Bien Hecho: Washington’s Blanca Gonzalez Torres Honored By Legislature

Blanca Gonzalez Torres was an advocate for the Latino community in Washington state who died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm last August. Last week she was honored by the state senate there for her good works. Gonzalez Torres did a great many things in her short 39 years, among them:

• Founded one of the first bilingual Latino newspapers, Tu Decides, in the tri-cities area.
• Helped found EXPO NorthWest, an event to bring Latino and non-Latino businesses together.
• She was helping to promote citizenship classes.

A story from the Tri-City Herald has more:

“It is important that we, as a state, take a moment to recognize her extraordinary life, generous contributions to our people and impact on the growing influence, entrepreneurial spirit and political clout of our Hispanic communities,” [Sen. Jerome Delvin, R-Richland] said.

Albert Torres said to have his wife honored by the Senate seems surreal. He and their sons Isaiah, 14, and Ezequiel, 12, his wife’s parents and other family members will be in Olympia today for the Senate honor.

Torres said that when his wife found something didn’t exist, she thought should she started it, as in co-founding the bilingual newspaper T Decides and EXPOnw, which organized the Tri-Cities’ first Latino Business, Consumer & Career Expo.

She also was part of an effort to offer citizenship classes to about 600 Tri-Cities residents in 2004, Torres said….Gonzalez Torres’ parents were two of the many who became citizens after taking the course.

Our weekly segment, “Bien Hecho,” highlights the good deeds and achievements of Latinos across the U.S. If you feel that someone you know is deserving of recognition, let us know at tips@newstaco.com

Follow Sara Inés Calderón on Twitter @SaraChicaD