Ricardo Gambetta, Executive Director of the Mayor's Commission on Latino Affairs

Born in Lima, Peru, Mr. Gambetta began his community service at an early age when he became an Eagle Scout. He attended the Sociology and Law Schools at Garcilaso University, went on to become a political activist, employed by the Peruvian Government as a Defense Minister's aide, and later as the Interior Minister's senior adviser.

In the early '90s because of the political violence in Peru, Mr. Gambetta left his country and immigrated to the United States. He arrived in this country having no knowledge of the English language and possessing no money. While learning the language, he worked in the service industry, and later taught Spanish at the Hispanic Education Center in Indianapolis. For nearly five years, he worked for the Wishard Hispanic Health Project. In the late '90s, Mr. Gambetta became an American Citizen, he worked for "Indianapolis Habla Espanol, a bilingual TV program, as a newscaster. Mr. Gambetta is Co-founder of Hispanic Hoosiers Inc., Indianapolis Latino Expo, the Indiana Latino Institute as well as "Latinos for Peterson"; a community political group that organized the first Latino political rally in the history of Indianapolis. In December 1999, he was appointed to the Mayor's Elect Transition Team, and shortly thereafter was appointed Executive Director of the Mayor's Commission on Latino Affairs and Director of Latino Affairs at the Mayor's Office. In the short amount of time Gambetta has occupied his position, the City has achieved accomplishments in the areas of City Services, Public Safety, Education, Transportation, Housing, Recreation and Health. Under his leadership the Mayor's Commission on Latino Affairs has received local and national press coverage and recognition.

Mr. Gambetta is member of the Governor's Latino Commission, Council of la Raza, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), Marion College Hispanic Advisory Board, Boys Scouts Hispanic Advisory Board, Indianapolis Arts Center, and other local and national Latino organizations.

Mr. Gambetta, though busy, still finds time to write for newspapers and magazines such as Hispanic Hoosiers, Indianapolis Star, Latino World and the Voice of Indiana. His articles are published in both Spanish and English and help to raise awareness around the county that Latinos face similar problems as the rest of the community. He emphasizes the importance of Latinos in the community and further needs that should be addressed. Mr. Gambetta is featured very often on the television, radio and local press. He was the winner of the Hispanic American Service Achievement Awards 2001, the Midwest Latino Leadership Award, and was selected one of the Top 10 Personalities in Indianapolis by the Indianapolis Star.