Folks are quick to identify Cézar Chávez as the founder of the United Farm Workers. But just as instrumental in the fight to get human and civil rights for the farm workers of California was Dolores Huerta. She began as a classroom teacher, but quickly found herself at the state capital lobbying for workers rights. She knew that only a labor union could protect the rights of the farm workers, many of whom are immigrants and persons of color, so she joined Cézar in 1962, moving her children from Stockton CA to Delano to do so. In the fields, she had to negotiate for humane working conditions (often there was no bathroom facility or water for the workers), as well as disability and health benefits. This was especially important because of crop pesticide residues that often caused cancer in the workers and disabilities in children born to mothers who worked during their pregnancies (which was often necessary since wages were so low that all able adults had to work to support a family). She and the farm workers endured much physical abuse from the corporate growers and from the law enforcement units during their strikes and demonstrations, but never broke their commitment to non-violent demonstration. Today she continues to speak about the abuses that still exist and the importance of organizing and political activism. She is an amazing role modern for Xicanas/ Latinas and women everywhere. Que viva la mujer!

---Rocío