Early Years
Born Carmen Contreras in 1919, she was the oldest of three siblings. She was born and raised in the town of Cayey, Puerto Rico, located in the central mountains of the island, where she attended elementary school.
Her mother, Lila Baudilia Lugo Torres, moved the family to New York City in search of a better way of life. In New York, Contreras attended Julia Richman High School and, upon graduation, worked for the National Youth Administration. After taking and passing a Civil Service test, Contreras worked for the War Department in Washington, D.C. as a payroll clerk.
Read more about this topic: Carmen Contreras-Bozak
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