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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, During Women's History Month, the members of the
3Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize Mireya
4Vera Mendoza for her impact on Latino equity and language
5access in the State of Illinois; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Mireya Vera Mendoza was born on July 27, 1956;
7she graduated from Kelly High School in 1974; she attended the
8University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and obtained her
9bachelor's degree in bilingual education in 1978; she later
10earned her Master of Health Services Administration (MHA) from
11National Louis University in 2008; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Mireya Vera Mendoza worked diligently as a
13staunch advocate for language access and equity for limited
14English speakers across the State and for creating standards
15for interpretation and translation, making a significant
16impact through her work in the community, in the schools, and
17in the hospitals she served; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Mireya Vera Mendoza left an indelible mark on
19language rights for our State, including being a contributing
20author on the standards of interpretation in educational and
21health settings, creating the Language Access Resource Center
22in DuPage, facilitating the City Colleges of Chicago Medical

 

 

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1Interpreter Training Program, developing the medical
2interpretation curriculum for Illinois, and directing medical
3interpretation and translation programs at Mt. Sinai Hospital,
4West Lake Hospital, Presence Health, and Holy Cross Hospital;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Mireya Vera Mendoza and her colleague, Linda
7Coronado, were pioneers in creating high standards for
8interpretation and translation and championing language rights
9to remove barriers in access to health, education, and social
10services, and they authored the first language access statute
11in the State of Illinois, which has served as a model across
12the nation; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Mireya Vera Mendoza was active on several boards
14throughout her career, including Mujeres Latinas en Acción,
15the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education, the DuPage
16Federation for Human Services Reform, The Little Village
17chapter of the American Cancer Society, the Benito Juarez High
18School Vocational Advisory Board, and the Healthcare Task
19Force under Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya of the 7th
20District, and, most recently, she was elected to serve on the
21Glenbard Township High School District 87 School Board;
22further, she served as co-chair of the Melrose Park Illinois
23Welcoming Center and was founder of its Parent University; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Mireya Vera Mendoza brightened every room with
2her love for her community and passion for language access and
3stayed connected to her roots throughout her life; she became
4an excellent cook of traditional Mexican cuisine and was
5passionate about Latin music, which she expressed through
6dancing; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Mireya Vera Mendoza passed away on December 14,
82022; she was the wife of Raymond Mendoza Jr. for 38 years; the
9mother of Joaquin (Carina) Vera, Hector Mendoza, and Esteban
10(fiancée, Alexandra) Mendoza; the grandmother of Arianna; the
11daughter of Argelia and the late Anthony Vera; the sister of
12Darlene (Jose) Mendez, Carmen (David Ruiz) Vera, and Paul
13(Alexandra) Vera; the aunt of many nieces and nephews; and the
14daughter-in-law of Catalina Mendoza; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Mireya Vera Mendoza's legacy continues today
16during the 103rd General Assembly as we enact legislation that
17incorporates standards for medically qualified interpretation
18and that establishes a statewide language equity and access
19policy; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
21HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
22we recognize Mireya Vera Mendoza's legacy as a champion for
23interpretation standards and language access in our State, and

 

 

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1we mourn her passing and extend our sincere condolences to her
2family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
3further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to the family of Mireya Vera Mendoza as an
6expression of our gratitude for her contributions to language
7rights in the State of Illinois and our deepest sympathy.