PLI Portfolio Amparo Martin

believe in speaking up, speaking out, and speaking truth.

Avila-Guzman

My maternal grandparents were brought up in a rural area of central Mexico. My grandfather Felix Avila, came to the U.S. in the early 1900's as a bracero farm worker. Here he resided in Oxnard, CA, where a few years later all of our Avila-Guzman were raised. At one point, I too lived and was schooled in Oxnard,C.A. Together they had 13 children. They were both socioeonimically disadvantage. My grandfather was iliterate, and my grandmother had only a secondary education. Nevertheless, they put a roof and food on the table for all of the children.

Navarro-Bravo

My paternal grandparents were also brought up in a rural area of central Mexico. My grandfather Tomas Navarro, was a civil electrician. Together they raised 18 children, they lived in a very humble environment. In 1988, grandpa Tomas died from diabetes. My memories of him are a blur yet the few times I encountered with him were pleasant and unique. My grandmother also had diabetes, a few years later she got gangrene on her left foot, had it amputated and years later it spread until both of her legs were completely cut off. She lived a few years more and then died from a severe flu. Both were socioeconomically disadvantaged with little schooling yet they left a legacy of good work ethics and joy for life. They memories will live on with our family.

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education” – Martin Luther King

One hundred years ago, my family lived in a place where little or no opportunities are given because of the socio-economic status, forty-four years later from this date, an offspring speaks about the journey many continue to live, dream, and hope for the opportunity, just like me.

"We must work together to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth, opportunity and power in our society."

- Nelson Mandela.