[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 93 (Monday, June 21, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1150-E1151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JOHN DELLORO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 21, 2010

  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an 
outstanding citizen and community advocate, John Delloro. Delloro was 
the National President of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance 
(APALA) and spent nearly twenty years of his life devoted to supporting 
and serving working people. He carried a powerful message with a 
powerful voice.
  As a child, Delloro's mother was a nurse who had to work long hours. 
He took on additional responsibilities and cared for his brother as his 
mother worked night shifts every day. He knew firsthand the need for 
labor rights and drew from his personal experiences to inspire others.
  After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, with 
a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Masters in Asian American studies, 
Delloro began working with the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. 
His first labor movement position was organizing hotel workers in Las 
Vegas, Nevada. From there, he went on to organize clerical and 
healthcare workers in Los Angeles. John showed that he was capable at 
not only be an effective organizer, but able to build important 
coalitions and partnerships.
  In 2003, he was promoted to the Southwest Area Manager of SEIU 1000, 
the largest state workers union in the country at that time, with close 
to 100,000 members. In 2006, John was hired as the first executive 
director of the Dolores Huerta Labor Institute, which works to expand 
labor studies curriculum for over 130,000 students within the Los 
Angeles Community College District. Delloro believed that it was not 
enough to only help mobilize workers, but it was also important to 
teach students the importance of labor rights. Under his leadership, 
the program grew stronger and expanded to all nine campuses. John 
continued his role as an educator as an Asian American studies 
professor at UCLA. There, he motivated and mentored hundreds of 
students in the ways of advocacy and community organizing.
  Delloro also authored Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence: a report 
from the first National Asian Pacific American Workers' Rights Hearing 
and was the 2009 recipient of Asian Pacific Americans for Progress 
Unsung Hero.
  As National President of the APALA, Delloro was instrumental in 
helping to convene the first National Asian Pacific American Workers' 
Rights Hearing in Washington, DC. This hearing was important to help 
raise awareness among lawmakers and the public the critical needs of 
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) laborers.
  As Chair of the Congressional Asian American Caucus, I know firsthand 
the important work that the APALA has done in the community. Delloro 
has helped APALA raise awareness on AAPI worker's rights issues at the 
congressional level and nationally by holding several workers' rights 
hearings. CAPAC and APALA's relationship will continue to strengthen 
and CAPAC's relationship continues to strengthen as both the caucus and 
organization moves forward has helped APALA and CAPAC build a stronger 
relationship.
  John Delloro's dedication and commitment runs deep. He was a 
nationally recognized union leader, teacher, and mentor. His leadership 
was visionary and will continue to inspire many others to continue this 
cause.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my fellow members to join me in remembering John 
Delloro. He touched the lives of many and paved the way for many others 
to rise up. His work toward equality through organizing is an 
inspiration to us all.
    

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