Press Release 6/21/2019 – Dominguez Named Hero of the Year
Left to right: Efrem and Nancy Ortiz; Nakkia, Cristalray, Jamie, Dejah, Taneka, Ja’Nya
Alamosa resident Jamie Dominguez was named 2019 CML Hero of the Year by the Colorado Municipal League at a luncheon on Thursday, June 21 in Breckenridge, Colorado. Dominguez received the award during CML’s annual meeting from CML vice president and Alamosa mayor pro tem Liz Hensley.
Jamie’s mother and grandmother raised him in public housing. He started drinking and hanging out with gang members when he was 14, leading Jamie to drop out of school in the ninth grade. When he was 17, Jamie’s first daughter was born. While having a child made him realize that he needed to change his ways, it was not until Jamie was in his early 30’s and in jail for his fourth DUI that he truly woke up to his reality. He thought about his children and their future, and Jamie decided to make a difference.
Jamie is now the owner of Ef’s Restaurant and DGZ Contracting in Alamosa. He serves on the Alamosa County Prevention Coalition, where the Vision: A community where people can help each other to reach their maximum potential, and Mission: Working together, we are committed to increasing healthy lifestyle choices for everyone in our community—closely match his devoted work in the community. Jamie is also part of the Alamosa Alumni Association. In 2012, he helped found the Five Star Riders’ Car Club which has raised money for local toy drives (providing gifts for 500 children in 2018); Thanksgiving meals for needy families; donations to La Puente Home, Inc. (helping families whose homes had burned down in the Spring Creek Fire—the third-largest wildfire in Colorado history—and others in need); ice skates for the Alamosa Recreation Center ($1,500 worth in 2018!); and many other worthy causes including raising money to help pay for funerals of young overdose victims. Jamie and his wife Cristalray are currently involved in Family Leadership Institute learning skills, abilities, and attitudes necessary to enhance their effectiveness as role models for their children.
Jamie first realized that he had the ability to change his own life, and soon after discovered he could be instrumental in helping to change other lives for the better as well. In the beginning, Jamie went looking for youth in need. Now, his community-connected philosophy and way-of-life has brought young people in need to him. They help Jamie with the daily chore of looking after so many, and learn why that is important. We are humbled and grateful to have Jamie as part of our community.
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The City of Alamosa is a multi-cultural community of 9,000+ centrally located in the San Luis Valley of Southern Colorado. The City was incorporated in 1878 and is the gateway to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve where more than 300,000 visitors enjoy Colorado’s natural beauty each year. For more information visit us at www.cityofalamosa.org.
