LATINAS in usa WHO HAVE CHANGED THE WORLD!

http://www.latina.com/lifestyle/inspiring-latina/latina-women-who-have-changed-world

Sonia Sotomayor

Age: 58

Roots: Puerto Rican

How She Changed the World: Being the third female justice and the first Latino to sit on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States is no small accomplishment for the New York City native. Other than her inspirational work as a Latina in the legal work, Sotomayor published her memoir, My Beloved World, earlier this year, which recounts her early life of growing up in housing projects in New York and the challenges she overcame.

Dolores Huerta

Age: 82

Roots: Mexican

How She Changed the World: Along with Cesar Chavez, Huerta co-founded the National Farmworkers Association, which eventually became the United Farm Workers (UFW), in order to unite farmers into a union that fights to protect their rights. She is a labor leader and civil rights activist who has also advocated for immigrants’ and women’s rights, earning her the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights and Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

Carolina Herrera

Age: 74

Roots: Venezuelan

How She Changed the World: The elegant business woman made a name for herself as a fashion designer who has dressed everyone from countless celebrities to many First Ladies, including Jackie O (Jacqueline Onassis) and current First Lady Michelle Obama. Known for the clothes’ impeccable, worldly style without being fussy, Herrera earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2008—but even that hasn’t stopped her and she is still designing beautiful clothes, accessories and even fragrances.  

Vilma Martinez (civil rights attorney)

Age: 69

Roots: Mexican

How She Changed the World: The Mexican-American civil rights attorney was the first woman appointed to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Argentina. She was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009 but has been a diplomat since President Jimmy Carnet appointed Martinez to her first position in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps in 1977. 

Linda Chavez-Thompson (labor leader)

Age: 68

Roots: Mexican

How She Changed the World: The Mexican-American woman is a union leader who was formerly the vice-president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations from 1995 until 2007, working on behalf of the fifty-six national and international unions to represent more than 11 million workers. Since her retirement, she ran to be the Lieutenant Governor of Texas and was the vice chair to the Democratic National Committee. 

Soledad O’Brien

Age: 46

Roots: Cuban

How She Changed the World: The Cuban-American broadcast journalist made waves as the anchor of CNN’s morning news program Starting Point and American Morning. Today she is recognized as one of the top journalists who fights for social change, has won an Emmy award for co-hosting The Know Zone and a Goodermote Humanitarian Award for her reporting of Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. She continues to strive for excellence in reporting as she starts Starfish Media Group, which will allow her to continue to confront difficult topics and tell underreported topics.

Salma Hayek

Age: 46

Roots: Mexican

How She Changed the World: Although she had been acting in her native Mexican, it was Hayek’s move to Hollywood in 1991 that earned her worldwide recognition as a Mexican-American actress, director and producer. She is best known for her role as Frida Kahlo in 2002 film Frida, for which she received numerous nominations and awards. She is also an advocate for increasing awareness on violence against women and discrimination against immigrants. She has testified before the U.S. Senate Committee supporting the reauthoring of the Violence Against Women Act and is a board member of V-Day, a charity aimed at ending violence against women and girls. 

Name: Victoria Soto

Age: Died in 2012 at the age of 27

Roots: Puerto Rican

How She Changed the World: This courageous teacher was hailed as a heroine after she died protecting her young students during the Newton, CT shootings on December 14, 2012. She demonstrated tremendous strength when she hid her students in a closet and told the shooter that they were in the gym. She was killed protecting them, after the shooter didn’t believe her and she shielded her room from the bullets with her own body. President Barack Obamaawarded Soto the Presidential Citizens Medal, describing her as a selfless and courageous woman who “inspire[s] us all to look for opportunities to better serve our communities and our country.”

Name: Concepcion Picciotto

Age: 67

Roots: Spanish

How She Changed the World: Her name isn’t well known but she is one hard-to-forget inspiring Latina. The Spaniard-American woman commonly known as “Conchita” has been living in Lafayette square in Washington, D.C., since August 1, 1981. That’s when she set up a peace camp across from the White House in order to protest nuclear arms. She is known for carrying out the longest continuous act of political protest in the U.S. and has been featured in Michael Moore’s 2004 documentary Fahrenheit 9/11.

