Maria C. Sanchez
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| Hispanic community activist, first Hispanic woman to be elected to the Connecticut Legislature.
A native of Comerio, Puerto Rico , Maria Sanchez came to Hartford in 1953. She is an integral part of the Puerto Rican history in the City of Hartford and the State of Connecticut . She touched so many people that she is recognized as the "Godmother" of the Hispanic Community. She was a mentor to many and from "Maria's News Stand" on Albany Avenue she helped people find homes, jobs and education.
An activist, she founded The Puerto Rican Parade Committee in 1964 and co-founded La Casa de Puerto Rico, the Society of Legal Services, the Spanish American Merchants Association, the Puerto Rican Businessmen Association and the Community Renewal Team (CRT). A member of the Hartford Board of Education for 16 years, she was a most enthusiastic supporter and a pioneer in the legislation of the bilingual/bicultural education programs in the State of Connecticut , recognizing the right of children with limited proficiency in English to be taught in their native language. In 1988, Maria became the first Hispanic woman to be elected to the Connecticut General Assembly, and served until her death on November 25, 1989 . To perpetuate her memory and recognize her valuable contributions to the Hispanic community, the Maria C. Sanchez Elementary School on Babcock Street was dedicated in September 1991. On October 14, 1993 , Maria C. Sanchez was commemorated along with other distinguished Hartford citizens in the Hartford Public Library's Plaza of Fame. | |||||||||||
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