Lidia Martinez
Latina Community Advocate and Lifelong LULAC Member
Lidia Martinez is a retired educator and longtime member of LULAC with a remarkable history of service and advocacy for her community. A San Antonio native, Lidia grew up on the west side of the city, where her father owned two grocery stores and instilled in her a strong sense of civic duty, particularly the importance of voting. With five brothers who served in the armed forces, including one who was killed in Vietnam and earned the Silver Star, Lidia's commitment to public service runs deep.
As a retired educator, Lidia has been a passionate champion for educational access, especially for Latino and first-generation college students. Throughout her career, she worked tirelessly to break down barriers to higher education, ensuring that students from underserved communities had the resources and opportunities to succeed. Her advocacy for educational equity continues in her work with LULAC, where she has spent 35 years as a dedicated volunteer, focusing on voter registration efforts, particularly for Latino seniors and individuals with disabilities who may face challenges getting to the elections office.
Lidia's unwavering commitment to the Latino community was tested when her home was raided by armed agents sent by a Texas Attorney General determined to root out "noncitizen voters." The agents spent hours searching through her personal belongings, including her appointment book, cellphone, laptop, and voter registration materials. Despite this traumatic ordeal, Lidia's resolve remained unshaken. She refused to halt her vital work, even as her family expressed concern for her safety.
In addition to her advocacy with LULAC, Lidia serves as a commander with the American Legion, continuing her family's legacy of service to the country. Her resilience, dedication to education, and tireless efforts to empower her community make her a true leader and inspiration to all.
Panel Information
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
7:00 PM EST
28TH LULAC National Awards Gala
The LULAC National Legislative Awards Gala highlights critical legislative issues affecting Hispanic Americans and recognizes key leaders who have served the Hispanic community well. At this year's gala, LULAC will present its policy issues to our council members and will present awards to three distinguished elected officials at our twenty-sixth gala. We will celebrate the 96th anniversary of LULAC, which was formed on February 17, 1929.
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