Unsung Heroes: Hispanic Heritage

Nydia Velázquez learned about politics while sitting around her family's dinner table each evening. Her father, who worked in Puerto Rico's sugarcane fields, talked to his nine children about the importance of worker's rights. He also taught them that they had a responsibility to help their community. Young Nydia took his words to heart. After earning two college degrees, she decided to put them to use helping the Puerto Rican people of New York City. She became the first Hispanic woman to hold a seat on the city council before her historic run for Congress in 1992. Her victory in that election made her the first Puerto Rican woman in the United States House of Representatives. Learn more about Nydia Velázquez, the first Puerto Rican Congresswoman in this book.

Nydia Velázquez learned about politics while sitting around her family's dinner table each evening. Her father, who worked in Puerto Rico's sugarcane fields, talked to his nine children about the importance of worker's rights. He also taught them that they had a responsibility to help their community. Young Nydia took his words to heart. After earning two college degrees, she decided to put them to use helping the Puerto Rican people of New York City. She became the first Hispanic woman to hold a seat on the city council before her historic run for Congress in 1992. Her victory in that election made her the first Puerto Rican woman in the United States House of Representatives. Learn more about Nydia Velázquez, the first Puerto Rican Congresswoman in this book.

Sylvia Mendez was just like any other third grader in 1946. She liked to learn. She enjoyed recess. But her school was in terrible shape. She wanted to go to the 17th Street School. This was the school that the white children in her city of Westminster attended. But it had a whites-only policy that kept Mexican American children like Sylvia out. Sylvia and her family did not think this policy was fair, so they decided to sue the school district. Their willingness to stand up for equality in education paved the way for all California schools to become desegregated. The historic court case even played a role in the more famous Brown v. Board of Education, which made school segregation illegal in all 50 U.S. states. There's even more interesting information about this pioneer in education inside.

Few people would have thought that Ileana Ros-Lehtinen would grow up to become one of the longest serving members of the United States House of Representatives. Throughout her career, this groundbreaking congress woman has worked to advocate for women, education for all, veterans, LGBTQ rights, and marriage equality. She was the first Latina, the first female Florida Republican, and the first Cuban-born person to serve in the United States Congress. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen led the way for other women in public office. Open this book to read about this icon who helped to shape the United States.

Sylvia Mendez was just like any other third grader in 1946. She liked to learn. She enjoyed recess. But her school was in terrible shape. She wanted to go to the 17th Street School. This was the school that the white children in her city of Westminster attended. But it had a whites-only policy that kept Mexican American children like Sylvia out. Sylvia and her family did not think this policy was fair, so they decided to sue the school district. Their willingness to stand up for equality in education paved the way for all California schools to become desegregated. The historic court case even played a role in the more famous Brown v. Board of Education, which made school segregation illegal in all 50 U.S. states. There's even more interesting information about this pioneer in education inside.

Maria Elena Salinas was born in Los Angeles, California. Her birthplace made her an American citizen. But her heritage allowed her to identify with two countries. One was the United States. The other was Mexico, where she spent the first several years of her childhood. When she returned to the United States as a young girl, she spoke Spanish. In just a few months, she learned English at her new school. As a teen, Maria dreamed of becoming a successful fashion designer. As an adult, she would discover a new calling: journalism. Find out more interesting information about this popular journalist inside this book about one of the first female news anchors in the nation.

Juan Felipe Herrera had an unusual childhood traveling with his migrant parents from one farm to another. They did not speak much English, but they taught him much about the world around him. For this family it was a world that spanned two countries, Mexico and the United States. Young Juan learned early that his life had a lot in common with great literature. He loved stories from the time his mother first told them to him. Read more about Juan Felipe Herrera as he discovers his own voice and the road that led to him becoming the first Latino poet laureate in the United States.

Juan Felipe Herrera had an unusual childhood traveling with his migrant parents from one farm to another. They did not speak much English, but they taught him much about the world around him. For this family it was a world that spanned two countries, Mexico and the United States. Young Juan learned early that his life had a lot in common with great literature. He loved stories from the time his mother first told them to him. Read more about Juan Felipe Herrera as he discovers his own voice and the road that led to him becoming the first Latino poet laureate in the United States.

Few people would have thought that Ileana Ros-Lehtinen would grow up to become one of the longest serving members of the United States House of Representatives. Throughout her career, this groundbreaking congresswoman has worked to advocate for women, education for all, veterans, LGBTQ rights, and marriage equality. She was the first Latina, the first female Florida Republican, and the first Cuban-born person to serve in the United States Congress. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen led the way for other women in public office. Open this book to read about this icon who helped to shape the United States.

Maria Elena Salinas was born in Los Angeles, California. Her birthplace made her an American citizen. But her heritage allowed her to identify with two countries. One was the United States. The other was Mexico, where she spent the first several years of her childhood. When she returned to the United States as a young girl, she spoke Spanish. In just a few months, she learned English at her new school. As a teen, Maria dreamed of becoming a successful fashion designer. As an adult, she would discover a new calling: journalism. Find out more interesting information about this popular journalist inside this book about one of the first female news anchors in the nation.

Mario Molina knew at a young age that he wanted to grow up to become a scientist. He studied chemistry in his native Mexico before heading off to other countries to learn and prepare for the wondrous career that awaited him in the field. He soon put his curiosity and knowledge to work as a research chemist. In the early 1970s, he made a startling discovery which led him to an upsetting theory. Chemicals that industrial companies were releasing into the world's atmosphere were destroying the Earth's ozone layer. Although many people were not pleased to hear Molina's theory, other scientists eventually confirmed it. Read more about Mario Molina and how he received the Nobel Prize for alerting the world to this problem that threatened the very existence of life on Earth.

Mario Molina knew at a young age that he wanted to grow up to become a scientist. He studied chemistry in his native Mexico before heading off to other countries to learn and prepare for the wondrous career that awaited him in the field. He soon put his curiosity and knowledge to work as a research chemist. In the early 1970s, he made a startling discovery which led him to an upsetting theory. Chemicals that industrial companies were releasing into the world's atmosphere were destroying the Earth's ozone layer. Although many people were not pleased to hear Molina's theory, other scientists eventually confirmed it. Read more about Mario Molina and how he received the Nobel Prize for alerting the world to this problem that threatened the very existence of life on Earth.