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Mary Terronez biographical files, 1962-2009

1996-07-27 Nuestras Voces Article: ""Terronez: Una Voz para las Mujeres"" (""Terronez: A Voice for Women"")

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Nuestras Voces, del 27 de Julio 1996 Mujer en Perspectiva Women in Perspective Terronez: Una Voz para las Mujeres [Photo] Photo by Deborah Lash Mary Terronez, junto a una pintura hecha por su hija. Mary Terronez standing next to her daughter's painting.} Por Deborah Lash Traduccion Jesus Ayala Soriano Por protestar afuera de la Scott County Court House a una temperatura bajo cero, por los derechos de una joben victima en 1995, por marchar frente a los mercados Eagle en Rock Island a fines de 1960, por los derechos de los trabajadores de la uva, Mary Terronez de Davenport, ha sido un lider de los derechos civiles en las Quad Cities por mas de 40 anos. "Quiza soy un activista", dijo Terronez. "Pero si tu no haces eco de nuestras opiniones, ?Como vas a ayudar a nuestra gente? Alguien tiene que hacerlo". La hija de Terronez, Phyllis, expreso que su mama ha sido un modelo para las mujeres hispanas del area. "Su mensaje para los demas es que sin importar la edad hay que dar ese paso que concrete lo ya obtenido", dojo ella, "Eso es lo que mi madre ha hecho". A la edad de 60 anos Terronez se graduo del Palmer Junior College con un titulo de Associate of Arts. Su titulo le ayudo a conseguir un trabajo como profesora adjunta, primero en el distrito de Rock Island y despues en el didstrito de Davenport. A los 77, Terronez espera con ansias trabajar para el siguiente ano y continuar activa dentro de la comunidad. En 1995, ella recolecto un tercio de los fondos necesarios para del equipo nuevo del campo de juego de la Jefferson Elementary en Davenport, y ella esta presente en diversos comites dentro de la comunidad. A traves de los anos ella ha recibido mas de 15 reconocimientos de distintas organizaciones tales como el American Institute of Commerce, por sus servicios a la comunidad hispana, del State of Illinois for Education, de la Commission on Aging, del Palmer College por haber trabajado por mas de 20 anos y como miembro honorifico de LULAC. Terronez dijo que, de todo lo que ha hecho, lo que mas orgullo le da es haber recibido su GED y su AA del Palmer y por el exito con sus hijos. Con la excepcion de uno do sus seis hijos, todos los demas van a la univerisdad. Terronez cree que el haber asistido a la universidad ha sido el entusiasmo creador para sus hijos. Su participacion en la comunidad y su exito en la universidad han sido la fuente de inspiracion para la gente joven de nuestra comunidad. En 1979 la Chicano Indian American Student Union de la Universidad de Iowa la felicito por su labor como lider para la comunidad hispana, diciendo: "Esta carta es solo un pequena muestra que refleja nuestro sincero aprecio por los logros obtenidos para con la comunidad chicana y sus continuos esfuerzos en por de ideales como: la justicia e igualdad para todos. Con gente como usted que nos inspire y guie en el camino, podemos estar seguros que alcanzaremos esos ideales. Hector Perez, Presidente de la CIASU." Terronez: A Voice for Women "Terronez said, of everything she has done, she is most proud of having received her GED and then her AA from Palmer and for the success of her children." by Deborah Lash From protesting outside the Scott County Court House in sub-zero weather, for the rights of a young victim in 1995, to marching outside Eagle stores in Rock Island in the late 1960s, for the rights of grape growers, Mary Terronez of Davenport has been a civil rights leader in the Quad-Cities for over 40 years. "Maybe I am an activist," Terronez said. "But if you don't voice your opinions how is that going to help people? Somebody has to do it." Terronez's daugher, Phyllis said her mother has been a role model for Hispanic women in the area. "Her message to others is that no matter what age, take that step and build on what you have," she said. "That is what my mother has done." At the age of 60, Terronez graduated from Palmer Junior College with an AA degree. Her degree helped her secure a job as a teachers aid, first with the Rock Island School district and then the Davenport School district. At 77, Terronez is looking forward to another school year and is still active in the community. In the 1995, she raised one-third of the funding necessary for new playground equipment at Jefferson Elementary in Davenport and is on many community committees. Throughout the years, she has received over 15 awards from various organizations such as the American Institute of Commerce for her service to the Hispanic community, the State of Illinois for Education, Commission on Aging, Palmer College, for being a poll worker for over 20 years and as a honorary member of LULAC. Terronez said, of everything she has done, she is most proud of having received her GED and then her AA from Palmer and for the success of her children. All but one of her six children went to college. Terronez said she believes that having gone to college herself has been an inspiration to her children. Her community involvement and success in college has also been and inspiration to young people in the community. In 1979, the Chicano-Indian American Student Union of the University of Iowa congratulated her on being a leader for the Hispanic community. "This letter is only a small token reflecting our sincere appreciation of your Chicano community-related achievement and continuing efforts to seek those elusive ideals in life: la justicia e igualdad para todos. With people like you inspiring us and leading the way, we can be sure of someday reaching those ideals. --Hector Perez, Chairman, CIASU."
 
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