The Direct Care News 
For direct care workers and their allies November 29, 2012
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 | | Leonila and Solin in June, 2012 |
On November 19, 2012, DCA lost a visionary leader and undying source of inspiration with the passing of Leonila Vega. This is a very sad time for all of us, but she also leaves us with much to celebrate, including the legacy of worker leadership and empowerment that became DCA's identity under her direction.
Fourteen months ago, Leonila took a medical leave from DCA. She had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, and she decided to receive care in Milwaukee so that she could be with Brad Nelson, her partner and caregiver, while she fought the disease she called "the Monster." Though she intended to return to DCA, we felt her absence immediately. Read more from David Ward. |
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Paying Tribute to Leonila
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 Leonila believed in me before I believed in myself. I remember the first time I met her. I was in awe of her confidence and knowledge of the issues direct care workers face. I sat quietly in that meeting. I kept seeing her at meetings and I kept sitting quietly. Then I attended the first Voices Institute. I can remember having to write a speech, and I was scared to death. I was fortunate enough to be in the group who gave our speeches to Leonila. She planted a seed that day and continued to encourage me at every opportunity. --Tracy Dudzinski, DCA board chair and home care worker
Read more tributes. |
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Quick Links
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Leonila Vega: The Making of an Advocate
| The following was excerpted from a biography compiled by Maureen Traverse from a series of interviews conducted with Leonila Vega over several months.
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Leonila in her 20s
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Leonila Bautista Vega was born in the rural town of Ezequiel Montes, in the central Mexican state of Queretaro. "When my parents came together," she said, "It was like the meeting of two universes." Her mother was a young woman, just 25 when she married Leonila's father, and descended from native Aztec heritage. Leonila's father was of Spanish descent, 50 years old and already retired from the Mexican military. It was her father who named her, picking the name for the strength it conveyed. While she spent her first years in the United States going by the nickname Lanny, she would eventually return to introducing herself as Leonila. Read more.
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The Direct Care Alliance is the national advocacy voice of direct care workers in long-term care. We empower workers to speak out for better wages, benefits, respect, and working conditions, so more people can commit to direct care as a career. We also convene powerful allies nationwide to build consensus for change.
If you have comments on this issue of The Direct Care News or ideas for future issues, please contact Elise Nakhnikian at 646-823-7434, enakhnikian@directcarealliance.org. |
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