ILR News Center

Jessica Govea-Thorbourne, a labor educator with Cornell University's ILR School in New York City and a founding organizer of Cesar Chavez's United Farm Workers (UFW) Union, was honored posthumously November 18, 2005 at the American Labor Museum/Botto House annual fundraising dinner in northern New Jersey.

The event is the annual Sol Stetin Fundraising Dinner to support the American Labor Museum/Botto House.  Sol Stetin was former president of the Textile Workers Union of America and was one of the founders of the American Labor Museum.  Jessica posthumously received the museum's special recognition award and was memorialized in the Silk Walk Way of the Botto House by the placement of a brick bearing her name and the inscription of the UFW. [Photo: Jessica with Cesar Chavez, in the early days of organizing the United Farm Workers of America]

Jessica died Jan. 23, 2005 of breast cancer at age 58.  She directed the Labor In-House Programs for Cornell ILR School's Division of Extension and Public Service in New York City. Before that, she was a faculty member in the Labor Studies and Employment Relations Department at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J.  A resident of West Orange, N.J., at the time of her death, she had played a central role in making the UFW one of the nation's most formidable labor organizations and a source of pride to several generations of Mexican-Americans.  Read more information on Jessica's contribution to the labor movement.

Attending the Sol Stetin Fundraising Dinner from Cornell ILR were Lois Gray, the Jean McKelvey/Alice Grant Professor of Labor Management Relations Emeritus and former Associate Dean of ILR Extension; K.C. Wagner, Director of Workplace Issues; and Gene Carroll, Director, Union Leadership Workshop Series.

Upon accepting the award on Jessica’s behalf, K.C. said "It is a very fitting tribute that Jessica is receiving recognition tonight at the Sol Stetin Fundraising Dinner. Jessica and Sol had a lot in common. They shared a generous spirit, and a passion and commitment to the dignity and worth of immigrants and working people."  Read full text of K.C.’s remarks (pdf).  After accepting the honor on Jessica’s behalf, K.C. presented it to Jessica’s husband Ken Thorbourne and his parents, who also attended the dinner.

Go to www.labormuseum.org for more information on the American Labor Museum.