Now serving his seventh term, Rep. Castro’s record reflects a commitment to military families, education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and immigrant families
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) announced today that Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) will receive the Public Service Award at the 39th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards in recognition of his longstanding commitment to public service and his relentless work to expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and advocate for the well-being and dignity of all Americans, including Latino and immigrant families. The Awards will take place on September 10, 2026, at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. Additional honorees, performers, and the host will be announced later this month. Castro will be honored alongside Singer-Songwriter Mon Laferte (Social Justice Award), Singer-Songwriter-Actress Ximena Sariñana (Music Award), and the People of Minnesota (Humanitarian Award). See HERE for a visual presentation. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the Awards and in support of HHF’s mission.
Representing his hometown of San Antonio in Congress, Castro is the highest-ranking Democrat in the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere and is a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
“It’s an honor to receive the Public Service Award from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. From serving in the Texas Legislature for a decade to now in my 14th year in the U.S. Congress, I am proud to represent my hometown, San Antonio, and to join you all in the fight to build out the Infrastructure of Opportunity,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro. “It’s especially important to stand up for our community in this moment and share our powerful stories. Congratulations to all the awardees and to the entire Minneapolis community for your resilience and resolve.”
A strong advocate for immigrants, Castro has challenged the inhumane treatment of immigrants and the expansion of detention, called for greater oversight and an end to child detention, and visited the Dilley Immigration Processing Center to advocate for detained families and demand humane treatment.
“Congressman Joaquin Castro represents the very purpose of public service and leadership which has been shaped by family, community and an indefatigable belief in providing opportunities for everyone to share in the prosperity of this great nation,” said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “His commitment to not only San Antonio but to all Americans including the most vulnerable across the country is inspiring and a model for service with values, dignity, and inclusion.”
For Rep. Castro, the responsibility to serve is deeply personal. His respect for public service was shaped at an early age by his parents’ involvement in political movements and civic causes. His father, a retired teacher, and his mother, a renowned community activist, instilled in him a deep belief that public service is ultimately about building stronger communities and creating opportunities for those who come next.
Congressman Castro has long championed Latino representation in the arts and worked to elevate and celebrate the extraordinary talent and cultural contributions of the Latino community. Each year, he invites the public to submit nominations for inclusion in the prestigious National Film Registry and National Recording Registry, helping ensure that Latino voices, stories, and artistic contributions are recognized and preserved for generations to come.
The Hispanic Heritage Awards are considered among the highest honors for Latinos by Latinos The Awards were established by the White House in 1988 to commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month in America and are recognized as “America’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration” and supported by more than 40 national, Latino-serving institutions.
Past Awardees have included: Rita Moreno, Gloria Estefan, Bad Bunny, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Ricky Martin, Fania All-Stars, Junot Diaz, José Feliciano, Isabel Allende, Carolina Herrera, Jose Andres, Carlos Vives, Alejandro Sanz, Juanes, Antonio Banderas, Juan Luis Guerra, Anthony Quinn, J Balvin, Zoe Saldaña, Los Tigres Del Norte, Oscar de la Hoya, America Ferrera, Pedro Martinez, Astronaut Dr. Ellen Ochoa, Gael Garcia Bernal, Carlos Santana, Salma Hayek, Linda Ronstadt, Richard “Crazy Legs” Colon, and many others. Find all past HHA Honorees HERE.
About the Hispanic Heritage Awards
The Hispanic Heritage Awards serve as a launch of HHF’s year-round mission, focused on economic mobility, stronger communities, positive narratives and cultural pride through education, workforce development, service, societal impact, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Visit https://hhflink.org/WeAreHere for a video highlighting HHF’s award winning programs, and visit the website at www.HispanicHeritage.org. Follow HHF on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok. Listen to the HHF podcast Fritanga on your favorite streaming service and HHF YouTube channel.
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For more information on the 39th Hispanic Heritage Awards, please contact John Reilly, [email protected] or Nicolás Peña, [email protected]
For Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Jessica Herrera [email protected]
