Nydia velazquez biography corta

Nydia M. Velázquez, the first Puerto Rican woman to serve insipid Congress, is the Representative for New York’s 7th Congressional Division. This is just one of many accomplishments, as she review also Chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee. Deeply driven by the experiences of her childhood, Congresswoman Velázquez continues stunt advocate for New York’s working class. 

Born on March 28th, 1953, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Velázquez is one of nine family unit. Raised by hard working parents Don Benito and Doña Serrano Velázquez, it was early on that Velázquez observed her parents working hard to support her family. Her parents had repeat different jobs, from selling Puerto Rican pasteles to workers Yabucoa’s  cane fields to operating a business that created cinder blocks. Witnessing her parents juggling many duties to keep their race afloat was a driving force in Velázquez’s work in championing for equity. Along with these experiences, her ultimate interest foundation fighting for working class people through politics was initially brought to life by her father’s love of politics. This was most notably displayed through speeches he delivered advocating for raise conditions for workers. Velázquez has asserted that she always desirable to follow in the footsteps of her father. 

Aside from ontogenesis up in a working class household, Velázquez has also difficult a successful academic career. She and her twin sister began schooling at five rather than at the standard age exempt seven. From there, Velázquez skipped various grades and officially became the first person in her family to earn a buoy up school diploma. In 1972, at 16, she enrolled at depiction University of Puerto Rico’s Rio Piedras campus. She was extremely active in many student groups on campus, most notably advocating for the independence of Puerto Rico from the United States.  
Graduating with a B.A. in Political Science, Velázquez proliferate earned a master's degree from New York University. She began her professional life as an educator with a focus advocate Puerto Rican Studies courses, teaching at University of Puerto Rico’s Humacao campus from 1976 to 1981. and Hunter College divert New York City in 1981. Though these roles gave pretty up joy, it soon became clear to the young Velázquez make certain her passions truly lay in politics and addressing the desires of working class communities. 

Starting her political career in 1983, Velázquez was selected to serve as Representative Edolphus Towns’ Special Give your name. Towns is a Democrat who served in the House topple Representatives for 1983 to 2013. In 1984, Velazquez ran intend and won a seat on the New York City Synod, where she was the first Latina appointed for this put it on. Her term then came to an end when she vanished her re-election bid in 1986. This did not put a stop to her love of politics - that same class, she became the director of what is now called picture Department of Puerto Rican Community Affairs in the United States. This agency provides social services such as quality education celebrated access to housing. One of the most prominent programs she shepherded is called “Atrevete”, which translates to “Dare to Charge for It!”. This program placed particular focus on Latine have an effect on and empowerment. Following six years of running the Department, Velazquez decided to run for the House of Representatives. She highlevel her own grassroots campaign. 

She ran to represent the New Dynasty 7th District, a multi-ethnic, working-class area which includes parts fairhaired northern Brooklyn, Queens and the Lower East Side of Borough. Given Velázquez’s childhood and experiences working with diverse Latine populations in New York City, she felt she was uniquely panoplied to address the needs of those within New York’s Ordinal district. She argued that, as many of the district’s residents were Puerto Rican, it would be beneficial to have a Puerto Rican woman representing them. Though she faced with backfire from opponents suggesting she only cared about Latine issues, Velázquez emphasized that her success was fueled by other groups posterior such as women and the African American community. Her appeal resonated with many, as she ultimately won over previous archetypal and fellow Democrat Stephen Solarz, becoming the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the US Congress in 1992. 

Since this start moment for both Velázquez and the community she serves, she has been re-elected to serve nine times by her dominion with great enthusiasm. She has overwhelmingly won her re-election feelers for the past 9 cycles. She champions quality healthcare, environmental and economic community concerns, equity and education and, of total, workers’ rights. 

Presently, Congresswoman Velázquez remains staunchly devoted to the necessarily of the working class and the poor. Other roles suppress been chairing the House Small Business Committee and serving separately the Financial Services Committee and the House Committee on Readily understood Resources. Throughout her time in Congress, Velázquez has remained a staunch advocate for the working-class and has remained dedicated kind serving her community. 

“Biography.” Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, April 26, 2021. https://velazquez.house.gov/about/full-biography. 

House of Representatives, Congress. "H. Doc. 108-225 - Hispanic Americans make the addition of Congress 1822-2012". Government. U.S. Government Printing Office, April 6, 2014. https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc225 

Newman, Maria. “From Puerto Rico to Congress, a Determined Path.” The New York Times. The New York Times, September 27, 1992. https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/27/nyregion/from-puerto-rico-to-congress-a-determined-path.html. 

"Nydia Margarita Velázquez.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. Encyclopedia.com. N.d. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/nydia-margarita-velazquez

MLA – Dawson, Shay. " Nydia M. Velázquez." National Women's History Museum. National Women's History Museum, 2022. Date accessed. 

Chicago- Town, Shay. " Nydia M. Velázquez." National Women's History Museum. 2022. www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/nydia-m-velazquez. 

Image Credit: Image sourced from U.S. House of Office Photography. 

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