Hero’s name: Lorena Andrade
Home city: El Paso, Texas
Organization affiliation: La Mujer Obrera
How does the person’s work advance social justice? What is the person’s vision for an equitable world?
“Lorena Andrade, director of La Mujer Obrera, began her work in El Paso, Texas, during a period of economic crisis, caused by the North American Free Trade Agreement.
During this crisis, more than 35,000 jobs, mostly immigrant Mexican women maquila workers were lost.
At this stage, La Mujer Obrera, a grassroots organization started by women to help garment workers and Chicana advocates, organized hundreds of workers.
They held mass demonstrations, demanding training and new jobs.
They also elevated the struggle for seven basic needs, which still remain important: education, employment, health, housing, nutrition, peace and political freedom.
Andrade has been part of the implementation and development of social enterprises, such as Rayito del Sol Daycare/Learning Center, Café Mayapan, Mayapan Farmers Market and Lum Metik Trading Co., Uxmal Housing Unit and the Binational Red Niu Matthat Napawika.”
Honored by: Cemelli de Aztlan