Luz Maria Henriquez: Protecting Our Freedoms

This episode features Luz Maria Henriquez, Executive Director of the non-partisan ACLU of Missouri and the first Latinx leader in the organization's history. Luz shares her powerful journey from growing up as the daughter of an undocumented mother to becoming a leader in civil rights advocacy. She reflects on the path to citizenship and the values of community and civic engagement instilled in her as a child and how they shaped her commitment to justice. Through her work with the ACLU of Missouri, Luz often grapples with political challenges yet wins key victories – like the passage of Amendment 3, which restored reproductive rights through grassroots organizing and coalition-building. The conversation explores broader issues of equality and the importance of unified action to address systemic disparities, offering both practical insights and a call to action to join the ACLU to stay informed and remain vigilant to threats against our civil liberties, which is the core of our democracy. Get full access to Dr. Nancy O’Reilly and the Women Connect4Good Foundation at drnancyoreilly.substack.com/subscribe