Carmen E. Arroyo
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Carmen E. Arroyo (born 1936 in Corozal, Puerto Rico) is the first Puerto Rican and Hispanic woman elected to the New York State Assembly.
Carmen was raised and educated in the town of Corozal where she received both her primary and secondary education. She graduated from the Corozal High School and then attended the Sixto Febus Business School where she took Secretarial and Bookeeping courses and obtained a diploma. She married Pablo Arroyo and together they had seven children; she was eventually abandoned by her husband and then decided to move to the United States.
In 1964, Carmen immigrated to New York City with her children and settled down in the borough of the Bronx. Whilst the idea of the move to America was a search for a better way of life she was soon faced with racial discrimination and other hardships and was soon on welfare and seeking public assistance.
Carmen took English classes and attended the Eugenio María de Hostos Community College (a division of the University of New York). She earned her Associate of Arts degree in 1978. In 1980, Carmen earned her Bachelor's of Arts degree from the College of New Rochelle. At this time she worked during the day and studied at night. Carmen organized other welfare recipients and formed the South Bronx Action Group in 1966. She became the group's executive director and with the federal funds which the group received she was able to provide the community with services in employment, health and adult education. She was also instrumental in the construction of 194 housing units for senior citizens and became the first Puerto Rican woman housing developer in New York State.
In a special election held in February, 1994, Carmen ran and was elected to the New York State Assembly, representing the 84th District which includes the Bronx and so became the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the Assembly and the first Puerto Rican woman elected to any state assembly in the United States. Among the committees which she has been assigned to are those on:
- Alcoholism and Drug Abuse;
- Children and Families; and
- Education and Aging committees.
Carmen has also been involved with:
- The Puerto Rican Senate/Hispanic Task Force,
- The Black and Puerto Rican Cacus,
- The Women's Cacus,
- The National Order of Women Legislatures, and
- The New York City Commission on the Status of Women.
Carmen's daughter, Maria del Carmen Arroyo has followed in her mother's footsteps and ran for a seat in New Yorks City Council and was sworn in on March 21, 2005 representing District 17 of the Bronx.
On April 23, 2004, New York State Governor George E. Pataki presented Carmen with the Champions of Housing Award in a reception held in Albany, New York.
Carmen Arroyo currently continues to hold her political position and has published her autobiography titled "Carmen Arroyo: Puertorriqueña en Nueva York, mujer de armas tomadas" (Carmen Arroyo: Puerto Rican Female in New York). She also published a book of poems titled "Mis Poemas" (My Poems).
