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Sisters in Service: Evelina Antonetty, Lillian López, and Elba Cabrera’s Impactful Journey

Guest post by NoNieqa Ramos for Lerner Publishing Group, 2024 Platinum Sponsor 

Not counting the back matter, picture book biographies are about 500 words. How could I–how dare I–contain the larger than life community activist Evelina Antonetty in only 500 words? Because of her lifetime of fierce advocacy for civil rights, she is rightfully revered as the “Mother of the Bronx,” “the spirit and force behind bilingual education,” and my favorite, the “hell lady of the Bronx.” (My editor, rightfully, told me that the last moniker couldn’t be included in the picture book.)  If you visit the Bronx, you can stand on the street corner named after her, Dr. Evelina Antonetty Way or perhaps visit a park named after her at Hostos Community College. Look at the back matter, and you’ll see Evelina’s accomplishments could fill many books.

So why did I make the decision to include Evelina’s two sisters, Lillian López and Elba Cabrera in what is already a rather small space? I learned about the accomplishments of middle sister Lillian, who became the first Puerto Rican administrator of the New York Public Library. She fought to curate bilingual and Spanish books in library collections and to hire bilingual and Spanish-speaking staff. She spearheaded the South Bronx Project, which brought English and bilingual programs to people in schools, churches, playgrounds – beyond the library walls. I loved learning that Lillian was considered quiet and discreet, contrary to the lioness that was Evelina Antontetty. I thought, how great for my readers to see you can be exactly who you are, loud or quiet or in-between, and make a difference in your community.

Elba Cabrera’s story could also be its own picture book! Known as the “Madrina de las Artes,” The Godmother of the Arts, her passionate advocacy helped support, sustain, amd celebrate marginalized creators in the Bronx like Piri Thomas, Tato Laviera, George Aguirre, Pura Belpré, Pepón Osorio and Nicholasa Mohr! If you scan the QR code in the back matter, you can learn about these renowned Latine artists–and perhaps, do one of the suggested art activities. So again, why write about a sisterhood rather than an individual? It would have been much easier! The answer lies in Evelina and Elba’s food activism in the 1970s.

Before making her own path in the arts, and at Evelina’s request, Elba became Evelina’s administrative assistant. Evelina needed her support to found United Bronx Parents. One of the first problems they tackled together was school nutrition. Brown and black students were being served substandard food for lunch. With the help of Elba, Evelina and UBP organized a summer feeding program that nourished the whole city-at a fraction of the cost the city was spending. As the book says, Elba was “Evelina’s support and MVP.” Often in the background, she kept UBP running. Throughout their lifetimes, these three sisters were each other’s support, strength, and inspiration. What a great message for kids.

To break it down: to all my readers, but most especially to our youth who feel frustrated and overwhelmed by the state of this world–start small. Help a neighbor. Your own talents and gifts can most definitely make a difference. Evelina loved people! She loved talking and problem solving. Your own interests and passions matter. Lillian used her love of reading to be a changemaker. Elba loved art–she still does–and she changed the lives of generations of people with it. And most importantly, they did not do it alone. The sisters helped each other. The sisters helped their neighbors. The neighbors helped them right back. This is how we do it. Like the Tres Hermanas. With the help of each other, not alone. We are enough. Ultimately, the world is not the sum of its problems. We–the changemakers, are the world.

Download the activity guide here.

NoNieqa Ramos (they/them)

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