Hermanos Macehual

The Magdalena Mora Fund

The Woman :

large product photoMagdalena Mora was a Mexican immigrant who moved to San Jose, California, in 1964. She proved to be an excellent student at Abraham Lincoln High School where she became a member of the Mayo Club, an organization that was the first to stimulate her young intriguing mind.

In 1971, she was accepted to the University of California, Berkeley. Although she was a student, her passion to help the people of the Chicano/Latino Community made her an active participant in the Chicano Movement who was immediately recognized at the statewide level. Magdalena Mora received her Bachelors in Economics in 1975.

Magdalena dedicated herself to progressive movements like the Farah Strike and the campaign to free Los Tres del Barrio. She became a great public speaker and leader that exhibited charisma and passion. Her greatest accomplishment came in 1974 when she helped to found CASA, Centro de Accion Social Autonoma, whose objectives were to unite laborers in Oakland, California, to fight employers that took advantage of Chicanos and Mexicans. CASA worked its way into other major California cities like Los Angeles, San Jose, and eventually went national.

Magdalena Mora was also a distinguished writer. She played a key role in building Sin Fronteras, a CASA newspaper that was a strong political force among the Chicano Mexicano liberation press. Her news articles and labor organization columns were recognized for their vision and ideals.

In 1978, Magdalena Mora returned to school, becoming a student at the University of California, Los Angeles, to study the Labor Movement and Scientific Methods of Analysis. In 1979, however, Magdalena learned that her consistent headaches were caused by a malignant brain tumor. Instead of feeling beaten, depressed, impatient, or despair, Magdalena Mora dealt with her illness the way she dealt with the other struggles of her life, with optimism, passion, determination, and with contagious humor.

She continued to work for her Chicano/Latino struggles and in 1980 founded the newspaper El Foro del Pueblo. She actively helped with the production of the newspaper until April of 1981, when she decided to return to the town where she was born, Tlalpujahua, Michoacan, Mexico. On May 28, 1981, Magdalena Mora, attended by her aunts and her mom, passed away. She was given a ceremonial burial, like the common people of her town.

Magdalena Mora continues to be a shining example worthy of emulation by all oppressed people struggling to free us. She brought hope and change to the lives of many. Magdalena fought for justice, equality, and against oppression. She is in the heart of the history of the towns and men who fought for such justice and equality. Her has not died...her strength thrives within us all.

History of the fund:

Hermanos Macehual Fellowship has offered the since 1993. The Fellowship offers the for two reasons; (1) to commemorate Magdalena Mora's great achievements by bringing attention to her outstanding contributions to the Chicano/Latino community and (2) to assist entering freshman or transfer students by acknowledging their accomplishments and their service to the community. The Fellowship takes great pride in aiding incoming University of California, Davis, students with this that allows Magdalena Mora to continue contributing to the Chicano/Latino Community.

The Magdalena Mora is awarded annually to incoming UC Davis students. The fund allows the students to utilize the to pay for tuition, living expenses, books and/or supplies.

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