Hilda Solis was born on October 20, 1957 in Los Angeles, California. She earned her Masters of Public Administration at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy in 1981, going on to become the first Hispanic woman to serve in the State Senate. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, mainly focusing on a platform of environmental work and labor rights. Under the administration of former President Barack Obama, Solis became the 25th United States Secretary of Labor from 2009 to 2013. She was the first Latina to serve in the U.S. Cabinet. After stepping down from her position in 2013, Solis went back to Los Angeles to serve on the LA County Board of Supervisors and tackle issues such as gentrification and lack of affordable housing.