La Hermana Ascensión al Hall de la fama

DHA

Seis mujeres de Delaware fueron reconocidas como pioneras por el Gobernador, y fueron incluidas en salón de la fama de las mujeres de Delaware, entre ellas la hermana Ascension Banegas

El martes 22 de marzo el Gobernador de Delaware Jack Markell reconoció las significativas contribuciones de seis pioneras de Delaware en un evento que se llevó a cabo en el Duncan Center de Dover. El tema para este 29 avo. Salón Anual de las Mujeres de Delaware fue: “En la compañía de grandes mujeres.” Las admitidas al salón de la fama 2010 fueron la hermana Ascension Banegas, Jeanette Eckman, Kathryn Young Hazeur, Jacquelin Pitts, Beverly Louise Stewart y Judith Gedney Tobin.

Ser admitidas en el salón de la fama es uno de los más prestigiosos reconocimientos que el estado otorga por sus contribuciones y sus logros a las mujeres de Delaware. Cada año se invita a las organizaciones e individuos a que nominen a mujeres para este galardón. Las premiadas son escogidas en base a su reputación como pioneras, respeto entre sus colegas; importancia de su trabajo y su perdurable impacto; papel de liderazgo; y servicios comunitario que ha impactado la vida de otros local y globalmente.

“Delaware cuenta con la suerte de contar con tan exitosas mujeres cuyos estimulantes logros sirven, no solo como modelos de conducta, sino como referencias en nuestros negocios y comunidades.” Dijo Markell. “Cuando reflexionamos sobre sus historias, creo que todos podemos aprender lecciones de cómo podemos ser fortalecidos por sus esfuerzos para mantener nuestro estado moviéndose hacia adelante.”

La hermana Ascensión Banegas es una hermana de la caridad de la congregación de las carmelitas quien ha vivido en Delaware desde 1994. Extremadamente dedicada a la cada vez mas demandante lucha por la justicia de los trabajadores inmigrantes y nacionales extranjeros que viven en la pobreza en Delaware, su trabajo por muchas décadas en inmigración ha ayudado a muchas familias a encontrar la libertad en un nuevo país, reunir familias y lograr un entendimiento cultural entre comunidades diversas.

Nacida en marruecos y criada en España, la búsqueda de la hermana Ascensión es ayudar a aquellos que han sido victimas de la guerras, la pobreza, la discriminación y haciendo frente a los problemas cotidianos, la llevo a Japón, Inglaterra y luego los Estados Unidos. Después de pasar varios años en la ciudad de New York, se mudó al área rural de Delaware para convertirse en la primera proveedora sin fines de lucro de servicios de inmigración entrenada en el sur del estado. A través de su vida la hermana Ascensión ha enfrentado – y exitosamente- el ajustarse a nuevas culturas y costumbres, aprendiendo nuevas lenguas y navegando en varios sistema burocráticos con el fin de ayudar a la gente necesitada.

Habiendo aprendido ingles en sus cuarentas, estuvo en capacidad de asistir a inmigrantes hispanos en sus esfuerzos por tener presencia legal y residencia en los Estados Unidos. Durante sus primeros años, como representante en inmigración certificada en Delaware, viajó regularmente de Georgetown a Filadelfia y Washington, D.C, para mantener su entrenamiento al día. Sin ayuda atendió a miles de personas y sus familias en los servicios de naturalización. Miles de familias del sur de Delaware están unidas y viviendo como residentes permanentes gracias a los solitarios esfuerzos de esta mujer incansable. Particularmente goza de la confianza de miles de centroamericanos, gente de Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, México y otros países hispanos- quienes han vendió a Delaware dese los años 90 en búsqueda de refugio de la guerra y la pobreza agobiante.

Para ayudar a satisfacer las necesidades del creciente influjo de inmigrantes hispanos en Delaware, la hermana Ascensión fue co-fundadora del centro Comunitario La Esperanza en Georgetowm, el cual no solo ayuda con asuntos de inmigración sino que también ofrece una amplia gama de servicios, tales como cuidado pre-natal, servicios sociales a las familias, educación y abogacía por las victimas –todos vitales en el apoyo de la integración y fortalecimiento de los inmigrantes del campo del condado de Sussex.

