Dona Spring
Encyclopedia
Dona Spring was an American
and activist and Green Party
politician
. She served on the Berkeley
City Council
from 1992 until her death in 2008.
Spring was born in Plentywood, Montana
. After an active youth, she graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
with honors, earning a bachelor's degree in anthropology
and psychology
. She worked for many years as an activist devoted to causes such as disability rights, seniors, at-risk youth, poverty, the environment and animal rights. She used a wheelchair for much of her adult life due to rheumatoid arthritis
.
Spring was elected to the Alameda County
Democratic
Central Committee in 1986 and to the county's Green Party County Council in 1990.
Spring's successful candidacy for the Berkeley City Council in 1992 was a galvanizing event for the newly-qualified Green Party of California
. She served on the Alameda County Recycling Board from 1997 to 2001, including a stint as its president in 2001. She was elected to her fifth, and last, term to the Berkeley City Council in 2006 with 72% of votes cast. Her last act as a member of the city council was to seek medical attention for the tree sitters on the Berkeley oak grove controversy
at the University of California, Berkeley.
Spring died in 2008, aged 55, at Alta Bates/Summit Hospital in Berkeley, after being diagnosed with pneumonia. In July 2008 filmmakers Lindsay Vurek and Valerie Trost released a documentary film
about Dona Spring's life, Courage in Life & Politics - The Dona Spring Story.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and activist and Green Party
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She served on the Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
from 1992 until her death in 2008.
Spring was born in Plentywood, Montana
Plentywood, Montana
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,061 people, 857 households, and 522 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,756.1 people per square mile . There were 1,020 housing units at an average density of 869.1 per square mile...
. After an active youth, she graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
with honors, earning a bachelor's degree in anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. She worked for many years as an activist devoted to causes such as disability rights, seniors, at-risk youth, poverty, the environment and animal rights. She used a wheelchair for much of her adult life due to rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
.
Spring was elected to the Alameda County
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Central Committee in 1986 and to the county's Green Party County Council in 1990.
Spring's successful candidacy for the Berkeley City Council in 1992 was a galvanizing event for the newly-qualified Green Party of California
Green Party of California
The Green Party of California is the California affiliate of the Green Party. The party is a ballot-qualified in California, first established as such in 1991, using the petition method of gaining state recognition....
. She served on the Alameda County Recycling Board from 1997 to 2001, including a stint as its president in 2001. She was elected to her fifth, and last, term to the Berkeley City Council in 2006 with 72% of votes cast. Her last act as a member of the city council was to seek medical attention for the tree sitters on the Berkeley oak grove controversy
Berkeley oak grove controversy
The University of California, Berkeley oak grove controversy arose over the planned removal of a grove of oak trees in preparation for the construction of a new student athletic training center for the University of California, Berkeley...
at the University of California, Berkeley.
Spring died in 2008, aged 55, at Alta Bates/Summit Hospital in Berkeley, after being diagnosed with pneumonia. In July 2008 filmmakers Lindsay Vurek and Valerie Trost released a documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about Dona Spring's life, Courage in Life & Politics - The Dona Spring Story.