Tuesday, July 31, 2018

1970's UWM Education Activist Delfina Guzman-Estevez And First Latina Principal At Milwaukee Public Schools District Passed Away

Guzman-Estevez became the first Latina Principal at View Elementary School for the Milwaukee Public Schools District in the Southside of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 30, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, Delfina Guzman-Estevez, 73, passed away leaving a legacy of education activism, Latino civil rights advocacy and was instrumental with other  Latino community education activists in the 1970's by helping to create the Bilingual Program at Milwaukee Public Schools District. Guzman-Estevez was one of more than 500 education activists that took over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor's Office on August 27, 1970. The UWM 1970 Takeover led to the creation of the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (S.S.O.I), which later became the Roberto Hernandez Center after the barriers of discrimination were eliminated at UWM that kept Latinos from enrolling in higher education.
Guzman-Estevez became the first Latina Principal at View Elementary School and was later transferred to Pierce Elementary School. She is also credited as being one of the co-founders of the Spanish Speaking Center (Centro Hispano).
Guzman-Estevez retired from MPS after 44 years of service. She was one of several women who was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award from El Conquistador Newspaper in 2016 and later received the Legacy Award from the Southside Organizing Center in Milwaukee.
Guzman-Estevez is survived by her son, Andres "Andy" Guzman and loving grandmother to Maya Sofia. She was the former wife of Andres Guzman who was also an education activist and participated at the UWM 1970 Takeover as well.

Funeral services for Delfina Guzman-Estevez:

• Wednesday visitation from 4p.m. to 8p.m. at the Bruskiewitz Funeral Home, 5355 W. Forest Home Ave. in Milwaukee, WI.

• Thursday visitation from 9a.m. to 11a.m. at the funeral home, with a funeral service at 11a.m., then interment will follow at the St. Adalbert Cemetery in Milwaukee.



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