Community

Leaders gathered to celebrate the newest honorary street sign toppers installed along Arlington’s International Corridor

Arlington, Texas – In a convivial gathering on Saturday, community leaders convened to unveil the latest honorary sign toppers bedecking Arlington’s International Corridor, imparting a tangible embodiment of community respect and recognition.

The newly festooned sign toppers, prominently situated on Pioneer Parkway at the crossroads of Sherry Street, Carter Drive, and Watson Road in East Arlington, pay tribute to Dolores Huerta, a distinguished American civil rights crusader, formidable labor activist, and esteemed laureate of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The International Corridor of Arlington extends along Pioneer Parkway from Center Street through to State Highway 360. Yielding to the expressed wishes of Arlington’s Vietnamese and Muslim communities, the City inaugurated honorary sign toppers in the years preceding. In 2019, General Tran Hung Dao was recognized at the junctions of New York Avenue and Browning Street, and Syed Ahsani was similarly honored in 2021 at the convergence of Center Street and Collins Street.

Vociferous advocacy from the League of United Latin American Citizens, the César Chávez Committee of Tarrant County, the Center for Mexican American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, and the Mayor’s Latino Advisory Council, propelled a deluge of endorsement letters to the City of Arlington, supporting the establishment of the Dolores Huerta honorary sign toppers, a venture spurred by Arlington’s vibrant Latino community.

Emerging from the crucible of the civil rights era, in 1965, Huerta, alongside Cesar Chavez, gave birth to the National Farm Workers Association, an entity that later metamorphosed into the United Farm Workers of America. Tirelessly advocating for the rights of farm workers nationwide, she strove relentlessly for improved work conditions and equitable compensation.

In her former role as an elementary school teacher, Huerta bore witness to the harsh realities endured by the progeny of farm workers — children arriving at school famished and without proper footwear. In response, she authored the rallying cry “Si Se Puede” (“Yes We Can”), kindling the spark of hope in farm workers, inspiring them to organize for enhanced living conditions for themselves and their kin. Through her foundation, established in 2002, Huerta continues to champion civic participation, nurturing future leaders within marginalized communities.

In clarification, these honorary street sign toppers do not supersede the official street moniker and carry no implications on matters of addressing, navigation, mailing, or deliveries.

For further insight into Arlington’s Honorary Street Sign Toppers and Street Names, visit the official link.

Lillie Fuller

Lillie's love of journalism began at a young age, when she would eagerly devour every newspaper she could get her hands on. As she grew older, her fascination with the power of the press only intensified, and she decided to pursue a career in journalism. Over the years, Lillie has honed her skills and become an expert in her field. She has worked for some of the most respected names in the business, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN. Her work has been widely recognized and celebrated, earning her numerous accolades and awards.

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