TREASURE VALLEY — Mari Ramos remembers from a young age watching her mother and father work to improve the circumstances for their neighbors in Nampa.
What her parents didn’t know is they were building a path for their daughter, a path from which she hasn’t wavered.
“Building community is something they always did, by helping people look for work, or helping them with food,” said Ramos, who was born and raised in Nampa. “Not that we ever had too much. I mean we were poor. And we would help people with rice and beans, or whatever it was we had. But we always shared.”
Ramos said she learned to speak English when she started school. Being able to speak English and Spanish fluently allowed her to start translating for people when she was “7 or 8 years old.”
She assisted her neighbors wherever their needs were, “because I spoke English and a lot of people did not.” Ramos hasn’t stopped helping since those early days.
The Mexican government took notice.
On Nov. 21, México’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognized Ramos with the OHTLI Award. It’s one of the highest honors given to individuals outside of Mexico, who dedicate their life and work to opening paths for Mexican and Latino communities abroad.
The OHTLI Award, according to the National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association (NMSHSA), is given annually by individual consulates, since 1996. Each candidate is vetted by México’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The award consists of a medallion, silver rosette, and a diploma, NMSHSA states. The medal depicts an Aztec god cutting grass with a machete.
Ramos’ father, Ausencio (Chencho) Quezada, shared his thoughts about her after she received the OHTLI Award from the Consulado de México in Boise on Nov. 21.
“I’m very grateful and very proud of her, of the people who support her, of the work that she’s done, and the woman who she is,” (Chencho) Quezada said.
LOCAL RECOGNITION
On Monday, Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling took time out of the city council meeting to say a few words about Ramos, her commitment to serving others, and her OHTLI Award win.
“Thank you so much,” Kling said to Ramos. “You’re an incredible community member. You represent the Hispanic community and you advocate, but you are Nampa. We’re so proud of you. I’m so happy for you and (for winning) this award.”
Ramos’ success, however, and the success of her various teams throughout the area does not come without challenges. She spoke about some of the hardships facing the Latino community in present-day America.
“We are in a challenging environment right now,” Ramos said. “There’s a lot happening in the world and that can feel very daunting… Our community is being villainized and made to look like takers, when really the community is such a giving and beautiful community.”
Ramos spoke about the virulent messages on social media that can make her work and the work of others harder to do.
“Seeing comments on social media, seeing comments on articles and such — it can be hard when everybody just wants the same things,” Ramos said. “Everybody wants kids to prosper, and wants to contribute to our community.”
While it’s hard for her to “block out all that noise,” Ramos is thankful to have a staff who is “great at helping people feel cared for, wanted and valued the way they are, so it is really nice to have that.”
Ramos’ friend, Irma Valdivia, spoke about how Ramos doesn’t just work on the “frontlines.” Her work includes “behind the scenes,” tasks. Valdivia has personally worked with Ramos on city committees, housing coalitions, and on the Boys & Girls Club of Canyon County.
Valdivia, who won the OHTLI Award in 2022, said it “couldn’t go to a better person than (Ramos).”
AWARD CEREMONY
On Nov. 21, Angeles Gomez, consul in charge for the Consulado de México in Boise, thanked the large crowd of family, friends, and fellow civic leaders for showing up to “such a meaningful moment for our community.”
The Consulado de México — 454 W. Washington St. — helps with passports, visas and human rights complaints, amongst many other services.
Gomez shared the international significance of the OHTLI Award.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, established the OHTLI recognition in 1996, to highlight and honor individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the well-being of our communities outside of México.”
Gomez said it was especially meaningful to honor Ramos.
“(She’s) a woman whose work, dedication, and leadership embodies the spirit of the OHTLI,” Gomez said. “And the strength of those who build pathways for those who continue working, contributing to the culture, economy, and society in which they live, in this case the United States. Thank you very much.”
In 2023, Enrique Rivera was recognized with the OHTLI for his volunteerism with local nonprofits, leading the Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and for otherwise serving the Hispanic community. In 2022, Irma Valdivia, owner of Jalapeno’s, in Nampa, won it for her community service and work she’s done within the Treasure Valley.
