Dolores Huerta

Background: Dolores Huerta was born in 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico, and raised in Stockton, California. Growing up in a farming community, she saw firsthand the struggles of agricultural workers—long hours, low pay, and unsafe conditions. After working briefly as a teacher, she noticed how poverty directly affected the children of farmworkers, many arriving to school hungry and without basic necessities. This experience pushed her toward activism. In 1962, alongside César Chávez, Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) union. She quickly became the driving force behind grassroots organizing, contract negotiations, and national campaigns. Huerta was central to the Delano grape strike and boycott (1965–1970), which mobilized thousands of workers and consumers across the country, forcing growers to recognize the union and sign contracts that improved wages, safety, and dignity for farmworkers.

Impact On Today: Dolores Huerta’s influence extends far beyond the fields. She broke barriers as one of the few women leaders in a male-dominated labor movement, paving the way for future generations of female and Latina activists. Her motto, “Sí, se puede” (“Yes, we can”), became not just a rallying cry for the farmworker movement but an enduring slogan used across civil rights campaigns, immigration reform efforts, feminist organizing, and even U.S. presidential politics. Today, Huerta continues to advocate for social justice through the Dolores Huerta Foundation, which focuses on grassroots organizing, civic engagement, and educational equity. Her life reminds us that advocacy is not a one-time act but a lifelong commitment. For young people especially, Huerta’s legacy is proof that collective action and persistence can create lasting change.