E3 Presents: What is Educational Excellence?

Sylvia Mendez is the daughter of Gonzalo Mendez, a Mexican immigrant and Felicitas Mendez, a Puerto Rican immigrant, who fought so that Sylvia could have an equal education through the landmark court case battle of Mendez v. Westminster.

In 1943, students of Mexican decent were required to enroll in separate schools from Caucasian children. When Sylvia was in third grade, she and her siblings were denied admission to the segregated, “white school” near their Orange County home. The Mendez family fought back. Their 1947 victory desegregated public schools in California and became an example for broader decisions, such as the Brown v Board of education.

Sylvia Mendez’s sole intent is to convey the importance of obtaining an education by encouraging students to stay in school and continue their education.  Sylvia speaks at schools and other educational forums to educate others regarding her parents fight for desegregation of schools in California. Her efforts to begin attention to her families historical legal case has brought forth the attention of:

• The Los Angeles County Law Library exhibit, “Mendez to Brown: A Celebration.
• Santa Ana Unified School District named a school after her parents, “Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School”
• In 2004, President George W. Bush invited Mendez to the White Housefor the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
• On April 14, 2007, the S. Postal Serviceunveiled a stamp commemorating the Mendez v. Westminster case.
• September 9, 2009 a second school opened in the Los Angeles community of Boyle Heights bearing the name “Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez Learning Center.”
• On February 15, 2011, Sylvia Mendez was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Ms. Alvarado has been awarded the Leadership and Outstanding Service for English Learners Award by the Orange County Department of Education. This recognition is awarded to individuals from districts across Orange County who have made significant contributions in promoting success for English learner students.  Ms. Alvarado was recognized in 2003 while serving as a Dean in Fullerton and in 2005 while serving as an Assistant Principal in Anaheim.

Ms. Alvarado has a passion for volunteering and giving back to the community She has been a Fullerton College Puente Mentor for first generation college students since 2005. She has been visiting orphanages in Baja, Mexico since 2012. She has been a member of Alpha Delta Kappa Gamma Tau, an international sorority for women educators since 2013 and she is currently the Vice President of the sorority.

Before Columbus, over 70% of the Indigenous nations were peaceful and Clan centered. The invasion of 1492, followed by the infamous papal Bull of 1493 and its deadly “Doctrine of Discovery”, ushered in genocide on a hemispheric level, disruption of native values, patriarchy, and a legacy of rape and violence against Mother Earth and women and children that haunt us to this day. Yet, a new cycle is upon us, just as our ancestors predicted, in which female power, leadership, and harmony will re-emerge.