Stephanie Ruiz, East Los Angeles-Montebello Young Careerist for 2016, will share how May Day started in the United States and why it is considered as American as baseball and apple pie at the dinner meeting of the East Los Angeles-Montebello Business and Professional Women on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at MERCI Board Room, 525 N. Chandler Avenue, Monterey Park (Networking starts at 4:30 P.M. with dinner to be served before 5:00 P.M. Price of the dinner will be in the $10-$15 range). The program and dinner is open to all interested people, but reservations are required so there will be enough food. Call or E-mail Linda Wilson (626) 307-5650 or lindalwilson@juno.com to make a reservation or for questions.

Ruiz was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She obtained her B.A. in Social Work from California State University, Los Angeles. She has three years experience working in the field of Social Services and has spent the last three years working with homeless youth, emotionally disturbed teen girls and individuals with developmental disabilities. She is the coordinator for the DISCOVERY program at MERCI. She is an active volunteer at The Compton Initiative, which is a non-profit organization that is committed to bringing hope and restoration to the City of Compton. She has also been coordinating an annual fundraiser for homeless on skid row during the holidays for the last eight years. Her future plans include pursuing a Master’s Degree in Social Work and to do volunteer work aboard.

According to Wikipedia, May Day is a traditional spring holiday in many cultures and also commemorates the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago, which is generally considered as the origin of the International May Day observance for workers. Ruiz will expand on this information and the connection to the 8-hour workday.