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Maria Carmen Velásquez

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Maria Carmen Velásquez
portrait by Juli Sorrenti
Born
Maria Carmen Juárez

1921
Parsons, Kansas, US
Died1985
Known forfarmworker rights activism

Maria Carmen Velásquez (born Maria Carmen Juárez; 1921 — 1985) was an American migrant worker activist based out of Marion, Grant County, Indiana. Born in Parsons, Kansas, she is known for work supporting migrants and farm laborers in Indiana and across the US. She initially began her farm worker advocacy work in Marion, Indiana with St. Paul's Catholic Church and the Third Order of St. Francis priests. In 1965 the Associated Migrant Opportunities Services, Inc. (AMOS) was formed through grants from the Office of Economic Opportunity, part of President Johnson’s War on Poverty initiative,[1] and was incorporated by the Indiana Council of Churches, the Roman Catholic Archdioceses of Indianapolis, Lafayette, Gary, and Ft. Wayne South Bend.[2] Velasqez served as the director of the AMOS Sub-East Office.[3]

Life

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Maria Carmen Velásquez was born Maria Carmen Juárez in Parsons, Kansas, in 1921.[4] She grew up in Chicago.

Maria Carmen married Albert Velasquez in 1941 and in 1947 they moved to Fairmount, Indiana. Her husband Albert was a POW in France during WWII.[5] She visited migrant camps in the Grant County, Indiana, area. She helped found the Asso­ci­at­ed Migrant Oppor­tu­ni­ty Ser­vices, Inc. in 1965.[6][7][8][9] AMOS had offices across Indiana. Maria Carmen served as the director of the AMOS Sub-East Office.[10]

In 2021, a black and white mural of Velásquez’s face was painted on an exterior wall of the Grant County Rescue Mission, part of a civic project to maintain the legacy of important local women.[11]

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References

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  1. ^ "Associated Migrant Opportunities Services, Inc. (AMOS)". Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  2. ^ Martinez-LeGrand, Nicole (2022-03-18). "Where There is Food, There is a Farmworker". indianahistory.org. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  3. ^ "Migrant Grantees Directory: Title III-B Programs and Key Staff, Office of Economic Opportunity, Nation Migrant Information Clearinghouse, Austin, Tex. Juarez-Lincoln Center, August 1973". Internet Archive. August 1973. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  4. ^ "Maria Carmen Velasquez Oral History Interview Excerpt". images.indianahistory.org. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  5. ^ Martinez-LeGrand, Nicole (2022). Hoosier Latinos: A Century of Struggle, Service, and Success. Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Historical Society Press. ISBN 9780871954626.
  6. ^ Martinez-LeGrand, Nicole (2017-06-25). "Oral history of Children of Maria Carmen Velasaquez, Indiana Latino History Project". Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  7. ^ "Carmen Velasquez (posthumous)". City of Marion, IN. 2024-09-24. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  8. ^ "Maria Carmen Valesquez" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  9. ^ "Women4Change Indiana — Carmen Velasquez". Women4Change Indiana. 2018-11-02. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  10. ^ "Migrant Grantees Directory: Title III-B Programs and Key Staff, Office of Economic Opportunity, Nation Migrant Information Clearinghouse, Austin, Tex. Juarez-Lincoln Center, August 1973". Internet Archive. August 1973. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  11. ^ "Carmen Velasquez (posthumous)". City of Marion, IN. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
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