Forbath, Jean

Metadata

Abstract

An oral history with Jean Forbath, collected for the Women, Politics and Activism Project at California State University, Fullerton and for Natalie Foukesis’ History 493A course. The purpose of this interview was to gather information about Jean’s experience as a female activist. Specifically, this interview covers her experience growing up in Hollywood, California, her time at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles, and her introduction to her late husband, Frank Forbath; involvement with the migrant farmworkers aid movement and César Chávez in Orange County; her and her husband’s founding of the Catholic charity “Share Our Selves” (SOS) and how she helped run the organization for twenty-three years while raising her seven children; mentions her involvement in various fights around fair and affordable housing policy in her city of Costa Mesa; describes her involvement as a board member of a variety of organizations: Save Our Youth, Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter, Orange County Human Relations Commission, Feedback Foundation and Cal Optima; talks about why she considers herself a feminist; reflects on her role as wife, mother, and as a member of the Catholic church; shares thoughts on leadership and activism; and finally, reflects on how SOS impacted volunteers lives.