2001 Latino Heritage Local Heroes: Ana Lilia De Leon-Gonzalez
Program Director of Las Isabelas
Ana Lilia De Leon-Gonzalez was born in Mexicali B.C. Mexico. In 1984 she obtained her Licensure in Psychology from the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico. In 1989, she immigrated to the United States. She spoke no English when she immigrated to Northern. Her first job in the United States was a food processor in a local cannery. However, her determination and dedication to excellence resulted in not only her mastery English, but in her emergence as a community leader within San Jose’s Latino community. In 1996, Ana Lilia was asked to facilitate a breast cancer support group for Spanish speaking women. Ana Lilia was apprehensive. She had no experience in working with cancer patients. Yet, she focused on the project, conducted research, and educated herself on how to work with cancer patients. At her first meeting with the group, she found out that the psychosocial needs of Latinas with breast cancer were not addressed in the conventional research. So, Ana Lilia started a new program to address the specific linguistic and cultural needs of Latina cancer patients. Ana Lilia runs bi-monthly support groups for 50 women. In between the support group meetings, the Ana Lilia performs case management services to ensure the women are receiving the medical treatment and social services they need to battle cancer. She has personally given women rides to the doctor, provided translation services, helped clean houses for women undergoing chemo-therapy and other exhaustive treatments and interfaced with insurance providers on behalf of the patient.
Her dedication to the Latino community and her experience as a social worker at San Jose’s Gardner Family Care Corporation allowed her to sustain the activities of Las Isabelas, the only Spanish-speaking cancer support services group in Santa Clara County.
With minimal funding available, Ana Lilia volunteered her time and now serves as the project director. The organization is now developing into a viable group. Her efforts have been responsible for creating a non-profit organization in Santa Clara County. The programs she has developed serve as models for other communities with Latino populations.
In 1997, she received her Masters Degree in Social Work from San Jose State University, was hired to supervise Gardner Family Care Center’s Older Adult program.
Ana Lilia is married to fellow social worker, Rafael Gonzalez and is the mother to two year-old Gabriela.
highlights
african american
local heroes
radio
about KQED
