Evelina Lopez Antonetty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Evelina Lopez Antonetty
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Evelina Lopez
September 19, 1922 |
| Died | November 19, 1984 Bronx, New York, U.S.
|
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Other names | Hell Lady of the Bronx or The Mother of the Puerto Rican Community |
| Occupation | Community Activist |
| Known for | United Bronx Parents |
| Spouse(s) | Binaldo Montenegro, Donato Antonetty |
| Children | 3 |
Evelina Lopez Antonetty (1922−1984) was a brave community leader. She worked hard to help Puerto Rican children get a better education. Evelina started an important group called the United Bronx Parents in New York. This group helped kids in many ways. They pushed for classes taught in two languages (bilingual education). They also worked to improve school lunches and get parents more involved.
Evelina's efforts were a big reason why many schools in the U.S. now offer bilingual education. She made a huge difference for families and schools in the Bronx. Even after she passed away in 1984, her work for equal education lived on. The United Bronx Parents group is still active today, helping schools across the country. Evelina Antonetty was known as a strong and organized leader.
Contents
Evelina Antonetty's Early Life
Evelina Lopez Antonetty was born on September 19, 1922. She grew up in a poor family in Salinas, Puerto Rico. This was a small fishing village in Puerto Rico. She was the oldest of three sisters.
When Evelina was 11, her mother sent her to live in New York. She moved in with her aunt and uncle in 1933. Evelina went to public school in East Harlem. She attended Wadleigh High School for Girls, which was a top school. Her family often moved within the Latino community. They were part of the working poor in Harlem. However, her mother had a steady job, which helped them.
Evelina's desire to help others came from her childhood. She saw poverty in Puerto Rico. Then, in New York, she learned about new ideas for social change. She also faced unfair treatment in school. This made her want to help other children who were going through similar things.
Evelina's Path to Activism
As a teenager, Evelina worked for several political leaders. This sparked her interest in helping her community. She worked for Congressman Vito Marcantonio. He was an Italian-American leader from Harlem. She also worked for Jesús Colón, a labor leader from Puerto Rico.
With this experience, Evelina moved to the South Bronx. There, she worked for a group called District 65 of the United Automobile Workers. Her job was to help people get ready for jobs.
Later, she married her second husband, Donato Antonetty. She decided to stay home and raise their three children. In 1962, her daughter Anita started school. Evelina joined the school's parents association. This step eventually led her to create the United Bronx Parents.
United Bronx Parents: Helping Families
Evelina Antonetty founded the United Bronx Parents in 1965. This group encouraged parents in the South Bronx to get more involved in their children's education. The program offered training sessions. These sessions taught parents how to understand school evaluations. They learned about different teachers and educational programs.
Evelina hoped the United Bronx Parents would change the idea that poor minority children could not get a good education. She believed the problem was unfairness between different groups. In the late 1960s, the group's main goal changed. They focused on increasing bilingual education. Because of their work, the South Bronx became the first area to have bilingual schools in 1968.
The United Bronx Parents first aimed to help Puerto Rican parents. But it became so successful that African American mothers also joined. The program then grew to other cities in New York and across the country.
Evelina Antonetty's Legacy
In 2011, a mural was painted in the South Bronx. It honored Evelina Antonetty's hard work and dedication to the United Bronx Parents.
