By Michelle Hines , University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-5371
Posted: 8-21-07
Dolores Huerta.
GREENSBORO, NC – Dolores Huerta, who with Cesar Chavez tirelessly championed the rights of farm workers, will speak Thursday, Sept. 20, at UNCG’s 2007 Human Rights Event.
Huerta’s speech will begin at 7 p.m. in the Elliott University Center Auditorium. The event, sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, is free and open to the public.
In 1962 Huerta, divorced mother of seven children, joined Chavez and his family in Delano, Calif., where they began the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), the predecessor to the United Farm Workers Union (UFW). Huerta fought for medical and pension benefits for farm workers, organized strikes, and spoke out against toxic pesticides that threaten farm workers, consumers and the environment.
In 1974 Huerta was instrumental in securing unemployment benefits for farm workers. In 1985 she spearheaded legislation granting amnesty for farm workers who had lived, worked and paid taxes in the United States for many years but were not citizens. This resulted in the Immigration Act of 1985 in which 1,400,000 farm workers received amnesty.
Huerta worked with Chavez for more than 30 years until his death in 1993. They founded the Robert Kennedy Medical Plan, the Juan De La Cruz Farm Workers Pension Fund and the Farm Workers Credit Union, the first medical and pension plans and credit union in history for farm workers. They also formed the National Farm Workers Service Center, which today provides affordable housing and educational radio with more than nine Spanish-speaking radio stations throughout California, Washington and Arizona.
In 2002 Huerta was the second recipient of the Puffin Foundation/Nation Institute Award for Creative Citizenship. She used the $100,000 grant that came with the award to establish the Dolores Huerta Foundation’s Organizing Institute. The Foundation focuses on community organizing and leadership training in low-income, under-represented communities.
Huerta, 75, still works long hours as president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. She travels regularly across North America educating the public on public policy issues affecting immigrants, women and youth. She speaks at colleges and organizations throughout the country in support of “La Causa.”
For more information, contact Katrina McClain at (336) 334-5090 or katrina_mcclain@uncg.edu.
