Continue The Vision

Hermandad's mission is inspired by the history and the vision of Bert Corona (1918-2001) a visionary leader within the Mexican-American community. He dedicated his life to improving the social and political conditions of Mexicans living in the United States and was a pioneer for social justice on a number of issues that affect minorities and disadvantaged populations in the United States. Bert Corona's biography "Memories of Chicago History" - The Life and Narrative of Bert Corona illustrates Corona's role in the struggle to improve the conditions of Mexicans in the United States.

"Continue The Vision" is an event that Hermandad Mexicana Nacional celebrates every year on May 29, the anniversary of Bert Corona’s birthday.

"Continue the Vision" represents the continuation of the vision, principles, goals, and philosophy of Bert Corona. It is rooted in the philosophy of empowerment and political participation of Spanish-speaking immigrants. It's dedicated to fighting for Immigration Reform until we achieve justice for this population. According to Angelina Corona, "Continue the Vision" represents the compromise for bringing the agenda of the disadvantaged to Sacramento and Washington D.C. This compromise is to help immigrants cope with the economic crisis, discrimination, and a lack of representation in Washington DC so that they may be empowered to continue in their civic participation.

The "Continue the Vision" awareness Dinner was initiated with a speech by Ernesto Corona. Bert Corona was born on May 29, 1918, and died on January 15, 2001. His battle started long ago in 1927 during the Great Depression when he moved from El Paso, Texas to Los Angeles, California. At the age of 27, he started as a labor organizer for the Longshoreman Union. While Chavez was organizing farmworkers, Corona organized undocumented workers.

“Bert Corona gained the respect of his adversaries by speaking out on behalf of those who have the hardest need by demonstrating his ability to win battles for them. His persistence for social justice was instrumental in passing the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act that provides legalization for millions of undocumented workers. He stood up in the struggle for undocumented workers when no one else was fighting for this population.

Bert Corona

Bert Corona (May 29, 1918 – January 15, 2001) was an American labor and civil rights leader. Throughout his long career, he worked with nearly every major Mexican-American organization, founding or co-founding several. He organized workers for the Congress of Industrial Organizations and fought on behalf of immigrants. By the time of the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, he was known as El Viejo ("the Old Man") and was well-known and respected as a veteran activist.

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