Edna Negron Rosario (born 1944) is an American educator who founded the first family resource center and school-based health clinic in the United States. She was inducted into the

Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame The Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame (CWHF) recognizes women natives or residents of the U.S. state of Connecticut for their significant achievements or statewide contributions. The CWHF had its beginnings in 1993 when a group of volunteers partn ...

in 1994.

Early life and education

Edna Negron was born in Ciales, Puerto Rico in 1944 and moved to the United States in 1955. Her family settled in Hartford, Connecticut, where Edna attended Weaver High School. Her father was a chaplain who ministered to migrant workers, and Edna and her siblings often accompanied him on his visits to the tobacco camps in

Windsor Windsor may refer to: Places Australia * Windsor, New South Wales ** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area * Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland **Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...

. She graduated from the

Hartford College for Women The Hartford College for Women (or HCW) was a two-year private college for women located in Hartford, Connecticut. It was opened in 1933, became a constituent college of the University of Hartford (UHart) in 1991, and closed in 2003. History 1 ...

, then continued her studies at the

University of Hartford The University of Hartford (UHart) is a private university in West Hartford, Connecticut. Its main campus extends into neighboring Hartford and Bloomfield. The university attracts students from 48 states and 43 countries. The university and it ...

, where she earned a B.S. degree ('' summa cum laude'') in 1973 and an M.S. degree in 1974.

Career

In 1971, Negron and María Colón Sánchez led the fight for bilingual education in Hartford. Negron began teaching at the Ann Street Bilingual Community School in Hartford in 1974. She served as the coordinator of the Bilingual/Bicultural Education Program for the Hartford public schools for many years. As principal of the Kinsella Elementary School, she renamed the school in honor of Puerto Rican physician and abolitionist

Ramón Emeterio Betances Ramón Emeterio Betances y Alacán (April 8, 1827 – September 16, 1898) was a Puerto Rican independence advocate and medical doctor. He was the primary instigator of the Grito de Lares revolution and is considered to be the father of the Pu ...

, and founded the nation's first family resource center and school-based health clinic. The Family Resource Center at Betances Elementary became a model for social services based in public schools. Negron served on the board of directors for La Casa de Puerto Rico and was elected its president in 1989. In 1990, following the death of Maria Sanchez, she became the representative for the state's 6th House District and served out the remainder of her term. She has lectured on bilingual education and Puerto Rican history and culture at universities and on radio and television. In 1995, she was featured in the Connecticut Public Television documentary, ''Puerto Rican Passages''. She has served as vice president for community affairs and corporate giving at Hartford Financial Services Group, and on the state board of trustees overseeing the Hartford public schools. She also founded the mentoring group, El Futuro en Nuestras Manos.

Awards

* Public service award, Connecticut Chapter of the

National Organization for Women The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American feminist organization. Founded in 1966, it is legally a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S. states and in Washington, D.C. It ...

* Leadership Recognition Award, Greater Hartford Alumni Associations Community * Community Service Award, Hartford Hospital * Achievement Award, Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association * Honorary doctorate,

Trinity College Trinity College may refer to: Australia * Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales * Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...

* Maria C. Sanchez Award, Connecticut Puerto Rican Parade Organization * Induction into

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Negron Rosario, Edna 1944 births Educators from Hartford, Connecticut 20th-century American women educators University of Hartford alumni American people of Puerto Rican descent People from Ciales, Puerto Rico Puerto Rican women activists Living people 21st-century American women educators 20th-century Puerto Rican women educators