Juanita Bocanegra talks about migrant workers, justice at Cesar Chavez Series lecture
Juanita Bocanegra speaks Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at Hope College’s Cesar Chavez Series
The short version of Juanita Bocanegra’s vision for justice is Matthew 7:12: "Do to others what you would have them do to you."
As this year’s lecturer for Hope College’s César Chávez Series, Bocanegra spoke of growing up in a migrant family who worked long days often in brutal weather to give her a better life — a story shared by many of the almost 100 people in her audience Wednesday. Her parents, her own experiences working the fields and the dedication of teachers fueled her dream of going to college, becoming a lawyer and, in her job as an assistant prosecutor for Ottawa County, serving the community.
Alfredo Gonzales, Hope’s College’s dean for international and multicultural education, called Bocanegra a perfect choice for keynote speaker because she’s "an amazing young person and leader," a role model for others who represents that ideal of inclusion and justice that Chavez promoted.
"The love of justice is most true to our being," Boganegra told the crowd gathered in Hope’s Winants Auditorium, urging them to mentor a child, volunteer to help others — or even spend time with someone who is lonely. "Do it now. Don’t wait to be asked — speak up against injustice."
Boganegra’s family benefited directly from Chavez’s activism, hunger strikes and boycotts aimed at safer working conditions and better migrant pay, she said, though he never earned more than $5,000 a year.
She said many supported her goals, from those at the Holland law firm Hann Persinger, where she worked while attending law school, to her fifth-grade teacher, Frank Kraai, who "started it all."
"You can’t find a better person," said Kraai, 77, his eyes filling with tears. "She’s a bright light in our community."
Hope freshman Tu Bai said Boganegra’s words made her grateful for her parents’ sacrifices that allowed her to come from Vietnam to Holland for college.
Bocanegra’s favorite Chavez quote echoes Matthew 7:12: "We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. … Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own."
— Follow this reporter on Facebook and Twitter, @SentinelPeg.
The short version of Juanita Bocanegra’s vision for justice is Matthew 7:12: "Do to others what you would have them do to you."
As this year’s lecturer for Hope College’s César Chávez Series, Bocanegra spoke of growing up in a migrant family who worked long days often in brutal weather to give her a better life — a story shared by many of the almost 100 people in her audience Wednesday. Her parents, her own experiences working the fields and the dedication of teachers fueled her dream of going to college, becoming a lawyer and, in her job as an assistant prosecutor for Ottawa County, serving the community.
Alfredo Gonzales, Hope’s College’s dean for international and multicultural education, called Bocanegra a perfect choice for keynote speaker because she’s "an amazing young person and leader," a role model for others who represents that ideal of inclusion and justice that Chavez promoted.
"The love of justice is most true to our being," Boganegra told the crowd gathered in Hope’s Winants Auditorium, urging them to mentor a child, volunteer to help others — or even spend time with someone who is lonely. "Do it now. Don’t wait to be asked — speak up against injustice."
Boganegra’s family benefited directly from Chavez’s activism, hunger strikes and boycotts aimed at safer working conditions and better migrant pay, she said, though he never earned more than $5,000 a year.
She said many supported her goals, from those at the Holland law firm Hann Persinger, where she worked while attending law school, to her fifth-grade teacher, Frank Kraai, who "started it all."
"You can’t find a better person," said Kraai, 77, his eyes filling with tears. "She’s a bright light in our community."
Hope freshman Tu Bai said Boganegra’s words made her grateful for her parents’ sacrifices that allowed her to come from Vietnam to Holland for college.
Bocanegra’s favorite Chavez quote echoes Matthew 7:12: "We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. … Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own."
— Follow this reporter on Facebook and Twitter, @SentinelPeg.