What difference in your life did Ada and/or Beatriz have? by aa valdivia

Because of Ada.

2024-05-29 00:42:06 UTC

When I was 19 and an undergraduate at UC Davis, I secured a work-study job as a Student Office Assistant at the Chicana/Latina Research Center (CLRC) under the-then Director, Professor Ada Sosa-Riddell. That part-time opportunity proved to be transformative. She introduced me to other Chicana/Latina faculty who hired me as a Research Assistant to track down library documents and organize their archival findings. The CLRC provided funding for me to attend my first academic conference.

I also met Elena Gutierrez, a Chicana Dissertation Fellow at the CLRC, who mentored me through my graduate school applications. As well as Erica Rios, a fellow undergrad baddie who inspired me then (and now) to be unapologetically Chicana and sometimes Xicana. We were Ada's groupies (Research Assistants). And then years later, as a graduate student at the University of Michigan, I returned to UC Davis as that same center as a Chicana Dissertation Fellow.

Twenty-five years later, I am directing the Chicano Studies Institute (CSI) at UC Santa Barbara. It's the very kind of organized research unit that helped me get to where I am today. It's a beautiful full circle that began with Ada.

Because of Beatriz

2024-05-29 15:42:57 UTC

When I was a first year student at UC Davis in 1987 I was studying Economics/Math, and my writing was not the best. I took a course with Profesora Pesquera and on my first paper she wrote "Please see me in my office." She then talked to me about my writing and offered to help me. We spent many hours going over my papers and she had a huge impact thereafter. She was willing to spend time helping a first year student and ensure my writing skills were UC material. Today I continue to Direct TRIO programs and write grant proposals for millions of dollars, with the much help from Beatriz. She was a great mentor.

Because of Ada (part 2)

2024-05-29 18:13:17 UTC

For my senior honors thesis, Ada served as my faculty mentor/advisor. Sacramento had just been awarded a “revitalization” grant. She encouraged me to follow the public money. I ended up interviewing housing and city officials with questions Ada had helped me draft. The city had supposedly made decisions with Mexican, Chicano input. I asked them: was there childcare? Was there a translator? Was public transportation provided? I had them very nervous. She loved it. I also spent an entire Saturday outside a tiendita interviewing gente in Spanish with Ada by my side. The entire day. She was there with me. It was a memorable day where she showed me what applied, community research looked like.

2024-05-29 19:14:39 UTC

There was a handful of people that encouraged me to succeed while at Davis and without a doubt, Ada was my biggest supporter. The first to attend a university in my family and I believe the 1st Veloyce Glenn Winslow Award (Senior of the Year) winner in the Chicano Studies department. I was proud to be able to walk down the graduation aisle with Ada at my side. “Si Se Pudo,” she said as we walked. I’m forever in your debt! -Javier Avitia

she empowered me

2024-05-29 19:16:19 UTC

I met Ada through NACCS. I had helped found the Joto Caucus and was its representative. As such, I was on the NACCS board. I remember going to those meetings. Ada was a wonderful presence, and she empowered me to speak up, to share my thoughts, and saw me as an equal. She was a wonderful mentor, and she helped me get my first publication. It was the essay I submitted for the Cervantes prize. She included it in the NACCS proceedings. I always loved her smile, her laugh, her presence. And I'm grateful that I've since become good friends with her daughter, Lali. Through her and all the people that Ada touches, Ada's spirit lives on.

-Raúl Coronado