Lucy Huffstetter comes to the Gendercide Awareness Project with organizational skills honed during 10 years of project management work for Verizon, Inc. In addition, Lucy is a Master Photographer and serves the organization with that skill as well. Lastly, she brings familiarity with the women’s movement in Latin American countries, along with fluency in Spanish and French.
Born in Puebla, Mexico, Lucy watched her mother take responsibility for supporting the family when her father became seriously ill. During this time, she was able to access high-quality education thanks to scholarships. These experiences – of seeing the resourcefulness and the challenges faced by her mother, and of depending on others for her education – framed her upbringing and perspective later in life. After high school, Lucy supported herself in Paris, France for ten years before coming to Dallas, Texas in 1987.
She worked full-time at Southern Methodist University while getting her bachelor’s degree there. She received a BA in Foreign Languages (Spanish and French) with a minor in Business Administration. Lucy then took a job with Verizon, working there for 20 years in project management. Upon retiring, Lucy channeled her energy toward Peacemakers, Inc., serving on their board for five years and handling program printing, photography, and event planning.
At a Gendap fundraiser luncheon, Lucy was impressed, not only by the strength of Gendap’s message, but also by the effective actions Gendap takes to help young women achieve education, empowering them to resist oppression and contribute to society. She first joined Gendap as a volunteer and now is proud to belong to a group that makes a difference in the lives of many young women. Having received help from several organizations during her youth, she feels that now it is time for her to help other young women succeed in their lives. In addition, Lucy loves the teamwork and friendship of all the members.