Gracias a los esfuerzos de la Hermana Ascensión, Delaware tiene una significativamente más diversa base de ciudadanos y residentes legales permanentes. Sus servicios de inmigración y trabajo de abogacía han resultado en miles de personas con estatus legal lo que les ha permitido contribuir con su trabajo a industrias a punto de quebrar, enriqueciendo la economía de Delaware. Ella toma muy seriamente su posición de confianza y brinda sabios consejos. Es muy optimista de que este país vera una reforma migratoria humanitaria y le aconseja a todo el mundo que esperen por este cambio mientras que se preparan obedeciendo la ley, pagar los impuestos y aprender ingles.

La hermana Ascensión ha dedicado 55 años a trabajar por las personas necesitadas de todo el mundo, impactando a gente de diferentes culturas y orígenes. También ha llevado su voz a los peldaños de la capital de la nación en apoyo de un cambio positivo para ayudar a todos los inmigrantes. Ahora a sus 78 años, su voluntad decidida la lleva a continuar su importante trabajo por los inmigrantes que vienen a Delaware a vivir, trabajar y lograr una vida mejor para sus hijos.

“Me sentí muy honrada por este reconocimiento” dijo la hermana para El Tiempo Hispano, y agregó” sobre todo por dos motivos, el primero que veo que la gente que me conoce me aprecia y el segundo, por ser mujer ya que casi siempre somos la últimas y solo se espera de nosotras que manejemos la escoba y el trapeador y esto demuestra que servimos para más cosas. Es un homenaje a las mujeres del mundo, que son discriminadas en todas partes, finalizó Banegas.

Sister Ascensión to the Hall of Fame

Six Delaware women were recognized as pioneers by the Governor, and were inducted into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women, among them was sister Ascension Banegas.

Dover, Del. – Governor Jack Markell recognized the significant contributions made by six trailblazing Delaware women at an event held Monday evening at the Duncan Center in Dover. The theme for the 29th Annual Hall of Fame of Delaware Women Awards Ceremony was: “In the Company of Great Women.” The 2010 Hall of Fame inductees are Sister Ascension Banegas, Jeanette Eckman, Kathryn Young Hazeur, Jacquelin Pitts, Beverly Louise Stewart and Judith Gedney Tobin. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is one of the state’s most prestigious awards recognizing the contributions and achievements of Delaware women. Each year, individuals and organizations throughout Delaware are invited to nominate women for this honor. Recipients of the award are selected based on their reputation as a trailblazer; respect among colleagues; work significance and its lasting impact; leadership role; and community service that has impacted the lives of others locally or globally.

“Delaware is fortunate to have such outstanding women with such inspiring achievements serving not only as role models, but as anchors in our businesses and communities,” said Markell. “As we reflect on their stories, I believe we can all learn lessons about how we can build on their efforts to keep our state moving forward.” Among those joining Governor Markell in congratulating this year’s awardees were Nancy P. Rochford, Chair of the Delaware Commission for Women, and Jeffrey Bullock, Delaware Secretary of State.

The Hall of Fame of Delaware Women was established in 1981 by the Delaware Commission for Women. Its purpose is to recognize the lasting contributions and achievements of Delaware women in a variety of fields, including agriculture, the arts, business, education, government, health, homemaking, human rights, industry, media, science, sports and volunteer work. Those inducted into the Hall of Fame are women of vision, courage and tenacity. Their purposeful, compassionate and determined lives have positively affected the culture, economy and climate of the state of Delaware. By celebrating the lives and legacies of the members of the Hall of Fame, the Delaware Commission for Women points to the power of one determined individual.

Many Hall of Fame members were pioneers and firsts in their fields, including:

• Annie Jump Cannon, America’s foremost woman astronomer;

• Vera Gilbride Davis, the first woman elected to the Delaware State Senate;

• Roxana Cannon Arsht, the first woman appointed a judge in a major court;

• Dr. Hilda Davis, the first black woman to hold a full-time position on the faculty of the University of Delaware;

• Margaret I. Handy, the first native-born female Delawarean to become a doctor and the state’s first pediatrician;

• Jane E. Mitchell (Littleton), the first black registered nurse to be hired in a Delaware hospital; and

• Ruth Ann Minner, Delaware’s first female governor.

