Lucy G. Acosta facts for kids

Lucy G. Acosta (born Maria Angela Socorro Grijalva, October 4, 1926 – March 8, 2008) was an important Mexican-American activist. She was a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). LULAC is the oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the United States.

Lucy Acosta was chosen for many important jobs by mayors in El Paso, Texas. She was honored by being elected to the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1987. Awards called the Lucy G. Acosta Humanitarian Awards are given out every year since 1993 to honor her work.

Early Life and Education

Lucy Acosta was born as Maria Angela Socorro Grijalva on October 4, 1926. Her birthplace was Miami, Arizona. When she was three years old, her father, Apolonio Grijalva, died while working in a copper mine.

Her mother, Maria Socorro, received money from the mining company. She then moved to El Paso, Texas. There, she married David Peña, who worked as a bricklayer. Lucy went to public schools in El Paso.

She was very active in school, playing sports and joining the student council at Bowie High School. Lucy graduated in 1943, ranking among the top ten students in her class. She continued her education and graduated from the International Business School in 1945.

A Champion for Her Community

Lucy Acosta became a member of LULAC in 1957. She helped restart a special group within LULAC called the Ladies’ Council #335. This council did many good things for the community.

• They delivered food to older women who needed help.
• They created scholarships to help local students pay for college.
• They also raised money to help people pay their voter poll taxes.
• They helped many Hispanic people register to vote.

Lucy Acosta also worked on political campaigns. She helped Raymond Telles when he ran for mayor of El Paso. He won and became the first Mexican-American mayor of the city. Because of her hard work, Mayor Telles and other mayors after him chose Lucy for many important roles in the city government.

Breaking Barriers

In 1972, Lucy Acosta was chosen for the 17th District Bar Association of Law Examiners. This was a big deal because she was the first woman and the first non-lawyer to get this job in the history of the State Bar of Texas.

She also made history in other ways:

• She was the first woman elected to the El Paso Community College Board of Trustees.
• She was the first woman in El Paso to be appointed as a civil service commissioner.

Her dedication was recognized nationally. In both 1963 and 1973, she was named the Outstanding LULAC National Woman of the Year.

Helping Others with Project Amistad

Lucy Acosta helped start Project Amistad in 1976. This was a very important program that helped elderly and disabled people in El Paso. She was also the main leader of Project Amistad for 25 years.

Her work extended beyond El Paso. In 1980, Governor Bill Clements asked Lucy to join the Texas Advisory Committee. This committee advised the White House Conference on Families. In 1982, the United Way honored her with their first Annual Volunteer Service Award.

Lucy also worked with many other groups. These groups focused on helping older people, child welfare, education, and making sure people had enough food. She also received the El Paso Conquistador and Yellow Rose of Texas awards. In 1993, voters in El Paso County chose Lucy Acosta to be the chair of the county’s housing authority.

Personal Life

In 1948, Lucy married Alejandro Acosta. He was a veteran who had served in World War II and the Korean War. Alejandro also went to Bowie High School, just like Lucy. They had two sons together, Alejandro, Jr. and Daniel.

Lasting Legacy

Lucy Acosta passed away on March 8, 2008, in El Paso, Texas. She is buried at Restlawn Park Cemetery. Her contributions are remembered in several Halls of Fame.

• She is in the LULAC Hall of Fame.
• She is also in the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame.
• She is a member of the El Paso Commission for Women Hall of Fame.

A street in El Paso, Lucy Acosta Way, is named in her honor. Project Amistad continues to present the Lucy G. Acosta Humanitarian Awards every year. These awards have been named after her since 1993.