INDIVIDUAL | Inducted 2016
Norma Seledon is a longstanding activist within the women’s, Latina, and LGBTQ communities through her professional affiliations with Chicago Public Schools as well as Amigas Latinas, Mujeres Latinas in Accione, and Lesbian Community Cancer Project. Ms. Seledon has used her position in the Chicago Public Schools to support the advancement of LGBT youth advocacy related to sexual identity and expression to increase needed safe spaces, conversations, and programmatic changes to enhance the educational supports and lived experience of students within her charge.
As a founding Board member and integral part of Amigas Latinas, Seledon was a stalwart advocate for Latina lesbians and bisexual women. During her involvement she used her engaging leadership skills, learned in the nonprofit sector, to support the growth and development of women seeking to integrate their racial, cultural, and sexual identities. In addition Ms. Seledon utilized her position in Mujeres Latinas en Acción to bridge the divides of gender identity, equity, and cultural competence and to strengthen the lives of women, their families, and their broader communities.
Seledon has served on a number of community boards committed to women’s empowerment and leadership, and in that capacity has worked to promote multi-generational dialogues, violence prevention, and radically inclusive strategies for confronting racism, transphobia, and homophobia. Her current memberships include the Midwestern Psychological Association and the Society for Community Research and Action. Her recognition and accolades include the Latino Community Donor Award from Latinos in Development, the ENLACE Fellowship in Higher Education from Northeastern Illinois University, and a Service to the Latino Community Award from the Cook County State’s Attorney. In short, Ms. Seledon has and continues to be a Mujer Feroz, making use of her passion and commitment to justice and integrity to inspire movement building in the community. (Note: information listed has not been updated since the member’s induction).