M. Rivera Garcia and Jose F. “Chato” Garcia Rios took the stage. Together, this husband-and-wife team has spent decades championing Chicano arts, history, and identity. Linda, a master folk artist, storyteller, and recipient of the Nebraska Governor’s Art Award, has taught generations the significance of Día de los Muertos, Frida Kahlo, and Mexican folk art. Jose, a Vietnam veteran and former director of the Chicano Awareness Center, has worked tirelessly as a photographer, historian, and community advocate, co-founding the Mexican American Historical Society and helping launch the South Omaha Museum of Immigrant History. “We’ve always believed that preserving culture is about making sure people feel seen,” Linda said.
The ceremony concluded with a double honor for lifelong compadres: Abelardo and Dolores Hernandez and Manuel and Annie Gonzalez. Both couples trace their stories back to the 1950s, when Abelardo and Manuel arrived from Texas as young airmen stationed at Offutt Air Force Base — and soon met their future wives, two South Omaha-born best friends. Over the decades, Abelardo became a leader at the Chicano Awareness Center and a folklórico dancer and actor, earning a Lifetime Achievement Award, while Manuel became a beloved coach and mentor, ultimately being inducted into the Omaha Mexican-American Sports Hall of Fame. Dolores and Annie have been the steady, loving forces behind the scenes, grounding their families and communities through church life, cultural traditions, and quiet but powerful support.
Following the awards ceremony, the honorees gathered on stage for a group photo, surrounded by cheers, camera flashes, and standing ovations.
“This is a recognition of the people who carry the weight and the beauty of our shared history,” Loza said, “who remind us where we come from and light the way forward.”
