Mosaic portraits curated by Latinitas and facilitated by J Muzacz and Carmen Rangel, portraits of Marta Cotera by Carmen Rangel, Teresa Long by Veronica Ceci and Bertha Sadler Means by Lolita Rodriguez 

Shaping History

Words by Sean Saldana Photos by J Muzacz

Austin’s a place known for its values of inclusion and acceptance. Teresa Lozano Long, Bertha Sadler Means, and Sheryl Cole have built their lives on these principles. 

What makes Austin unique is its culture: the food, the music, the weirdness, and above all, the community. Like in every community, there are people who have risen above, achieved at high levels, and made sure the generations after them could do the same. 

Fewer names have become more prominent than Teresa Lozano Long. Originally from Premont, Texas, she made her way to Austin in the mid-1940s to attend the University of Texas where she would eventually become the university’s first Mexican American and first woman to earn a PhD in kinesiology. 

Though she originally began her career in education, she’s best known today through her and her husband Joe Long’s philanthropy. To date, the Longs have dedicated more than $100 million to the arts, medicine, and education benefitting Hispanic communities around Austin and the state as a whole. Change doesn’t always happen on a large fiscal scale to have a massive impact, though. 

Bertha Sadler Means started her career within Austin’s then-segregated Black education system, teaching at Blackshear Elementary, Kealing Junior High, and Allan Junior High; however, it didn’t take long for her to achieve a leading role in Austin’s desegregation. 

In addition to being among the first generation of Black educators to teach in Austin’s white schools, Means was also a prominent member of Human Relations Commission, NAACP,  and Urban League, among other organizations. Her accomplishments were memorialized in 2014 when the Austin Independent School District changed the name of Pearce Middle School to Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy. 

It’s also important to remember that, for better or worse, declarative milestones are not just features of any specific era of history. The barriers that exist are being broken all the time. 

Having careers in both accounting and law, Sheryl Cole got her start in advocacy in her local Parent Teachers Association— a pivotal experience that would eventually lead to her developing the organizing skills necessary to become the first Black woman elected to City Council in 2006.

Her advocacy didn’t stop on the local level, though. After serving three terms on City Council, Cole was elected to House District 46 in the Texas Legislature in 2018 where she represents East Austin, Manor, and Pflugerville. 

Pinning down what or who makes Austin such a unique place can be an elusive process. After all, the heart of a community lies not necessarily in a physical location but within the interactions between everyday people.

Like with all communities, there are certain individuals who have dedicated their lives to making this city an inclusive and accepting environment. It’s worth taking some time to learn about them and the impact of their noble work. 

Did You Know?
Local nonprofit Latinitas honored Bertha Sadler Means and Teresa Lozano Long, alongside several other women activists, at their Purple Party by unveiling gorgeous mural portraits of each honoree. Created by artists J Muzacz and Carmen Rangel, in collaboration with The Mosaic Workshop, these smaller murals were unveiled alongside a larger, permanent installation featuring Ana ‘Technomama’ Sisnett at Holly Commons. Read more about the murals and the Purple Party: eastsideatx.com/latinitas-purple-party-recap/