Alice Cardona, who advocated for women’s rights and bilingual education, died Nov. 1 at age 81. She was born March 17, 1930 as the first of nine children to Puerto Rican parents. She was raised and educated in Spanish Harlem in New York. Her parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico in 1923.

After graduating high school in 1950, Cardona volunteered at the Legion de Maria, where she gave psychological support to black and Hispanic people in need.

She is known for her work as a counselor to youth and director of counseling for parents and students at ASPIRA, as an active member of the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women (NACOPRW), and as the founder of HACER/ Hispanic Women’s Center (which aimed to help Latinas to achieve their professional goals through education). Cardona also dedicated her time to advocating for bilingual education and all women (including those in prison), combating HIV/ AIDS, breast cancer, and domestic violence.

The passing of any great leader and advocate of the community is always a sad one, and her life should be honored through the continued dedication to the causes she fought for.

Read more at The Queens Courier.