{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhealthcare-untold.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fsylvia-bufanda-courtney-ry2G3YtL","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Sylvia Bufanda-Courtney: Labor and Civil Rights Activist","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/e0c00153-c41d-46b1-94eb-4c0414d427da/f82aad63-0154-4054-b080-ec9b9a59cbb1/befunky-photo-1.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"","height":200,"description":"Sylvia Bufanda Courtney, a Latina of Mexican and Native American ancestry, was born in Tucson, Arizona, but considers San Francisco her home. She came to San Francisco to attend college and soon met and married Vince Courtney, they had two children and they both finished college at San Francisco State and went on to law school while raising the children and working multiple jobs. \nSimultaneously, both Sylvia and Vince became activists beginning in the 60's, organizing against the Vietnam War and for civil rights including farmworkers' union lettuce and grape boycotts and other labor union issues.  Upon becoming a full time student, she was instrumental in establishing the SFSU Childcare Center and served as the first Chair of the Parents' Council.  She was selected as a delegate from SFSU's Student Mobilization Committee Against the War to attend the Washington D C conference of the National Peace Action Coalition which planned and implemented the largest antiwar demonstrations in the \nU S in the early 1970's.\n After graduating from law school, Sylvia worked for the federal antipoverty program, U S Community Services Administration, as Region IX Human Rights Chief.  She was hired as a deputy public defender in San Francisco in 1982, and in 1984, entered private practice, specializing in labor and employment law, specifically cases involving wrongful termination, unlawful job discrimination and retaliation. \n After graduating from law school, Sylvia worked for the federal antipoverty program, U S Community Services Administration, as Region IX Human Rights Chief.  She was hired as a deputy public defender in San Francisco in 1982, and in 1984, entered private practice, specializing in labor and employment law, specifically cases involving wrongful termination, unlawful job discrimination and retaliation. \nShe and her husband established Courtney Law Offices in 1998.  Sylvia taught night classes at SF Community College on the subject of employment discrimination for 10 years, and served on the SF Juvenile Justice Commission, and on the boards of various community organizations such as Mission Community Legal Defense (MCLD).\nAs a grandmother of two boys and a girl in their late twenties, who are proud of their Irish and Mexican heritage, Sylvia believes that it is just as important, and perhaps more important, to pass on knowledge, perspective and commitment to members of one's own family as to anyone else, inasmuch as the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.\n\nOn behalf of HealthCare UnTold we thank and honor Sylvia for sharing her incredible career with us..Gracias Sylvia for your activism and commitment to justice for our communities.\n\n\n"}