Hero’s name: Ninfa Aleman
Home city: Brownsville, Texas
Organization affiliation: La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE)
How does the person’s work advance social justice? What is the person’s vision for an equitable world?
“Ninfa Aleman has been a longtime member of LUPE and a leader of the community. She began her volunteer work with Fuerza del Valle Workers’ Center many years ago. Since then, she has volunteered her service and time to many projects and organizations such as LUPE, the ACLU and Our Revolution.
As a member and leader of LUPE, she has provided her home for meetings and has welcomed members of the community into their home to talk about services for the community, immigration issues and civil rights.
She has advocated for and responded to the needs of her neighbors and has linked them to immediate health care services through the Valley Care Mobile Clinic.
She has also done presentations at school districts and other public places about immigration services and civil rights.
Ninfa has overcome adversity because of her immigration status and has been a victim of discrimination and inequality since she was forcefully brought over to the U.S. when she was very young.
When she became a mother, she realized how someone’s immigration status could be such an obstacle in obtaining basic needs for her children. However, through trial and tribulation, and determination, Ninfa has been able to overcome her issues.
Ninfa’s involvement in community organizations has empowered her and provided confidence in her position in the world.
She has used that newfound power to continue to progress and do good for her community in an effort to help those that find themselves in the situation she was once in.
Ninfa is a true heroine because she uses her story of adversity and triumph to educate people through interviews, media and presentations about discrimination on immigration status and its detrimental effect on members of the community.”
Honored by: Gabriela Zavala of LUPE