Plaza de la Raza mourns the loss of Gloria Molina

Plaza de la Raza mourns the loss and celebrates the life of Chicana activist and former elected official, Supervisor Gloria Molina.

Gloria Molina was a trailblazer and a stellar example for all of us. She led the surge to power that the Eastside Latino community ascended in the local political climate, causing national attention and creating opportunity for generations of other Latinx leaders, particularly women, who have since followed in her giant steps.

She was an arts advocate for the local Latinx cultural community. She was key to founding La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, led the establishment of Casa 0101, was a great friend to Self Help Graphics & Art, Carmen Zapata and the Bilingual Foundation for the Arts as well as Plaza de la Raza Cultural Center.

Plaza de la Raza delighted in hosting her whenever she visited throughout the years. She was critical in supporting capital improvement and other projects at the center. Her love for the arts went well beyond her district. She was part of the team that got Gustavo Dudamel to come to Los Angeles, backed the Ford Theatre, pushed for the establishment of Grand Park now named Gloria Molina Grand Park in her honor, and she became an advocate of the County Civic Art Program that has made Los Angeles one of the public art capitals in the nation.

At the heart of it, Gloria Molina was an artist, she loved creating her large, beautiful, artistically rendered quilts. Her public service and great influence were of course the overall and growing empowerment of LA County’s 1st District; always at the head of the fight for social justice, economic participation and political power, all in the name of the people.

Gloria was our champion. She will be missed but she will never be forgotten. Gloria Molina, PRESENTE!