| Representative Hilda Solis speaks to Choice USA leader |
Laura Coria, one of Choice USA's youth leaders, interviews Representative Hilda Solis for National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Laura Coria, one of Choice USA's youth leaders, interviews Representative Hilda Solis for National Hispanic Heritage Month As a high school senior, Laura Coria, along with three fellow young women, wrote a powerful film -Toothpaste - to educate their peers about contraception, self-esteem, and the realities of teenage sex. She was honored for her work in 2006 at Choice USA's Generation-to-Generation Celebration. She recently had the opportunity to interview a 2004 Generation Awardee, Representative Hilda Solis about being a Latina woman in politics and what it takes to work for social and reproductive justice. Laura Coria: How did you first get involved in working on social justice issues? Representative Solis: Latinos like Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez fought hard for social, economic and environmental justice. Their work paved the way for my efforts and inspired me at a very young age to continue fighting for basic human rights, including the right to a healthy environment. They helped protect the health of Latinos and farmworkers from exposures to pesticides like DDT and poor labor standards. Today I am working to honor their legacy by fighting for social justice in Congress. Laura Coria: Did you face any barriers to getting involved in politics and how did you overcome them? Representative Solis: I grew up with very few role models who looked like me, but I looked to my mother, Dolores Huerta, and Gloria Molina (Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor) for inspiration. They taught me to work hard, believe in myself and make a difference for our community. Most women in politics, especially women of color, have faced sexism and racism in their careers. Raising money to run for public office when you come from a disadvantaged community like mine was difficult. But you just have to work hard, make connections and believe in yourself to succeed. Laura Coria: What do you think are some of the most important issues facing young people - especially young Latina women? And what can we do about them as young leaders who are not members of Congress (yet)? Representative Solis: Latinas are directly impacted by issues that affect their health, education and their rights. It's incredibly important that Latinas and all young people have access to the best education our country can provide. We need a new direction for education in America so that all students, from childhood to college, receive the best possible education. With inadequate federal funding for No Child Left Behind and rising tuition and interest rates for college loans, that goal is out of reach for too many. Laura Coria: Since we're in the middle of National Hispanic Heritage Month, what issues do you think are most important to Hispanic communities and around the country? Representative Solis: The economic policies of the Bush Administration are not benefiting a majority of Latino families. Gas prices, health care costs and inflation are taking a toll on families, even though we are working more and more. We have also been fighting against an enforcement-only approach to immigration reform. Americans want real, comprehensive immigration reform. Our nation needs laws that protect our borders, respect American values of reuniting families, and provides earned legalization for law abiding immigrants. Immigrants, their families, and families across America deserve more than sham hearings and enforcement only policies which are doomed to fail. America deserves comprehensive immigration reform - laws which protect our borders, embrace our families, and provide earned legalization for law abiding immigrants. Laura Coria: A report recently released by the Kaiser Family Foundation said that Hispanics in "New Growth Communities" face greater barriers to health coverage and access to care. What are some ways to ensure access to adequate healthcare for ALL people living in America? Representative Solis: We must utilize non-traditional approaches to improve health of our communities. The nation is growing increasingly diverse and as a result so too should the models of care in our health system. Promotoras or community health workers are a method to reach new communities, particularly immigrant populations. These programs seek individuals that are directly from the community and empower them with the skills and knowledge needed to educate and increase awareness in their communities. Laura Coria: There are a lot of misconceptions about what reproductive choice means. How do you define "choice"? What is your vision for reproductive justice for young women? Representative Solis: Reproductive choice, to me, means having access to all of the services you need to manage your health with your doctor, including contraception. The recent fights over access to emergency contraception demonstrate that we cannot become complacent about access to basic reproductive health services like contraception. Contraceptive access and education is especially important in the Latino community where 51% of Latina teens will become pregnant at least once before age 20. Although family and children are a blessing, starting a family too soon in America can keep our young people from important opportunities for educational and career development. Preventing teen pregnancy is one of the most direct and effective ways to help secure a successful future for our young men and women. Laura Coria: As we close our conversation, do you have any advice for younger Latina leaders in the women's movement and/ or fighting for sexual rights and reproductive justice? Representative Solis: With the growing diversity in the United States, it is incredibly important that women of color are included and at the forefront of the fight for women's rights. We must educate young women and men about bills and laws that could take away their rights, and get them energized and involved. The immigration protests earlier this year were a great example of Latino youth rising up and showing that they are a strong voice for their community. We need to work together to reduce teen pregnancy rates, provide a strong foundation for a successful future, like education and affordable health care. Choice USA would like to thank Laura Coria and Amanda Ramirez for their work on this interview as well as the staff of Representatvie Solis' Washington, DC office for their participation. |
