As we celebrate the day that Cesar Chavez was born, March 31, it is also important to recognize and acknowledge the people who knew and helped him. One of the people that stood by him and helped him become the person we all know, is Dolores Huerta. 

Dolores Huerta was born in Dawson, New Mexico on April 10, 1930. After her parent’s divorce, her mother moved Dolores and her siblings to Stockton, California. She was a great student, but continued to face racism from students and teachers. She got married, but eventually got a divorce after having two kids. This led her to go back to school and receive a teaching degree. 

Dolores Huerta became an elementary school teacher but was horrified by the conditions that the kids of farmworkers had to face and left. She wanted things to change and went on to create the Community Service Organization to help improve the lives of farmworkers. She has done things like lobbied to allow non-U.S. citizen migrant workers to receive public assistance. This was around the time that she met Cesar Chavez. 

They both wanted to do what they can to help farmworkers, so they co-founded the National Farm Workers Association. In 1965, they decided to work together and boycott Delano Grapes alongside Larry Itliong. After a few years, they were able to get grape growers to agree to pay farmworkers better and to receive healthcare benefits. 

Dolores Huerta has spoken and continues to advocate for different social issues decades later. She has received countless awards and strives to make the world a better place, one step at a time.