Books in Unsung Heroes: Hispanic Heritage series

Nydia Velázquez learned about politics while sitting around her familys dinner table each evening. Her father, who worked in Puerto Ricos sugarcane fields, talked to his nine children about the importance of workers rights. He also taught them that they had a responsibility to help their community. Young Nydia took his words to heart. After earning two college degrees, she decided to put them to use helping the Puerto Rican people of New York City. She became the first Hispanic woman to hold a seat on the city council before her historic run for Congress in 1992. Her victory in that election made her the first Puerto Rican woman in the United States House of Representatives. Learn more about Nydia Velázquez, the first Puerto Rican Congresswoman in this book.

Mario Molina knew at a young age that he wanted to grow up to become a scientist. He studied chemistry in his native Mexico before heading off to other countries to learn and prepare for the wondrous career that awaited him in the field. He soon put his curiosity and knowledge to work as a research chemist. In the early 1970s, he made a startling discovery which led him to an upsetting theory. Chemicals that industrial companies were releasing into the world's atmosphere were destroying the Earth's ozone layer. Although many people were not pleased to hear Molina's theory, other scientists eventually confirmed it. Read more about Mario Molina and how he received the Nobel Prize for alerting the world to this problem that threatened the very existence of life on Earth.

Few people would have thought that Ileana Ros-Lehtinen would grow up to become one of the longest serving members of the United States House of Representatives. Throughout her career, this groundbreaking congresswoman has worked to advocate for women, education for all, veterans, LGBTQ rights, and marriage equality. She was the first Latina, the first female Florida Republican, and the first Cuban-born person to serve in the United States Congress. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen led the way for other women in public office. Open this book to read about this icon who helped to shape the United States.