Sí, se puede: Remembering the Life of Dolores Huerta

Dolores Huerta (Clara Fernandez) was born in Dawson, New Mexico, in 1930. She grew up keenly aware of the difficulties faced by marginalized people in America and dedicated her life to uplifting and empowering others. Her calling led Huerta to the labor movement, where she famously co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962 and helped lead the 1965 Delano Grape Strike. Through her work as a labor leader and negotiator, Huerta successfully secured collective bargaining agreements and legislation to protect workers and their union rights. A feminist icon, she was also a groundbreaking advocate for gender equality and worked to stop discrimination against women within the farm worker’s movement.

Though her achievements were hard-won, Huerta — who died October 28 — never stopped fighting against injustices; she continued to speak and march well into her nineties. For over sixty years, she strived to amplify the voices of those who most needed to be heard. Huerta and her accomplishments exemplify the power of organizing and what people can overcome when united. For her work, she received global recognition and awards, including her induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.