Dolores Huerta, labor leader and civil rights activist, celebrates 95th birthday
The Brief
Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta turned 95 on Thursday.
The LA County Board of Supervisors proclaimed April 10 as Dolores Huerta Day.
LOS ANGELES - Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta celebrated her 95th birthday on Thursday.
Earlier in the week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors proclaimed Thursday as Dolores Huerta Day.
What we know
Supervisor Hilda Solis, who introduced the motion, lauded Huerta for inspiring her life and career and joked that she didn't "look a day over 30."
Huerta, who attended the meeting with her two daughters, beamed with pride, calling the supervisors the "face of courage" and thanking them for honoring her.
"When Coretta Scott King said, `We will never have peace in the world until women take power,' and to see all of you great supervisors here is showing that example to women," Huerta said, referring to the fact that all five county supervisors are women.
The backstory
Dolores Clara Fernández was born April 10, 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico and moved to Stockton, California at age 3 with her mother after her parents divorced.
Witnessing racism against Latino-Americans from early on inspired her toward activism. The National Museum of Women's History lists two significant events she witnessed as a child: when a prejudiced schoolteacher accused her of cheating because her papers were too well-written and in 1945 at the end of World War II, when white men brutally beat her brother for wearing a popular Latino fashion Zoot-Suit.
She took up her last name after marrying her second husband and fellow activist Ventura Huerta.
She received an associate teaching degree from the University of the Pacific's Delta College and briefly taught school in the 1950s. Working with hungry farm children coming to school motivated her in organizing farmers and farm workers.
In 1955, she founded the Stockton chapter of the Community Service Organization, which led voter registration drives and fought for economic stability for Latinos, according to the motion introduced by Solis.
Huerta met activist César Chávez through an associate and in 1962, the pair founded the National Farm Workers Association, the predecessor of the United Farm Workers' Union. Huerta served as UFW vice president until 1999.
At the UFW, she negotiated contracts and ardently advocated for safer working conditions, including the elimination of harmful pesticides, and for unemployment and health care benefits for agricultural workers.
In 1973, Huerta led a consumer boycott, resulting in the ground-breaking California Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975.
Throughout her career, Huerta has worked to improve workers' legislative representation and toward electing more Latinos and women.
Solis listed some of her numerous accolades, including the Eugene V. Debs Foundation Outstanding American Award, the U.S. Presidential Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was also the first Latina inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993.
What they're saying
"Dolores, your life and legacy are an integral part of our collective history and resistance," Solis said, "I'm deeply honored to be a part of it, and in knowing you and serving alongside you as you mentored me and so many others."
"Dolores Huerta's contributions to Los Angeles County and to Latinos across the country have inspired generations of leaders fighting for justice for all," Solis later said in a statement.
"Now more than ever, we honor Dolores Huerta for her work as one of the most influential labor activists of our time and celebrate her 95th birthday. On this Dolores Huerta Day, may her legacy continue to light a fire in us all."
Huerta returned the praise, calling Solis "modest" and noting that she "never really brags about herself or talks about the work that she's done."
Recalling Solis' advocacy against femicides in Mexico, Huerta congratulated her for achieving a significant milestone for women across borders.
Fellow Supervisor Janice Hahn recalled the grapes boycott and said it empowered women to take charge, even at a time when they were not working.
"My dad was a civil rights leader himself, but it was my mom who refused to buy grapes at the grocery store," Hahn said.
The board passed a similar motion in 2024, proclaiming April 10 as Dolores Huerta Day.
"Today, we reflect on your passion to overcome challenges and make reality the changes we want the entire world to see," Board Chair Kathryn Barger said Tuesday. "Happy birthday and we look forward to celebrating you at 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100."
"I'm honored to receive this recognition from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, who work tirelessly to make Los Angeles County a vibrant home for all," said Huerta in a statement.
