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Earlier this year, Laura Donnelly, founder and CEO of Latinitas, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls, was looking for a way to tell the stories of how women have become identities today.
“What was the legacy of the pre ‘Me, Too’, ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Time’s Up’?” Donnelly said Thursday. “There were the amazing, original, brave women who came before. Latinitas is here because they tore down the barriers.”
Her group led efforts to permanently and publicly honor the colored women of Austin who paved the way. That effort took the form of mosaic portraits, six of which are now embedded on pedestals in the landscaped plaza of the Austin Central Public Library.
The art was unveiled at a ceremony on Thursday morning under a clear sky. Dignitaries joined two of the living honorees, as well as the families and friends of the others celebrated that day.
“This is another great tribute to a lady who led a fantastic life,” said Janet Means Scott of San Antonio, daughter of the late awardee Bertha Sadler Means.
The mosaics – which may be moved to other Austin libraries – were unveiled Thursday in honor of:
- Teresa Lozano Long: Long came from a small town in South Texas and earned her Ph.D. in Kinesiology from the University of Texas. Her name adorns the Teresa Lozano Long Institute for Latin American Studies at UT, the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for Performing Arts, and the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio. She died in March at the age of 92.
- Sylvia Orozco: Orozco is a co-founder of the Mexic-Arte Museum and has led the art group since it was founded in 1984. As executive director, she has built the museum’s collection of Mexican and Mexican-American art while expanding its programs to include the community. She was present at the ceremony.
- Bertha Sadler says: An educator and advocate for social justice, Means was among the leaders, including many women, who led the fight against racial segregation in Austin. Matriarch of a large and accomplished family, Means was an avid businesswoman and activist. The Bertha Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy is named after her. She died in March at the age of 100.
- Cathy Vasquez-Revilla: The founder of La Prensa newspaper, Vasquez-Revilla, co-founded the Olé Mexico Business-Neighborhood Association. For years she fought against industrial sites in East Austin and was a member of the city planning commission. She couldn’t attend the ceremony.
- Peggy Vasquez: A producer, journalist, and social justice advocate, Vasquez – sister of Vasquez-Revilla – founded Hispanic Today, a television show Austin introduced to many leaders in the Hispanic community. Her father founded the legendary Tamale House. She was also present at the ceremony.
- Martha Cotera: As the founding memory of the Chicana Caucus, Cotera was instrumental in building the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. She is now working to preserve the historic Palm School and make it an asset to the Hispanic community. She is the author of Diosa y Hembra: The History and Heritage of Chicanas in the US and The Chicana Feminist. She couldn’t attend the ceremony.
Among the mosaic artists were Carmen Rangel, Lys Santamaria, Litzy Valdez, Lola Rodriguez and Veronica Ceci.
Another Latinitas mosaic from activist Ana Sisnett, who advocated free internet in Austin libraries and technology for all, was unveiled at the Holly Commons in East Austin in June. Sisnett died in 2009.
“These women of color were the backbone of this great city,” said Roosevelt Weeks, president of the Austin Public Library, “and I am delighted that their stories will live on in the Austin Public Library.”
Among the sponsors who made this project a reality was the Austin Public Library Foundation, a nonprofit.
“This is a place of inspiration,” said Tim Staley, managing director of the foundation, of around 50 guests.
Austin City Council members Natasha Harper-Madison, Greg Casar and Vanessa Fuentes read out loud the winners’ performances. They competed with the traffic and construction noise between the towers rising on either side of Waller Creek in what is now a man-made echo chamber.
“It’s a great honor,” said Peggy Vasquez. “And a great opportunity to learn more about the women who have done a lot in the community as well as to care for future generations.”
Michael Barnes writes about the people, places, culture and history of Austin and Texas. He can be reached at mbarnes@statesman.com.
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