Nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization pauses to honor and remember a tireless advocate for social justice and her beloved community.
DALLAS — The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) joins the people of Dallas, the state of Texas, and a national network of civil rights advocates in mourning the loss of Sylvia Collins, a longtime community leader, Democratic precinct chair, and faithful servant of Oak Cliff, who was killed in the natural gas explosion and fire that destroyed an apartment building on Thursday, May 28.
“Sylvia was a dear friend, and she gave herself fully to the causes she loved,” said Roman Palomares, LULAC National President and Chairman of the Board. “She stood with LULAC, with our youth, with our police volunteers, with our churches, and with the families who needed a voice. From the precinct floor to the food pantry, from the Christmas in the Park line to a march for justice, Sylvia showed up. She did the work. She asked for nothing in return.”
Friends and elected officials described a woman whose signature gesture, a raised fist and the words “Power to the People”, was never about herself, but about the people she fought to lift up.
“We called each other comadre because in the Latino culture, this is how we call a woman who is your best friend,” says Frances Rizo, LULAC National Parliamentarian. “We would talk once or twice a day, depending on the projects that we might be working on. I learned from her to be even more generous. With Sylvia, I saw a sincere giving heart and true dedication. Everybody loved her. I loved her.”
Sylvia Collins was, by every measure of those who knew her, a woman whose life belonged to her community. She served as precinct chair for Texas Senate District 23 and as sergeant-at-arms for the Tejano Democrats chapter of the 23rd Senatorial District. She volunteered alongside the LULAC Youth Council at Yvonne E. Ewell Townview Magnet Center in Dallas, supported the schools in her own neighborhood, and was a familiar, welcoming presence to all. She gave her time to the Dallas Police Department as a multi-year civilian volunteer, to the food pantry at People’s Missionary Baptist Church, to the S.M. Wright Foundation’s annual Christmas in the Park, and to the Texas Organizing Project, where she worked for years to register voters and lift up working families.
“I was fortunate to have known Sylvia for many years, and I will always remember her as a kind, passionate, and smiling individual,” said Domingo Garcia, former LULAC National President and a Dallas civil rights attorney. “She was a regular participant at our LULAC Chorizo and Menudo Breakfast. Sylvia was dedicated to supporting her candidates and making the world a better place. Her passing is a significant loss for her family and our community. May she rest in peace and continue to be celebrated in our memories.”
Texas State Senator Royce West called Collins, “a tireless spirit of hope and energy” at a packed candlelight vigil that was held Friday evening at Adamson High School. State Representative Cassandra García Hernández, fighting back tears, remembered Collins as her mentor and friend and urged neighbors to “continue to keep showing up for each other.”
The Dallas County Democratic Party, which named Collins its Volunteer of the Week in December 2024, called her “a true champion for our democracy.” Congresswoman Julie Johnson described her as “a steadfast supporter” and “a dedicated servant to both the Dallas Democratic Party and our communities for decades.” State Representative Victoria Neave Criado called her “one of the sweetest, most good-hearted people you could ever know,” writing, “This world was better with her in it.” State Representative Jessica González of Oak Cliff said the community is heartbroken.
LULAC extends its deepest condolences to Sylvia Collins’s family, to the families of the other victims, to those injured, and to the dozens of residents displaced by the blast. May her memory be a blessing. May her example be our charge. And may Oak Cliff, the community she loved, find comfort, courage, and unity in the days ahead.
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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America’s prosperity. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit www.lulac.org/.
