June 9, 2011, Fresno County Democratic Women’s Club awarded Ellie Bluestein the Kennedy Club Courage Award for her work with WILPF, the Human Relations Commission, and the Central California Criminal Justice Committee. photos by Howard Watkins

Born in 1928 in Bronx, NY, she graduated with a BA in English and Secondary Education and graduate work in Linguistics. In 1953, Eleanore joined the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. This became a springboard for her activism on interntaional, national and local levels. She organized a branch of WILPF in Fresno and it became the focal point for Vietnam War actions, organized draft counseling, and later supported farm workers and school desegregation actions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the Human Relations Comission was first formed in Fresno, Ellie served as Vice Chair for two terms. When the Commission was eliminated she was a leader in forming the Central California Criminal Justice Committee to persist in getting police oversight. There was great concern about the shooting of Chicanos by the Fresno  Police Department. After more than ten years that effort succeeded and the city does have a law Enforcement Auditor.

Ellie has been awarded many honors and has much experience working abroad in Finland, Japan, China, France and Israel.