This trailblazing ABC30 on-air personality was just honored by the Latino Legislative Caucus
ABC30 on-air personality Graciela Moreno was honored Monday afternoon in Sacramento with the Latino Spirit Award for achievement in journalism and media.
Moreno, an Emmy Award-winning journalist at the ABC affiliate in Fresno, was one of eleven Latino trailblazers recognized during the California Latino Legislative Caucus’ 21st annual Latino Spirit Awards at the State Capitol.
Moreno was escorted by Assemblymembers Esmeralda Soria, D-Merced, and Liz Ortega, D-Hayward.
The daughter of migrant farmworkers, Moreno grew up in Newman. Moreno pursued higher education despite her father’s demand that she not to go to college, becoming a role model for many young Latinas.
Moreno was only 19 and still attending college when she landed her first job in television as a producer at Univision’s Sacramento affiliate.
While working full time, Moreno attended college at night and graduated from California State University, Stanislaus with a bachelor’s degree in communications.
Months after receiving her college degree, Moreno returned home to Fresno as the lead evening anchor for KFTV Univision, Channel 21 in Fresno.
A year later, Moreno became in 1997 the first journalist in the Central Valley to cross over from a Spanish-language television station to anchor the news for the market’s top English-language television station, as part of the ABC30 Action News team.
Moreno has spent the last 26 years at ABC30, anchoring and covering major stories and using her bilingual skills to amplify voices within the Hispanic community.
Among Moreno’s most memorable stories is covering the visit of Pope John Paul II to Mexico City in 2002 for the canonization of Saint Juan Diego.
She currently co-anchors the midday, 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. editions of Action News. She has won three Emmy awards.
She is also a frequent emcee at community events and runs the ABC30 internship program.
In 2018, Moreno was among 11 prominent women in Fresno that shared their stories of sexism and harassment in the workplace for a Fresno Bee article in light of national #metoo campaigns.
Moreno, who has volunteered with the Alzheimer’s Association, was also part of a 2019 task force, led by former first lady Maria Shriver, to address the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and other aging-related diseases.
To this day, Moreno, who grew up with a love for literacy and writing even when she had no money to afford books as a child, is involved with Disney’s Magic of Storytelling campaign, which puts books into the hands of children in need.
Moreno mentors young Latino professionals and is a frequent speaker at valley schools and adult programs, where she encourages students of all ages to set goals and pursue their academic dreams.
Established in 2002, The Latino Spirit Awards take place annually at the State Capitol in Sacramento to coincide with the state’s celebration of Cinco de Mayo and to recognize leading figures in fields such as technology, journalism & media, literature, health & science, advocacy, business, education, human rights, arts, public service, entertainment and more within the diverse Latino community.
Besides Moreno, the 2023 Latino Spirit Awards Honorees are:
▪ Elsa Marie Collins (Achievement in Human Rights);
▪ The Diaz Brothers (Achievement in Athletics);
▪ Gustavo Dudamel (Achievement in Arts & Entertainment);
▪ Miguel Angel Elizondo, Jr. (Achievement in Music & Entertainment);
▪ Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero (Achievement in Law & Public Service);
▪ Irene M. Gutierrez (Achievement in Music & Entertainment);
▪ Yvett Merino (Achievement in Arts & Entertainment);
▪ David Pérez Tejada Padilla (Achievement in Public Service);
▪ Miguel Ruiz (Achievement in Literature); and
▪ Bamby Salcedo (Achievement in Human Rights).