"I accept this on behalf of Los Angeles' working people, especially our immigrant community, whose labor supports families and children. The Supervisors have gone above and beyond to assist immigrants, and as we face challenges ahead, it's vital to continue supporting their bold, compassionate leadership for our most underserved communities."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
27 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Points of Light, founded by the Bush family, aims to double American volunteerism by 2035
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Bush family's nonprofit Points of Light will lead an effort to double the number of people who volunteer with U.S. charitable organizations from 75 million annually to 150 million in 10 years. The ambitious goal, announced in New Orleans at the foundation's annual conference, which concluded Friday, would represent a major change in the way Americans spend their time and interact with nonprofits. It aspires to mobilize people to volunteer with nonprofits in the U.S. at a scale that only federal programs like AmeriCorps have in the past. It also coincides with deep federal funding cuts that threaten the financial stability of many nonprofits and with an effort to gut AmeriCorps programs, which sent 200,000 volunteers all over the country. A judge on Wednesday paused those cuts in some states, which had sued the Trump administration. Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of Points of Light, said that while the campaign has been in development well before the federal cuts, the nonprofit's board members recently met and decided to move forward. 'What our board said was, 'We have to do it now. We have to put the stake in the ground now. It's more important than it was before the disruption of AmeriCorps,'' she said in an interview with The Associated Press. She said the nonprofit aims to raise and spend $100 million over the next three years to support the goal. Points of Light, which is based in Atlanta, was founded by President George H.W. Bush to champion his vision of volunteerism. It has carried on his tradition of giving out a daily award to a volunteer around the country, built a global network of volunteer organizations and cultivated corporate volunteer programs. Speaking Wednesday in New Orleans, Points of Light's board chair Neil Bush told the organization's annual conference that the capacity volunteers add to nonprofits will have a huge impact on communities. 'Our mission is to make volunteering and service easier, more impactful, more sustained," Bush said. "Because, let's be honest, the problems in our communities aren't going to fix themselves.' According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps, the rate of participation has plateaued since 2002, with a noticeable dip during the pandemic. Susan M. Chambré, professor emerita at Baruch College who studied volunteering for decades, said Points of Light's goal of doubling the number of volunteers was admirable but unrealistic, given that volunteer rates have not varied significantly over time. But she said more research is needed into what motivates volunteers, which would give insight into how to recruit people. She also said volunteering has become more transactional over time, directed by staff as opposed to organized by volunteers themselves. In making its case for increasing volunteer participation in a recent report, Points of Light drew on research from nonprofits like Independent Sector, the National Alliance for Volunteer Engagement and the Do Good Institute at the University of Maryland. Sirangelo said they want to better measure the impact volunteers make, not just the hours they put in, for example. They also see a major role for technology to better connect potential volunteers to opportunities, though they acknowledge that many have tried to do that through apps and online platforms. Reaching young people will also be a major part of accomplishing this increase in volunteer participation. Sirangelo said she's observed that many young people who do want to participate are founding their own nonprofits rather than joining an existing one. 'We're not welcoming them to our institutions, so they have to go found something,' she said. 'That dynamic has to change.' As the board was considering this new goal, they reached out for advice to Alex Edgar, who is now the youth engagement manager at Made By Us. They ultimately invited him to join the board as a full voting member and agreed to bring on a second young person as well. 'I think for volunteering and the incredible work that Points of Light is leading to really have a deeper connection with my generation, it needs to be done in a way that isn't just talking to or at young people, but really co-created across generations,' said Edgar, who is 21. Karmit Bulman, who has researched and supported volunteer engagement for many years, said she was very pleased to see Points of Light make this commitment. 'They are probably the most well known volunteerism organization in the country and I really appreciate their leadership,' said Bulman, who is currently the executive director of East Side Learning Center, a nonprofit in St. Paul. Bulman said there are many people willing to help out in their communities but who are not willing to jump through hoops to volunteer with a nonprofit. 'We also need to recognize that it's a pretty darn stressful time in people's lives right now,' she said. "There's a lot of uncertainty personally and professionally and financially for a lot of people. So we need to be really, really flexible in how we engage volunteers." ___
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Scapegoating entire nations.' Trump's travel ban hurts innocent Columbus families
Farxaan Jeyte is a seasoned political strategist, entrepreneur and advocate with over 20 years of experience in U.S. presidential, gubernatorial and Senate campaigns. He is active in U.S.