The Activist for Activists. Author of Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism and The Happy Activist: Journey the 5-Step Activism Path to Focus Your Passion and Change the World. Teacher, Psychologist, Environmental Activist, Animal Lover.
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Last Updated on September 20, 2025
On March 31st we celebrate Cesar Chavez’s birthday. We should celebrate him for the impact he made on protecting farmworkers. He also created the National Farm Workers Union so workers had a voice. But Chavez had a partner who has not been widely recognized, probably because she was a woman: Dolores Huerta.
Huerta Was an Equal Partner of Chavez
Dolores Huerta was raised in California by a single mom who was active in community work. Police brutality against Mexicans and blacks was the issue that tugged at Huerta’s heart. Community organizer Fred Ross involved her in the Community Service Organization, and she was drafting legislation in her early 20s. Ross introduced her to Cesar Chávez; together they worked on organizing a farmworkers union.
Huerta was a young mother but she embraced the challenge, describing it as a calling. Her early experiences seeing police brutality and the obviously terrible conditions for farmworkers inspired her: low pay, terrible housing, lack of access to clean water and bathrooms, and long work shifts with no breaks.
Chávez himself talked of Huerta as a partner. Having a woman on the Board of the Union and on the picket line meant women were welcome as part of protests, and their voices could be heard. But she was also a target for holding a traditionally male position.
It took years and a variety of initiatives but they succeeded in creating the National Farm Workers Association. For workers, that meant better working conditions, insurance, a credit union, and a voice.
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She Coined a Famous Phrase
Huerta’s work goes beyond organizing the Farmworkers because, as marginalized people, the fact that they organized inspired other marginalized communities.
When Obama used the slogan “Yes, we can,” he was borrowing it from Huerta, who coined the phrase in “Sí Se Puede” in Spanish years before. When he awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he apologized to her for not giving her proper credit.
After Chávez died, members did not elect Huerta president of the union board. She didn’t complain about it because she was more concerned about the work, and she felt the person elected president would do a good job. Eventually, though, she differed with the union on her goal of going back to community organizing, so she left.
Huerta’s Work Continues
Huerta created the Dolores Huerta Foundation to teach others leadership skills and community organizing.
Later in life, she says she regretted not advocating more for herself and her accomplishments and encourages women and girls to avoid that trap.
“We were having elections and Cesar [Chavez] was running the meeting, he stepped down from the dais and came up to me. He said, “Who’s going to nominate you for vice president?” And I said, “Oh, I don’t have to be on the board. I just want to serve all the women out there.” How many of us have thought that way? And he said, “You’re crazy.”
So I did — I grabbed somebody to nominate me. But if Cesar hadn’t told me to, I wouldn’t have thought about it. And I think that’s a problem with us as women — we don’t think we need to be in the power structure, that we need to be on those boards where decisions are being made. Sometimes we think well, I’m not really prepared to take that position or that role. But I say [to women out there]: Just do it like the guys do it — pretend that you know. And then you learn on the job.” – Dolores Huerta
Dolores Huerta’s accomplishments include negotiating the first contract for the farmworkers, lobbying, and advocating for Latina female candidates. At 88 years old, she is still advocating for others. Her current cause: expanding end-of-care options.
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Featured Image: Bob Fitch photography archive, © Stanford University Libraries
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Dolores “One of the most important, yet least known activists of our time, Dolores Huerta was an equal partner in founding the first farmworkers union with César Chávez. Tirelessly leading the fight for racial and labor justice, Huerta evolved into one of the most defiant feminists of the 20th century — and she continues the fight to this day, in her late 80s. With unprecedented access to this intensely private mother of 11, Peter Bratt’s film Dolores chronicles Huerta’s life from her childhood in Stockton, California to her early years with the United Farm Workers, from her work with the headline-making grape boycott launched in 1965 to her role in the feminist movement of the ’70s, to her continued work as a fearless activist.”
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Cesar Chavez: Respect for All. Spend 22 minutes watching this neat film about Farm Worker activist Cesar Chavez. I learned that in addition to supporting his own cause, he was an activist for women, gays, and animals. He believed that everyone deserved respect.
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As you always seem to, you’ve written about something that matters. I remember Huerta’s name from the 60s/70s but never knew much about her. Thanks.
Thanks for stopping by, Ellen! I’m inspired by her passion and persistence.