Grand Valley Magazine - Fall 2013 - (Page 37)

ALU M N I N EWS Degree opens door for woman to lead, advocate for others by Abigayle Sloan, '07 Perseverance is in Maurilia "Molly" Ortiz Blakely's DNA. Her seemingly insurmountable challenges began when she was growing up during the Great Depression in Beeville, Texas. Born in 1928, she was one of five children born to a Mexican-American mother and an Irish father. Both of her parents died by the time she was 6; Blakely and her siblings were sent to an orphanage. Several years later, her mother's sister came for the children and raised them as her own. When she recalled her childhood, Blakely said her father always insisted that his children receive educations, despite the chronic segregation in Texas at the time. "My dad always told me, 'Education is the key to the future. You educate the woman and you educate the whole family,'" she said. In her formative years, her aunt taught Blakely to embrace her Mexican heritage and to stay loyal to her Catholic values. She said those values have guided her for nearly eight decades. At the age of 17, Blakely left high school before graduation and got married. She moved to Grand Rapids with her husband in 1953 to look for work. By 1966, she was a single mother in her late-30s raising five children and working full time in the meat department of a local grocery store. Blakely was laid off from her job after 20 years. Health complications from overwork put her on bed rest and forced her to reevaluate her life's path. She was reminded of her father's advice to get an education. She called her decision to go back to school a dream. "It's something that is in you and you can't deny it," she said. Blakely enrolled in night school and earned a high school diploma. In 1976, she registered for classes at Grand Valley, seeking a degree in social work. "I got a scholarship and I didn't even know what a scholarship was," she said, laughing. During the day she worked at the Latino Action Council (now the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan) and attended and spent her extra time advocating for local Latina women and inner-city children. With a vision to share her Mexican culture with her children and the community, she co-founded the Mexican Festival, which is one of the longest running ethnic festivals in Grand Rapids. After several years of working as a translator for the Department of Social Services, Saint Mary's Hospital and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, she retired and is being cared for by her adult children. Blakely reflected fondly on the obstacles she overcame to provide Maurilia 'Molly' Ortiz Blakely, '79, is pictured in Calder opportunities for Latina Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids, home to the Mexican women. "I carried a big Festival, which she co-founded. load. Sure, I was called a few names along the way, but I wasn't afraid because Grand Valley classes in the evenings. God gave me the courage," said the She made up for her missed work hours 85 year old. on the weekends. Many awards are displayed on the walls Navigating through college courses as and shelves of Blakely's home on the west a non-traditional student in the 1970s was side of Grand Rapids, but her Grand Valley intimidating, but Blakely insisted that she diploma has a special place among her didn't have time to be ashamed. She family photos on a table in the living room. was determined. "I didn't do all of this for the recognition. "Going back to college at the age of 47 I did it because it's the right thing to do helped me to find myself," she said. "You and it needed to be done," she said. grow up with a feeling that you should Blakely always had the heart to face have done more, but until my family was life's toughest challenges, but she said grown, I couldn't finish my education. her education unlocked her confidence Going back to school not only helped me to make cultural and social changes in the with my inner growth, but enabled me to community. She has opened doors for help other people." generations of Latinos to follow. After three years, Blakely graduated with a degree in social work and Blakely at a Glance counseling. It was 1979. "I didn't want a job where I had to 1969: Co-founded Mexican Heritage sit behind a desk," she said, "I wanted Festival in Grand Rapids action. I was so anxious to get started. I 1979: Graduated from Grand Valley, always dreamed of going into social work became coordinator at Hispanic because I wanted to work with kids and I Institute saw the need." 1992: Earned City of Grand Rapids Her dreams came to fruition when she Lifetime Achievement Award became the coordinator at the Hispanic 1999: Featured in Women's History Institute in Grand Rapids, which offered Council Exhibit at Gerald R. Ford adult education classes for SpanishPresidential Museum speaking residents. She later worked as 2005: Earned Cesar Chavez the emergency shelter director for the Community Service Award Catholic Human Development Office. She 2013: Celebrates 44th anniversary worked daily with the city's homeless of Mexican Heritage Festival 37 www.gvsu.edu/alumni Grand Valley Magazine http://www.gvsu.edu/alumni

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Grand Valley Magazine - Fall 2013

Campus News
Athletics
Arts
Donor Impact
A Laker bucket list
Bridging the justice gap
Seidman House holds hidden national gems
International Education
Research
Why the humanities still matter
Q&A James Smither
Off the Path
Focal Point
Sustainability
Alumni News

Grand Valley Magazine - Fall 2013