Huerta became a credentialed teacher at Stockton College. Huerta, “ She inspires me because she is highly effective and has dedicated her life to worker justice and the rights of other marginalized groups.” In the words of one of the HLS community members who nominated Ms. Huerta continues to inspire with her “resilience, passion and commitment.” Dolores Clara Fernndez Huerta (born April 10, 1930) is an American labor leader and civil rights activist who, with Cesar Chavez, is a co-founder of the National Farmworkers Association, which later merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee to become the United Farm Workers (UFW).

As president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation and board member of the People for the American Way, the Consumer Federation of California, the Feminist Majority Foundation, and Equality California, Ms. Huerta’s enthusiastic, lifelong commitment has earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights, in addition to countless other recognitions. Her efforts have resulted in the rise in the number of Latina political representatives from communities around the country. Huerta’s goals has been to develop future community leaders, particularly Latina women.

Her organizing work in California led to other groundbreaking advances in collective bargaining, as well. Huerta co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers union. From an early age, Dolores Huerta has been a leading advocate for workers, immigrants, and women.

Dolores huerta united farm workers