With prior authorization by the Central Committee, DPCCC’s Executive Committee passed the following resolution on October 7, 2021:
WHEREAS, Ms. Betty Reid Soskin was born on September 22, 1921 in Detroit, Michigan, spent her early childhood in New Orleans, Louisiana, and her family subsequently relocated to Oakland, California where she graduated from Castlemont High School; she worked as a file clerk during World War II for the Boilermakers Union A-36 and has continued to be a Labor advocate after leaving that position; Ms. Betty Reid Soskin, and her then husband Mel Reid, opened Reid’s Records on Sacramento Street in Berkeley in 1945, and she and her children kept it successfully in business for nearly 75 years until closing in 2019; they also invested in Contra Costa County through building a home for their family in Walnut Creek in the 1950s and demonstrated grit while encountering racism and death threats during the years of living there, she currently resides in Richmond; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Betty Reid Soskin became a well-known Community Activist and also served as a Field Representative for two California State Assemblymembers: Dion Aroner and Loni Hancock, where she made significant contributions to the planning stages and development of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park established in 2000, followed by becoming a Park Ranger for the National Park Service in 2007 and gave the introduction for President Barak Obama for the 2015 White House Christmas tree lighting ceremony and is still employed as a Park Ranger today; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Betty Reid Soskin: Woman, Mother, Businesswoman, Singer/Songwriter, Park Ranger and Published Author has regularly demonstrated Communal Leadership, Excellent Representation for women of all ages and Outstanding Citizenship as a resident of Contra Costa County, who is affectionately referred to (by some) as the “Iron Lady” with a heart of gold;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Recognizes and Congratulates Contra Costa County resident Ms. Betty Reid Soskin in Celebration of her 100th Birthday on September 22, 2021.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Joey D. Smith, DPCCC 2nd Vice-Chair
Approved by: Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Executive Committee, October 7, 2021