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The Latino Mental Health Taskforce Honors Antonio Ruban with the Legacy Community Service Award

The Latino Mental Health Taskforce honored Antonio Ruban’s continued commitment to improving the lives of others through culturally sensitive programs with their Legacy Community Service Award. A 20-year employee of Project Rehab and program manager of the Hispanic Recovery Program, Cuban native Antonio Ruban continues to help countless individuals through recovery, specifically the Hispanic population throughout Michigan.

"Antonio Ruban's commitment to serve the community and improve cultural competence made him a great candidate for this award," said Executive Director of network180, Paul Ippel.

Eva Aguirre Cooper of WOOD TV8 presented the award to Antonio Ruban on March 13, 2009 at the Latino Mental Health Taskforce Conference held at Grand Valley State University's DeVos Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Ruban’s devotedness to servitude started long before his work with Project Rehab. After migrating to the United States from Cuba, Ruban worked for the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, with local migrant labor camps and co-founded the area’s first Spanish speaking Alcoholics Anonymous group.

Ruban’s commitment to help those in need of treatment reaches far beyond the borders of Western Michigan. As the manager of the only Hispanic recovery program in Michigan, Ruban frequently travels to Detroit to provide literature and information to those seeking treatment.

He believes his mission is to serve. Ruban is dedicated, through his desire to serve, in aiding his clients in overcoming many of the cultural barriers so an effective method of treatment can be offered.

Currently, Ruban is aiding in developing a new family assistance program called Nuevo Camino. The program offers an array of services, which are all available in Spanish, to assist individuals through recovery and help them live a successful life.

In all of his work, Ruban continues to dedicate himself to helping others, not just those in his community, but throughout Michigan.