The following article was originally published by Leno Rose-Avila on Impacto on April 7, 2024.
The challenges Dolores Huerta faced were seemingly insurmountable to many: a woman, Latina, mother, and organizer. Yet, she met obstacles with a smile and a relentless drive to bring people together for change.
This year, we celebrate not only Dolores’ 94th birthday on April 10th, but also the 20th anniversary of the Dolores Huerta Foundation’s impactful organizing efforts.
Inspired by the Fred Ross Sr. model, the Foundation began holding house meetings in California’s Central Valley. By listening directly to these communities, they identified their most pressing needs: streetlights, sewage connections, sidewalks, reopened swimming pools, and solutions to address student drop-out rates among students of color. This grassroots approach has created a powerful movement for change.
Through their census work, they achieved a remarkable feat: increased funding for their target communities. They then empowered these grassroots leaders by teaching them how to analyze school and county budgets, equipping them to demand changes that benefit their communities.
Organizing is a demanding but incredibly creative and sustainable path to social change.
Dolores Huerta, a trailblazer with a long history of leadership – from the Community Service Organization to co-founding the United Farm Workers and championing women’s rights nationally – was perfectly suited for this pivotal moment in history.
Camila Chavez, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation and Dolores’ youngest child, understands the critical need for the broader community to get involved. This can be achieved by continuing to organize at the grassroots level and by establishing an endowment to ensure the Foundation’s long-term sustainability.
The Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) is on the cusp of opening its new two-story building in downtown Bakersfield – the Dolores Huerta Peace & Justice Cultural Center. This state-of-the-art facility will provide the DHF with the necessary amenities and functionality to further its work.
However, a crucial element remains – more passionate activists. At its core, this movement is defined by its intergenerational and multicultural character.
This movement offers valuable lessons and opportunities for people across the country and internationally to learn and contribute. Anyone with a good heart can become a supporter, a sustainer, and a champion for continued progress beyond past achievements. This requires us to step outside our comfort zones, discover our own strengths, and become “prophets” of justice.
While expertise in law or advanced degrees can be valuable, the most important thing is for all of us to find ways to make a difference in the lives of the men, women, and youth yearning for our support on their journey towards freedom.
The Dolores Huerta Foundation and Dolores herself believes we all have personal barriers to overcome, regardless of gender. We must break free from limiting societal expectations that repress our dreams. Dolores challenges us to shatter our own limitations, inspiring others to dream big and achieve the seemingly impossible.
You can become a part of Shatter Ceiling Club SCC by joining the DHF. Together, we can empower individuals to find their voices and dismantle these artificial barriers.
The Vecinos Unidos / Neighbors United foundation model emphasizes building community with your neighbors and colleagues. By working together, we can ensure resources are used to meet the needs of the people.
The best way to honor Dolores on her 94th birthday is by continuing her work for justice. Join the DHF and help others break down barriers worldwide in the pursuit of freedom.
Visit www.doloreshuerta.org to learn more about the Dolores Huerta Foundation and how you can get involved.
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