Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15th - October 15th we recognize the notable contributions, history and culture of Hispanic and Latinx community. Green The Church celebrates and stands in solidarity with the Latinx community recognizing our common humanity. 

We know there are countless names and stories that are worthy of sharing. At Green The Church, we're honoring the remarkable Latinx individuals who have dedicated their lives to creating a more just society. These heroes have left an indelible mark on history, advocating for civil rights, environmental justice, and equality

1. 

Co-founder of the United Farmworkers Association, a true champion of labor rights and civil rights.American labor leader and civil rights activist who, with Cesar Chavez, is a co-founder of the United Farmworkers Association, which later merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee to become the United Farm Workers

2.

Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, a trailblazer who inspires us all. Born in the Bronx in New York, she self-identifies as Nuyorican—AKA a Puerto Rican New Yorker ...Sonia Maria Sotomayor is an American lawyer and jurist who serves as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. President Barack Obama nominated her on May 26, 2009, and has served since August 8, 2009.

3.

A lifelong human rights activist and environmentalist, dedicated to supporting indigenous communities and combating climate change.  Jagger is a Nicaraguan-born former actress and passionate philanthropist. She founded the human rights foundation that bears her name, which fights to support indigenous people, address climate change, and end violence against women and girls. In 1981 she was part of a US congressional delegation that chased after a Honduran death squad to liberate 40 captured refugees.

4.

The youngest woman ever elected to Congress, a fearless advocate for climate action and workers' rights. Her victory over Joe Crowley is widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets of the 2018 midterm primaries. She advocates a progressive platform that includes support for workplace democracy,[10] Medicare for All, tuition-free public college, a federal jobs guarantee, a Green New Deal, and abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Since taking office, this Latinx hero has worked on issues around climate change and low-wage workers' rights.

5.

A climate science advocate who raises awareness about the impact of climate change on Latinx communities. In 1992, when she was only 16 years old, she lost her South Florida home to Hurricane Andrew. It was a defining moment that led Hammer to study climate science and sea-level rise, which can disproportionally affect Latinx communities. Hammer served as a climate science advocate at the Union of Concerned Scientists and her work was so prominent that she was First Lady Michelle Obama's guest at the 2015 State of the Union address. 

6. 

A key figure in the desegregation of California schools, she paved the way for equality in education. Mendez is a Mexican-Puerto Rican American who played a key role in desegregating California schools. When the Westminster school district declined to admit the Mendez children into the local school due to their skin color, the family took the district to court. In the 1947 federal court case Mendez v. Westminster, the court ruled that forced segregation was unconstitutional, setting a precedent for ending segregation in the US.

7.

A civil rights icon who fought for farmworkers' rights and left an enduring legacy of justice. Chavez is a Hispanic hero best known as the civil rights activist and labor leader who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with fellow activist Dolores Huerta. His work led to the passing of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, which granted farmworkers the right to collective bargaining. In 1994 he post-humously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

These leaders and more showcase the power of the human spirit. We celebrate and honor their accomplishments to making our world a more just and sustainable place.