| Diversity Circles in the News Commentary: Tales of a Fond du Lac Latina by Camille Solberg A few months ago, I met a wonderful Latina by the name of Socorro “Soc” Olsen Solis. I was impressed by her and her passion for social justice, particularly for Latinos in this city. Soc shared with me some of her background and why she is so passionate about equal rights. “I was born in San Antonio, Texas, to a Spanish mother and a Mexican father,” she said. “Our family moved from Texas to Kansas City, Missouri, when I was about 4 years old. I was unable to speak English until my sister, who is a year old than I am, began kindergarten. My mother was fond of saying that my sister would bring home the English that she learned, and by the time I began school, I could speak English fairly well. Now, unfortunately, as an adult, I have lost much of my ability to speak Spanish.” Socorro Olsen experienced prejudice as a child and later as an adult. “When I was younger, I experienced prejudice,” she said. “I know now what I did not know then — that is, that prejudice comes from ignorance and fear. It is this fear and ignorance that I hope can be eradicated. Also, once when I was shopping in Fond du Lac, I was being followed and watched in the store. It was very unnerving. When I was at college, the student behind me did not want to sit behind me because he indicated that the bugs in my head would jump out of my hair onto his desk.” She married Robert Olsen, a native of Fond du Lac. She met him when he was in the Air Force and stationed in Kansas City. This past April, they celebrated 36 years of marriage. Together, they have two children and two grandchildren. “After I married Robert, we eventually settled in Fond du Lac, and we have lived here for approximately 30 years.” She said that when they first moved here, there were not too many Hispanic people in the city. “Complete strangers would ask me if I was, Jewish, Italian, Greek, Eskimo, Japanese — yet no one ever asked me if I was a Mexican or Spanish,” she said. One of the first words particular to Wisconsin was the word “bubbler.” “I was at Lakeside Park one day when someone came up to me and asked me where the bubbler was. In my head, I imagined something bubbling out of the ground, only to learn that they were referring to a drinking fountain. I still call it a drinking fountain, however.” She said that her life has flourished here in Fond du Lac and she has come to call it home. Over the years, Socorro Olsen has been involved in Community Theatre, volunteered at Catholic Social Services and taken college courses at Marian College, UW-Fond du Lac and MPTC. Her poetry has been published in The Reporter and the Marian College literary journal as well as a poetry journal, “Smartish Pace,” out of Baltimore. As an artist, her works have been on display, and one of her works sold at auction a few years ago. “From the great education my children received here, they have gone on to be contributing members,” she said. “My daughter is now an elementary teacher in New Holstein. My son continues his on and off education at UW-Fond du Lac and is a retail wire consultant.” Her husband has worked as an engineer at Oshkosh Truck for more than 25 years. “And I am in a wonderful environment at the Fond du Lac School District fine arts department,” she said. “I can say without reserve that I enjoy my job tremendously.” She is currently involved with the new city/county diversity circles and said she has met many wonderful and caring people. Olsen added that she finds that the city has many people who are not only caring but talented, creative and willing to go the extra mile to meet the challenges they face. |
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