The list of past awardees also includes athletes, scientists, military personnel, artists and activists.

2010 Hall of Fame Inductees

Sister Ascension Banegas is a Spanish Carmelite Sister of Charity who has lived in Delaware since 1994. Fiercely devoted to the increasingly challenging fight for justice for hardworking immigrants and foreign nationals living in poverty in Delaware, her many decades of work in immigration has helped many families find freedom in a new land, reunite families, and bring cultural understanding to diverse communities.

Born in Morocco and raised in Spain, Sister Ascension's quest to help those who have suffered from war, poverty, discrimination and coping with every day problems in a new country took her to Japan, England, then on to the United States. After spending many years in New York City, she moved to rural Delaware to be the very first trained nonprofit immigration provider in the southern part of the state. Throughout her life Sister Ascension faced - and succeeded - in adjusting to new cultures and customs, learning new languages and navigating the various bureaucracies in order to help people in need.

Learning to speak English in her 40s, she was able to assist Spanish speaking immigrants in their efforts to gain legal presence and residency in the United States. During her first few years in Delaware as a certified immigration representative, she traveled regularly from Georgetown to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. to keep her training updated. She single-handedly assist thousands of individuals and their families in obtaining work authorization, asylum, permanent residency, family visas, and naturalization through Immigration and Naturalization Services (later U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services). Thousands of families in southern Delaware are united and living as permanent residents and naturalized U.S. citizens due to the solitary efforts of this tireless woman. She particularly holds the trust of the thousands of Central Americans - people from Guatemala, Honduras, EI Salvador, Mexico, and other Hispanic countries – who have come to Delaware since the early 1990’s searching for refuge from war and crippling poverty.

To help sustain the needs of the growing influx of Hispanic immigrant, Sister Ascension saw the need for a "One Stop Shop" community center that would provide vital services in the areas of health, education, and immigration. To that end, she helped co-found "La Esperanza" (Hope) Community Center in 1996. The critical, multiservice bilingual center serving the Latino community in Georgetown not only helps with immigration issues, but it offers an array of other services, such as prenatal services, family social services, education programs, and victim advocacy - all vital in supporting the integration and empowerment of immigrants in rural Sussex County.

Thanks to the efforts of Sister Ascension, Delaware has a significantly more diverse base of citizens and legal permanent residents. Her immigration services and advocacy work have resulted in thousands of individuals having legal status, allowing them to contribute their labor to previously faltering industries, thus enriching Delaware's economy. She takes her position of trust very seriously and provides wise counsel. She is eternally optimistic that this country will see humanitarian immigration reform, and she advises everyone waiting for this change to prepare themselves by making sure they obey the law, file taxes, and learn English.

Sister Ascension has dedicated 55 years to serving people in need all over the world, making life-changing impact in the communities of Spain, Japan, London, Brooklyn, NY and Delaware. She has also taken her voice to Washington, D.C., rallying in marches on the steps of our nation’s capital supporting positive change to help all immigrants. Sister Ascension has truly been a pioneer, forging new paths in Delaware to provide guidance and affordable immigration assistance to great numbers of Hispanic immigrants. All who know her and have benefited from her service will attest that her devotion to the immigrant community is unsurpassed. She is profoundly respected for her ceaseless advocacy, spirit, strength - and even humor - on behalf of the Spanish speaking community. She is uncompromisingly honest, direct and personally humble.

As a leader and advocate for the immigrant community, she speaks with the voice of the people she serves. Now 78 years young, her strong will still drives her to continue her important work for the immigrants who come to Delaware to live, work, and provide a better life for their children.

“I was very honored to receive this award” sister Ascensión told El Tiempo Hispano, “especially for two reasons, first that I can tell that people who know me appreciate me, and second because I am a woman and we are, almost always, last and are expected to only know how to handle the broom, this proves that we work for other things. This is a tribute to women all over the world, which are discriminated” finalized Banegas.