Gomez described what OHTLI means.
“The term OHTLI, from the Náhuatl language, means ‘path,'” Gomez said. “This word reflects the essence of those who open pathways so that others may move forward, grow, and thrive.”
The term seems to describe the 49-year-old Ramos to a tee. She has held a number of key local leadership positions over the years, including the following:
- Chief Executive Director of the Idaho Hispanic Foundation
- Opened Nampa’s first community school resource center. Now there are five
- Serves Idaho Foodbank’s board of directors
- Director of Operations at Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- One of eight directors for Boise Nice Project
- Idaho Business Review named her “CEO of Influence”; in 2024, IBR named her “Woman of the Year”
Her parents set her on that path of community involvement more than four decades ago.
“It is especially meaningful that this year we honor Mari Ramos, a woman whose warmth, dedication and leadership embodies the spirit of the OHTLI,” Gomez said.
Ramos said earlier in the week to the Idaho Press that she doesn’t work as hard as she does to help others for the recognition. She emphasized that upon receiving the award, which includes a necklace with a silver rosette.
“I accept this with just humility and a heart that is so full of love for our community,” Ramos said.
Even in her time in the limelight, she shared the win.
“It’s for my parents, my family, and all of you, this community that loves our community as much as I do,” Ramos said.
And then Ramos got emotional as she spoke directly to her mother, Lupe Quezada Rodriguez, and (Chencho) Quezada. They were seated in the front row, along with Mari’s sister, Vanessa Tovar-Quezada, Mari’s son, Daniel “Lightning” Ramos, and other close friends.
“I want to give a special thank you to my parents that left their family, their friends, everything, to give me a different opportunity,” Ramos said. “Because of their hard work, their bravery, their courage, I learned that one shouldn’t walk alone, that no one should walk alone. Also, because of them, I learned what it was to be a Mexican.”
Ramos pointed out how identity was essential while she was growing up.
“My parents never let me forget that I was Mexican,” Ramos said. “They showed me the pride that it is to be Mexican, that it is something so beautiful, something so dignified and to be proud of.”
Ramos continued, passionately, to thank others.
“Our Mexican community here in Idaho and all over the U.S., are who inspire me to keep working, to keep fighting, to keep opening paths for other people,” Ramos said.
In regard to the OHTLI Award, Ramos commented how “this is the one that really is in my heart.”
“I do think of my family and of so many who are here every day, that make these sacrifices for their family and friends that they’ve left behind,” Ramos said. “And it means so much.”
Ramos then thanked her son Daniel and her daughter.
“Thank you buddy for staying up with me at 3 o’ clock in the morning,” Ramos said. “I have my best ideas I think (then). And my daughter who couldn’t be here, who I’m also so damn proud of…”
WORDS FROM MARI’S FAMILY
After the ceremony, her family spoke about her. Tovar-Quezada translated for Quezada Rodriguez and (Chencho) Quezada.
“I’m very proud of the grand woman that Mari has turned out to be,” Quezada-Rodriguez said. “I was very proud and very sentimental about hearing Mari’s words. I wanted to cry because they made me very emotional.”
Daniel, 29, spoke about his mom.
“I’m so happy for her,” he said. “I’m so proud to be her son.”
Tovar-Quezada shared what was going through her head as she watched her sister receive the OHTLI.
“Pride,” Tovar-Quezada said. “Honestly, just a lot of pride for all the work that she does. And just knowing that she’s finally being recognized for being the selfless person that she is. Knowing that she deserves that and so much more.”
Tovar-Quezada said it was an “honor” to attend the ceremony.
“Our Mexican roots run deep,” she said. “We’re very proud of it, and we’re very happy about it. And to know that Mari, my sister, is doing work to help our community, especially in these times when it’s very difficult for our community, this is an honor just to watch her and know that she is my sister. Not just my sister but my best friend. It honestly means the world to be here, to see and hear all the wonderful things people say about her.”
