(SACRAMENTO, CA) This afternoon, State Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia recognized Desert Hot Springs resident, Yoka Brouwer as the 56th Assembly District’s Holocaust Survivor Honoree. Mrs. Brouwer was selected for her distinguished community advocacy and dedicated efforts to inspire local students.
In observation of Holocaust Memorial Week, the California Legislative Jewish Caucus sponsors an annual Holocaust Remembrance Celebration at the State Capitol. During this ceremony, Mrs. Brouwer joined other survivors, families of survivors and liberators from across the state.
“It is with utmost importance that we continue to honor and preserve the valiant life stories of our World War II survivors and liberators,” said Assemblymember Garcia. “I commend Mrs. Brouwer for her tremendous courage and dedicated efforts to share her experiences with our local youth. Her exemplary advocacy will ensure that these stories live on.”
Mrs. Yoka Brouwer was born in the Netherlands in 1940. Two years later, in the midst of political turmoil, her parents decided to go into hiding. The Resistance offered safe harbor to her family but due to Mrs. Brouwer’s young age it was deemed too dangerous to stay together. Mrs. Brouwer’s was placed into the care of strangers and by the end of the war she had been hidden in over a dozen different places. Finally she was reunited with her family but the length of separation made it difficult. Her experience growing up in the war left her with many phobias and attachment issues. Unfortunately, Mrs. Brouwer was never able to fully assimilate to life at home; at age sixteen she set out to make her own life.
In 1964, Mrs. Brouwer, her husband and son moved to the United States. In the late 1960’s she was able to break into the male dominated realm of technology and computer science. After five years of success as a computer programmer she was drawn to psychology, obtained a degree in Psychology and Neuro Linguistic Programming and began work as a psychotherapist and trainer.
Mrs. Brouwer has dedicated years of outreach in schools, sharing tales of her family’s history and struggles with students.
“We must never forget the atrocious acts of the Holocaust. We have a responsibility to educate future generations on this dark period of our history and teach them to cast out hatred, act with love and embrace diversity of creed, lifestyle and culture.”
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) serves as the chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife. He represents the 56th district, which comprises the cities and communities of Blythe, Brawley, Bermuda Dunes, Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Indio, Mecca, Oasis, North Shore, Salton Sea, Thermal, Thousand Palms, and Westmorland.
