Maria Colón Sánchez

Maria Colón Sánchez (1926 – November 25, 1989) a.k.a. "La Madrina" (The Godmother), was an activist and politician who, in 1988, became the first Hispanic woman elected to the Connecticut General Assembly. She was also the founder of the Puerto Rican Parade Committee in 1964 and co-founded La Casa de Puerto Rico, the Society of Legal Services, the Spanish-American Merchants Association, the Puerto Rican Businessmen Association, and the Community Renewal Team.

Early years Colón Sánchez (birth name: Maria Clemencia Colón Sánchez) was born in Comerío, Puerto Rico. The oldest of five siblings, she received her primary education in her hometown. Her family's poor economic situation forced her to quit school in the 8th grade, in order to help her parents with the caring of her brothers and sister. In 1954, Colón Sánchez moved to Hartford, Connecticut, to live with her aunt. She held various jobs, and her work in the tobacco fields enabled her to send money to her family in Puerto Rico.

Political activist Colón Sánchez and her husband met political activist Olga Mele, who in 1954 was involved with the Puerto Rican community and was instrumental in convincing Puerto Ricans to register as voters for the upcoming elections.

Colón Sánchez and Mele, who were Catholics, complained that they couldn't confess at their local church (St. Peter's Church) because there were no Spanish-speaking priests. This resulted in the appointment of a priest in charge of the church's Hispanic worshipers. In 1959, Sánchez, Mele, and others at Sacred Heart Church demanded the removal of another priest from the parish, because he refused to move the Spanish-language mass out of the church basement. The petitioners' demands were met by the Chancery. At the time of her death she was survived by four brothers: Jose J. Colón of Hartford; Benigno Colón, Arcardio Colón, and Pedro Colón and a sister, Luz Consuelo Colón de Fuentes.

Legacy In addition to being the first Puerto Rican to serve on Hartford's City Council and the first Hispanic woman elected to the Connecticut General Assembly, María Colón Sánchez had a record of leadership and community advocacy. She is regarded as an influential figure for subsequent generations.

The state of Connecticut honored her memory in 1993, by naming a school on Babcock Street in Frog Hollow the "María Sánchez Elementary School."

The Connecticut Institute for Community Development (CICD) Puerto Rican Parade, Inc. – Hartford Chapter created the annual "Maria C. Sanchez Award." Recipients are selected based on their outstanding contributions to the Puerto Rican and Hispanic community in the areas of leadership, education, community empowerment, cultural enrichment, and activism.

On October 14, 1993, Colón Sánchez was commemorated, along with other distinguished Hartford citizens, in the Hartford Public Library's Plaza of Fame. In 1995, she was inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame.