Assemblymember Rivas names Evelia Rosso WOTY in District 30
Published in the March 27 – April 9, 2019 issue of Morgan Hill Life
From left, Assemblymember Marie Waldron, Assemblymember Robert Rivas, Evelia Rosso, Assemblymember Monique Limon and Speaker Anthony Rendon. Photo courtesy Robert RivasGilroy resident Evelia Morales Rosso was honored as part of a Women’s History Month celebration at the State Capitol hosted by the Legislative Women’s Caucus. Assemblymember Robert Rivas named her as the 2019 Woman of the Year for District 30.
“It is an honor for me to recognize Evelia Rosso as the Woman of the Year in Assembly District 30,” Rivas said. “Evelia’s dedication to improving the lives of others is an inspiration. Her commitment to putting our community first should serve as an example to us all.”
Evelia Morales Rosso’s life is a remarkable story of service and leadership. She and her three siblings were born in Miltepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. She was seven when she and her brothers immigrated to Sonoma County with their mother. There, they joined her father, an undocumented farmworker, who had been working hard for years before he received his green card and permission to bring his family to California. Later, as a foreman, he helped hundreds of families immigrate to work in the vineyards.
Rosso earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from San Jose State University and received her teaching credential from University of California, Santa Cruz. She soon moved to Gilroy with her husband, Jaime Rosso, to begin teaching at Gilroy Unified School District.
Rosso is respected for her life-long advocacy in education and longstanding commitment to community service, especially for immigrants, under-privileged children and families. Rosso helps support children with learning disabilities with the group Parents Helping Parents. She has advocated for young women since 1975 with the American Association of University Women. And in 2017, was named Latino Philanthropist of the Year by the Gilroy Latino Family Fund.
Rosso has also been a pillar of support to her family, including her mother, her husband of 44 years, their three children and eight grandchildren, all of whom live in Gilroy, Rivas said. Together, Rosso and her husband founded Rosso’s Furniture. As a business partner, and spokesperson for the two stores, Rosso has been instrumental in maintaining the company’s commitment to the local community, Rivas added.