Name: Eva Longoria

Age: 37

Roots: Mexican

How She Changed the World: Known as one of the highest paid actresses in television history, the Desperate Housewives star made a cool $13 million for her seductive role as Gaby Solis. However, that was only the beginning for Longoria. She has developed into a powerful figure behind-the-scenes as an executive producer of the ALMA Awards and the upcoming series, Devious Maids. Her philanthropic work with PADRES Contra el Cancer has also helped millions of families affected by the illness. However, the Chicana actress’ biggest role has been as the ambassador for Obama’s reelection campaign in 2012. 

Alicia Dickerson Montemayor (Latina activist)

Age: Died in 1989 at age 86

Roots: Mexican

How She Changed the World: The Mexican-American activist from Laredo, Texas, was one of the first truly inspirational Latina women. She crossed a lot of barriers for women, becoming the first woman elected to national office (that wasn’t created for a woman specifically) as vice president general of the League of United Latin American Citizens and also the first woman associate editor of the LULAC newspaper. She encouraged girls and women to join the Latin American activism movement and is designated as a Women’s History Honoree by the National Women’s History Project.

Jovita Idár (journalist)

Age: Died at age 60 in 1946

Roots: Mexican

How She Changed the World: The Mexican-American journalist, who was born in Texas, was a major figure to worked to advance the civil rights of Mexican-Americans. She wrote for a newspaper called La Cronica where, under a pseudonym, she exposed the poor living conditions of Mexican-American workers and supported the Mexican revolution, which started in 1910. She also served as the first president of the League of Mexican Women, which was founded in 1911 to offer free education to Mexican children in Laredo, Texas. She continued writing to advocate for the issues being faced by Mexican-Americans in that time.

The Mirabal Sisters 

Age: Particia was 36, Maria was 34 and Antonia was 25 when they were killed

Roots: Dominican

How They Changed the World: Patricia, Belgica, Maria and Antonia (commonly known as Patrisia, Dede, Minerva and Maria Teresa) became involved in the political movement against dictator Trujillo. They formed the group Movement of the Fourteenth of June in order to oppose his regime, but they were incarcerated and tortured on several occasions, resulting in the deaths of Patricia, Minerva and Maria Teresa. Their amazing courage and persistence in the face of endless opposition remains an inspiration to many. The day of their deaths, November 25th, is now official the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.  

Name: Claudia de la Cruz

Age: 31

Roots: Dominican

How She Changed the World: As the founder of Da Urban Butterflies (DUB), Cruz is dedicated to youth outreach for Latinas in the Washington Heights area in New York City. The group, which has been around for 8 years, helps empower young women between the ages of 18 to 30 with sex education and career workshops. “Here you find yourself in a space where they are telling you yes, you are worth something. We care about you and you can create the world you want. That is really empowering,” said Cruz about her organization. 

Name: Arisa Batista Cunningham

Age: 62

Roots: Panamanian

How She Changed the World: Arisa runs the boardroom as the VP of global diversity for Johnson & Johnson. She helps come up with strategic planning for franchises worth a total of $24 billion. Since earning her MBA from Ohio University, Arisa has made it a point to increase diversity in the workplace and has won the J&J Equal Opportunity Award

Name: Ellen Ochoa

Age: 54

Roots: Mexican

How She Changed the World: As if being the first Latina astronaut isn’t enough, she’s also the co-inventor of three patents related to optical inspection systems. She received her doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University and is currently the director of the Johnson Space Center. Talk about reaching for the stars! 

Name: Rosario Dawson

Age: 33

Roots: Puerto Rican and Cuban

How She Changed the World: This actress has never been content with just being a Hollywood superstar. The co-founder of Voto Latino has inspired and empowered a new generation to hit the polls in a major way. Rosario is just as passionate about other issues concerning our community. She has shown support for arrested undocumented immigrants, and raised awareness for the Purple Purse Campaign, which aimed to donate over $250,000 to the YWCA for their domestic violence survivors and women in need.