–Africa policy and supports minority-owned businesses through his work in trade, governance and grassroots advocacy. Donald Trump's administration argues that banning citizens of 12 countries — Somalia included — from entering the United States will fill gaps in foreign vetting and prevent dangerous individuals from slipping through. The move came after an Egyptian national was arrested on charges that he firebombed a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado. Trump said the attack 'underscored the extreme dangers posed by foreign nationals who are not properly vetted.' White House officials call the move 'commonsense' and say it targets countries with weak screening and high visa overstay rates to 'protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors.' Yet for all the focus on security, the human costs of a blanket ban are impossible to ignore. The policy casts a wide net, halting travel for entire populations because of the actions of a few. It sweeps up people who pose no threat: students, grandparents and refugees. More: Habiba Soliman wanted to be a doctor. Then, her father firebombed Jewish marchers in Boulder Punishing whole nations for the crimes of individuals also raises basic fairness issues. Notably, the Boulder suspect's country of origin, Egypt, isn't even on the ban list, calling into question how effective banning other countries really is. From the administration's view, the Boulder attack was a wake-up call revealing flaws in the immigration system. Officials note the suspect was an Egyptian visitor who overstayed his visa — a failure of enforcement they cite as proof of lax vetting. Supporters of the ban point out that many listed nations are unstable, potentially allowing extremists to slip through. By halting entry from countries such as Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia — all grappling with terrorism — the administration contends it is closing dangerous loopholes to prevent another tragedy. Critics argue the collateral damage — broken families and lost trust — far outweighs any security benefit. Human rights groups have decried the renewed policy as 'discriminatory' and cruel, saying it 'sows division and vilifies communities' seeking safety. The consequences for innocent families will be devastating. Ohio has roughly 60,000 Somali-American residents in the Columbus area. This vibrant community has contributed enormously — immigrants from Somalia have opened hundreds of local businesses and enriched the city's culture. More: 'Nobody told us about the neighborhood': Somali Americans experiences with youth violence A ban on Somalia strikes at the heart of these families. Grandparents may miss the birth of a grandchild, and students could see siblings barred from graduations. In Columbus, conversations are filled with concern for relatives stranded abroad. People who once fled terror and found refuge in America now worry they're seen as threats. It's a painful irony that has left many feeling alienated in the only country they call home. Trump's 2017 travel ban on Muslim-majority countries like Somalia caused chaos at airports and tore families apart — a history now poised to repeat. One Somali refugee in Ohio was separated from his wife and children for nearly seven years due to that ban. We can protect America without scapegoating entire nations. Rather than broad bans, officials should pursue targeted, intelligence-based measures — stronger background checks, better visa enforcement and vetting individuals based on real red flags, not blanket nationality. U.S. agencies are capable of pinpointing threats without closing the door on innocent travelers. Blanket travel bans offer a false sense of security while breeding resentment. A wiser approach balances vigilance with fairness, preserving goodwill with immigrant communities. Somali-Americans have proven their commitment to this country and should be treated as partners in safety, not suspects. Focusing on genuine threats — instead of scapegoating entire populations — is more just and more effective at keeping America safe. Farxaan Jeyte is a seasoned political strategist, entrepreneur and advocate with over 20 years of experience in U.S. presidential, gubernatorial and Senate campaigns. He is active in U.S.–Africa policy and supports minority-owned businesses through his work in trade, governance and grassroots advocacy. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Trump's travel ban lists countries with strong Ohio ties | Opinion
San Francisco Chronicle
32 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Judge halts Trump's cuts to AmeriCorps, preserving aid for California and 23 other states
A federal judge's ruling halting President Donald Trump's dismantling of AmeriCorps, which sends thousands of volunteers to programs aiding the poor, elderly and disabled and assists communities in disaster protection and recovery, is a victory for 24 states that challenged Trump's order. And particularly for California. Last year more than 6,150 AmeriCorps workers served at 1,200 locations in California, including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics and veterans' facilities, spending more than $133 million in federally funded aid, Attorney General Rob Bonta said Thursday after the court ruling. 'AmeriCorps volunteers represent the best parts of America,' Bonta said. 'Today's decision ensures this vital service work that brings volunteers directly into California communities will continue while we make our case in court.' 'Common sense has prevailed over cruelty,' said Gov. Gavin Newsom. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman of Maryland did not declare Trump's cutbacks illegal, an issue she will address at later stages of the case. But she said the administration had violated legal standards by slashing the agency without providing advance notice and seeking and considering comments from the states affected by his actions. 'The sudden mass grant termination, without any prior notice, has forced many of the states to scramble to fill gaps in services, to deal with the fallout of the mass exiting of (AmeriCorps) members, and to close out the grants they administer,' said Boardman, who was appointed by President Joe Biden. She said AmeriCorps' interim director, Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi, consulted with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency — but not with state officials or others affected by the programs — before issuing orders April 16 that suspended 85% of the agency's staff. The former total of 729 employees has now been reduced to 116, Boardman said, and one sole employee is responsible for processing nearly 30,000 educational grant awards to program volunteers. Ten days later, the judge said, AmeriCorps cut off more than 1,000 grants for state and local programs, ordered the programs closed, and forced the departures of about 30,000 volunteers. Its only explanation was that the grants 'no longer effectuate agency priorities.' Those programs 'provide critical, sometimes life-saving assistance to their communities,' Boardman said. One program she cited was California's GrizzlyCorps, which sends recent college graduates into rural communities to promote food resilience and wildfire and forest protection. AmeriCorps also includes Volunteers in Service to America, or VISTA, whose workers are sent to low-income communities. Another program, the National Civilian Community Corps, employs young adults for projects that include disaster relief and trail maintenance. AmeriCorps Seniors provides services for older Americans. If the Trump administration ultimately prevails in the case by showing that its actions were authorized, Boardman wrote, the funding required by her ruling will nevertheless 'have been spent on improving the lives of everyday Americans: veterans, people with substance use disorder, people with disabilities, children with learning differences, indigenous communities, people impacted by natural disasters, and people trying to survive below the poverty line.'
