A farewell to ‘the mom of La Villita,’ Manuelita Garcia, an activist who cared for the neighborhood till her final breath

For the final a long time of her life, Manuela Garcia devoted her time to advocating for the individuals — notably the youth — of the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago. Even in her outdated age, “Manuelita,” as many name her, nonetheless watched for these in want by serving to to feed homeless individuals and giving rides to work or physician appointments to individuals who didn’t have a automotive.

“Period como la madre de La Villita,” mentioned Doris Hernandez, a longtime pal and a neighbor of Garcia. The 2 labored facet by facet, taking part in numerous actions advocating for immigrant rights and assets for fogeys and teenagers within the neighborhood to struggle avenue violence.

On Could 29, Garcia died on the age of 96 after having a stroke, leaving a void not solely in her household’s coronary heart however a complete neighborhood, mentioned her granddaughter Andrea Guzman.

Days after her grandmother died, Guzman slept in an unwashed rebozo (scarf) of hers. However Guzman is grateful for the time she spent with the lady who raised her since she was 5 years outdated.

“I’m grateful for the neighborhood she left me,” Guzman mentioned.

Although Manuelita had been concerned with neighborhood organizations all through her life whereas residing in the neighborhood, she was acknowledged for spearheading a starvation strike in 2001 at Camp Cesar Chavez that led to the development of Little Village Lawndale Excessive College on thirty first and Kostner Avenue.

Guzman lived together with her grandmother most of her life. From her she realized to be a fighter when she joined the starvation strike alongside her when she was solely 17 years outdated.

The grandmother, who was in her late 70s on the time, was the oldest dad or mum and one of the vital outspoken activists in the course of the motion, recalled Hernandez. In the course of the 19-day strike, the group demanded that Mayor Richard M. Daley and different native officers preserve their promise of constructing a brand new faculty for the youth already affected by gang violence.

“My mom was all the time a robust advocate for schooling though she didn’t have one,” mentioned one in every of her sons, Francisco Garcia. His mom solely bought to fourth grade, he mentioned. “However schooling and knowledge aren’t synonymous.”

Simply earlier than the pandemic hit in 2020, on the eve of her ninety fifth birthday, Manuelita was honored for her life and work with a Metropolis Council decision introduced by Ald. Michael Rodriguez, in entrance of a mural with a portrait of her face at the highschool she fought for. Now, Rodriguez plans to introduce a decision to call a avenue in Little Village after the lady who served because the block membership president for greater than 30 years, he mentioned.

“The popularity signifies that metropolis council and all of the residents of the town of Chicago acknowledge Manuela Garcia as chief, not only for the Little Village neighborhood however for our area as somebody who deserves recognition,“ mentioned Rodriguez. However importantly, he mentioned, as a Latina chief.

“We disproportionately acknowledge what females of shade imply to our society and she or he is so emblematic of a gaggle of individuals (who) are undercounted, underrepresented and under-celebrated.”

Rodriguez was one of many many neighborhood leaders and politicians who attended a latest mass and wake that honored Manuelita’s life. A whole bunch of different neighborhood members additionally attended, and paid tribute to her life with a caravan that made a cease at each house wherein she lived within the neighborhood.

“She was a forceful presence in the course of the motion whereas additionally having a really humble monolingual Spanish talking background, she represented the most effective of us,” Rodriguez added.

U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia additionally attended the ceremony, and honored Manuelita in Congress final week.

“Manuelita Garcia was a pressure to be reckoned with, a fierce advocate for justice, a real fighter for the neighborhood, and a longtime Little Village resident,” he mentioned throughout his speech.

Manuelita started her work to advocate for schooling whereas working with ENLACE, a neighborhood group that advocates for the well-being of the residents of Little Village in well being, immigration and violence prevention.

Her household hopes that her legacy of affection and solidarity will ceaselessly stay within the hearts of Little Village residents.

Manuelita started getting extra concerned in the neighborhood shortly after her husband died in 1985, recalled Francisco Garcia. And after elevating her 9 youngsters and a few grandchildren, the matriarch turned to assist different moms and youth in want, typically talking up in opposition to injustices, he mentioned.

She was born within the small border city of Roma, Texas, however moved to the Chicago space in 1953 after marrying her husband, her household mentioned. By way of her youth, she labored as upkeep personnel at Normal Motors in suburban Chicago and sometimes had facet jobs cleansing different properties and washing garments for others.

“She by no means retired,” her son smiled. “She bought her second or third wind, she grew to become much more lively.”

His mom, he mentioned, loved speaking to individuals and serving to out. Within the late ’60s, Manuelita and her husband hosted an AM radio present the place they’d assist promote companies within the space and the work of democratic politicians and leaders working for the neighborhood.

“She was an unimaginable and credible determine,” Garcia mentioned.

Though painful for Guzman, he believes that Manuelita’s passing shouldn’t be essentially a goodbye, however a “homegoing.”

larodriguez@chicagotribune.com