Estela Ortega: A Lifetime of Advocacy and Community Building

RVHS is proud to honor Estela Ortega as our 2025 History Maker, recognizing her over five decades of leadership in building community, advancing equity, and creating opportunities that have shaped the lives of thousands across Rainier Valley, Seattle, and beyond.

Born in Harris, Texas, in 1950, Ortega grew up working in the cotton fields from the age of eight. Those early years, marked by hardship and resilience, instilled in her a lifelong empathy for others and a belief that dignity and justice must be fought for, not simply hoped for. In her early twenties, she became active in Houston’s grassroots movements, organizing for farmworkers’ rights, protesting the Vietnam War, registering voters, and helping underrepresented communities find their voice.

Her path led her to El Paso in 1972, where she met fellow activist and Franklin High School teacher Roberto Maestas at a national Chicano conference. That meeting marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership in both life and purpose. Later that year, Ortega joined Maestas and a coalition of organizers in the occupation of the shuttered Beacon Hill Elementary School in Seattle, standing up for the preservation of bilingual education and community programs. Their peaceful protest resulted in the founding of El Centro de la Raza, “The Center for People of All Races”. 

Under the leadership of Ortega and Maestas, El Centro de la Raza became a cornerstone for Southeast Seattle, offering support, education, and a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds. Over the years, El Centro has hosted everything from English and GED classes to tenant rights workshops, and cultural events like Día de los Muertos, powwows, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day marches. 

When Maestas passed away in 2010, Ortega stepped into the role of Executive Director, carrying forward their shared vision. Under her leadership, El Centro has expanded its reach, most notably through the creation of Plaza Roberto Maestas, a 112-unit affordable housing and community development project that combines early learning, retail, and public gathering spaces in the heart of Beacon Hill. The project stands as a living symbol of what is possible when a community invests in itself.

In recent years, Ortega has led the organization into a new chapter with the groundbreaking of Four Amigos – Beloved Community in Columbia City, a mixed-use affordable housing project that will provide 87 homes for families, along with a bilingual child development center and community space. Her work continues to shape a more equitable, inclusive Seattle.

Earlier this year, Estela Ortega received the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service from King County, recognizing her lifelong dedication to uniting people across lines of race, language, and class. On October 25, Rainier Valley Historical Society proudly honored her as our 2025 History Maker at the 10th Annual Founder’s Dinner, where she was presented with a Proclamation from the City of Seattle officially declaring October 25 “Estela Ortega Day.”