Tina Peña

Tina Peña
Tulsa
(Nominated by Hilda De Leon Xavier)

Tulsa World photo.

Tina Peña is a host of “Temas en Tulsa,” a television program that covers current events and crucial topics of importance to Spanish speaking and English speaking viewers. A member of the United Nations Association of Eastern Oklahoma, Tina serves on the Governor's Task force for the Advancement of Hispanic Students in Higher Education, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the ACLU. She is also the past Chair for the National Board of Medical Interpreters.

Professionally, Tina Peña is an Associate Professor of Spanish and a Medical Interpreter Trainer at Tulsa Community College. She helped found DREAM Act Oklahoma where she worked arduously with undocumented students. She educates the community in general about the plight of the immigrant.

Recently she brought Jocelyn Samuels, the Office of Civil Rights director (appointed by President Obama) to speak in Tulsa about the Civil Rights Act of 1964, all because she believes in educating the community about dealing with our growing diverse community.

In 2013, Tina was recognized as an “Orgullo Peruano” by Peruanos en Oklahoma, and she has also won the Nania 2012 Volunteer of the Year Award, and the 2007 Pinnacle Award. Tina is also a board member of the Language and Cultural Bank and the Martin Luther King Board.

On December 10th, the Oklahoma Universal Human Rights
Alliance will honor human rights heroes from around our
great state. A recognition program will take place at the
State Capitol. More information about the program
can be found here: "Celebrate Human Rights."

One of Tina's passions is her work in support of the Mita's Foundation, a Tulsa-based non-profit organization that organizes assistance projects for children in Peru.

Every year several volunteers take their Christmas vacation to make a mission trip to Culebras, Peru. The Port of Culebras is located five hours north of Lima, the capital of Peru. Christmas 2015 will make the fifth consecutive year that two of the volunteers here in the USA, take their Christmas vacation to go and serve Peru by helping those children who would not otherwise receive a present during this very special holiday.

In Tina's spare time she enjoys tutoring the local youth of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Tina Peña is a great asset to the people of Oklahoma. She is a great advocate for our immigrants, undocumented students, and LGBT rights --  making her a fitting recipient of the 2015 Oklahoma Human Rights Award.

Article 26 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. 

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace....