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Dionisia Amaya

Dionisia Amaya-Bonilla
Born Dionisia Amaya
(1933-02-08)February 8, 1933
La Ceiba, Honduras
Died February 3, 2014(2014-02-03) (aged 80)
La Ceiba, Honduras
Other names Mama Nicha
Doña Nicha
Citizenship United States
Occupation Garifuna community activist
Years active 1974-2014

Dionisia Amaya-Bonilla, also known as Mama Nicha, (February 8, 1933-February 3, 2014) was a teacher and Honduran Garifuna community activist who was the co-founder of Garifuna non-profit organization, MUGAMA, Inc., a support, education, and outreach organization that ran the Mugama Advocacy Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Amaya-Bonilla was born in La Ceiba, Honduras, in 1933. Amaya-Bonilla came to the United States in May 1964 from Honduras originally coming to Fort Worth, Texas, where she worked as a housekeeper until moving to New York City. She first lived on Longfellow in the Bronx until moving to East New York. She received her American citizenship in 1977.

After getting her General Equivalency Diploma, in 1979, Amaya-Bonilla received a B.A. with high honors in Education from Medgar Evers College in New York City. She also has a M.A. and Advanced Certificate in Guidance and Counseling from Brooklyn College.

After moving to New York City, Amaya-Bonilla worked in many different jobs, one of which was with Franciscan monks, who gave her a recommendation that led to a job at World Book Encyclopedia, where she worked for five years.

Amaya-Bonilla worked at the NYC Board of Education in various positions as a teacher until eventually working as a guidance counselor. She worked in these positions for over 22 years.


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