I came across this story and it strikes me as aiding and abetting illegal activity. Why should positions like this be taxpayer funded and a government position? Sounds like this woman was born of illegal immigrants. And still working as "migrants"?

State exec returns to Hispanic Center
by Press News Service
Friday January 18, 2008, 2:08 PM


Martha Gonzalez-Cortes

GRAND RAPIDS -- Michigan's top migrant farm worker advocate will step down from her state post effective Feb. 8.
Martha Gonzalez-Cortes has accepted the position of chief executive officer of the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan in Grand Rapids. Gonzalez-Cortes served as director of the Hispanic Center for several years prior to being hired by the state.

In her resignation letter to the state, Gonzalez-Cortes cited a desire to work closer to West Michigan where her husband and their two young daughters live. For the past five years, Gonzalez-Cortes has commuted from Grand Rapids to Lansing every day.

An outspoken advocate for farm worker rights, Gonzalez-Cortes has served as state director of the Office of Migrant Affairs for the past five years. The migrant affairs office is part of the Michigan Department of Human Services, based in Lansing.

"I was very blessed and humbled to receive mentoring from some of the best people in (state leadership) and farm worker advocacy," Gonzalez-Cortes said. "I hope we did a strong enough job in the past five years that it will continue."

Despite Michigan's current financial crunch, state DHS officials say they plan to replace Gonzalez-Cortes. That search is expected to take up to six months, said Gonzalez-Cortes, who has been asked to help.

The director of migrant affairs is responsible for monitoring how tax dollars are used to provide public housing, and services such as health and educational programs for farm workers. The director also is charged with helping to craft state policies that deal with migrants.

About 100,000 migrants pass through Michigan yearly to help pick crops, work in canning factories and fill other agricultural-related jobs, according to census studies conducted by the state. Agriculture is Michigan's second-largest industry.

In her role as director, Gonzalez-Cortes was a strong champion for increased educational opportunities for children, said Tom Thornberg, managing attorney for Michigan's Farmworker Legal Services. She also excelled at getting groups with differing political agendas to work for the common good of migrants, he said.

Born in Hart in 1972, Gonzalez-Cortes traveled across the country as a migrant worker with her family until 1999. Her parents continue to work as migrants.

Gonzalez-Cortes earned a bachelor's degree in anthropology from Bryn Mawr College. She received a master's degree in cultural anthropology from Stanford University.


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