Gloria Molina, a trailblazing former L.A. County Supervisor, L.A. City Councilwoman, and California Assemblywoman, will be remembered on Saturday at a Celebration of Life. This event is expected to be attended by her family, friends, and political dignitaries.
Molina, who passed away from cancer on May 14 at the age of 74, will be honored at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, a cultural institution she played a significant role in establishing.
The celebration will serve as a tribute to Gloria’s extraordinary life, highlighting her impact as a person, a respected elected official, and a talented artist. LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes expressed these sentiments in a statement.
In addition to Molina’s family members, prominent figures such as L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Rep. Maxine Waters will also be in attendance.
The program will feature music, speakers, videos, and art exhibits. Guests will also have the opportunity to contribute to the Community Quilt of Hope, a collection of fabric squares with written or drawn expressions of gratitude to Molina. These squares will be stitched together by members of TELAS, The East Los Angeles Stitchers, a group Molina co-founded in her retirement, while she pursued quilting and painting.
On Saturday, there will also be a temporary exhibit titled “Gloria Molina: Community Champion,” showcasing photographs and quilts curated by Molina herself, which illustrate her life and legacy.
Molina, who grew up in Pico Rivera, played an active role in the early days of the Chicano movement. She became an advocate for women’s health issues and carried this dedication into her elected positions. At one point, she established a Nurse Mentoring Program to address the shortage of nurses through local community colleges.
In 1982, she won the 56th Assembly District seat, and later fought against a proposed prison in East L.A. In 1987, Molina secured the City Council’s First District seat, and in 1991, she was elected to the Board of Supervisors from the county’s First District. She served as a supervisor until 2014 and gained a reputation as a diligent fiscal watchdog. Her district encompassed Koreatown, Pico-Union, East Los Angeles, and the San Gabriel Valley.
Molina made history as the first woman elected to the Board of Supervisors, although Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, who was appointed to fill a vacancy, was the first woman to serve on the board. Before her political career, Molina worked as a deputy for presidential personnel in the Jimmy Carter White House.
Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors renamed Grand Park in Molina’s honor as a tribute to her leadership. Molina played a crucial role in the establishment of Grand Park, and it is now known as Gloria Molina Grand Park.
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