A Conversation with Dolores Huerta

Dolores Huerta

Dolores Huerta was born on April 10, 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico. She earned a provisional teaching credential from the University of Pacific’s Delta College in Stockton. While teaching, she could no longer bear to see her students come to school with empty stomachs and bare feet, and thus began her lifelong journey of working to correct economic injustice.

Working with the Stockton Community Service Organization (CSO) in California she founded the Agricultural Workers Association, set up voter registration drives and pressed local governments for barrio improvements. In 1955, she met a likeminded colleague, CSO Executive Director César E. Chávez. Both Chávez and Huerta wanted to organize farm workers, which was not part of CSO’s mission. In the spring of 1962, they both resigned and launched the National Farm Workers Association, which later evolved into the United Farm Workers of America, now with 27,000 members.

Early in her career, Huerta excelled at lobbying and negotiating. Among other things, she helped secure Aid for Dependent Families and disability insurance for farm workers in the State of California.

At 81, Huerta continues to work tirelessly developing leaders and advocating for the working poor, women and children. She has received numerous awards, including the Eleanor Roosevelt Humans Rights Award from President Clinton in l998. Earlier this year she was awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor- the Presidential Medal of Freedom.