Biography of our honoree

Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman was born in Los Angeles and has made Montebello his home for over 50 years. He attended Montebello Unified School District schools including Bella Vista Elementary and Schurr Junior High School. He is a graduate of Don Bosco Technical Institute, California Polytechnic University in Pomona and Loyola University of Los Angeles School of Law.

He first got involved with the Montebello-Commerce YMCA as a Board member and remained actively involved for many years. At a time when the local Youth and Government (Y&G) program was to be eliminated due to staffing costs, Arnold stepped up to serve as a volunteer for the Montebello-Commerce YMCA Y&G delegation, keeping it alive and serving in that role for many years. His wife, Lydia, also volunteered for many years as an advisor for the local Y&G program.

Arnold transitioned his service from the Montebello-Commerce YMCA to the California YMCA Youth and Government statewide program where he served as a volunteer for over 35 years. During his time with the Y&G program he donated his time and energy on a variety of roles mentoring high school students which included serving as an advisor to the Y&G court program, including creating and leading the Jury Trial portion of the Model Legislature and Court activities. In addition, Arnold served as the advisor to the California student delegation for the YMCA National Judicial Competition held annually in Chicago taking California students to participate in this prestigious national judicial mock court competition. Arnold also served as a board member and Board Chairman to the California YMCA Youth and Government program.

Throughout the many years of YMCA service, he and his wife have mentored and impacted literally hundreds of high school students who participated in the Y&G program. In addition, their daughters, Shelley and Natalie, during their high school years participated as delegates in the Montebello-Commerce Youth and Government program.