Dolores Huerta is a legendary labor leader, women's advocate and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW).
Working alongside UFW President César Chavez, Huerta was involved in numerous community and labor organizing efforts in Central California and quickly became a skilled organizer and negotiator for the union. In the UFW she was instrumental in the union's many successes, including the strikes against California grape growers in the 1960s and 1970s. As an advocate for farmworkers' rights, Huerta was arrested twenty-two times for participating in non-violent civil disobedience activities and strikes.
Huerta stepped down from her position at the UFW in 1999, yet she continues to work to improve the lives of workers, immigrants and women and children. As founder and president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, she travels the country, engaging in campaigns and influencing legislation that supports equality and defends civil rights. Five decades since the creation of the UFW, Huerta still works tirelessly, developing new leaders and advocating for the working poor, women, and children. She speaks regularly to students and organizations across the United States and abroad about issues of social justice and public policy.
Huerta has received numerous awards and honors for her activism and community service including the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award from President Clinton, The Puffin Foundation's Award for Creative Citizenship, the Ellis Island Medal of Freedom Award, and The Smithsonian Institution's James Smithson Award, among many others.
Ms. Magazine named Huerta One of the Three Most Important Women of l997 and Ladies Home Journal listed her as one of the 100 Most Important Woman of the 20th Century. She has nine Honorary Doctorates from universities throughout the United States and Huerta, mother of 11 children, was inducted to the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993.
In 2012, President Obama bestowed Huerta with her most prestigious award, The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. Upon receiving this award Huerta said, "The freedom of association means that people can come together in organization to fight for solutions to the problems they confront in their communities. The great social justice changes in our country have happened when people came together, organized, and took direct action. It is this right that sustains and nurtures our democracy today. The civil rights movement, the labor movement, the women's movement, and the equality movement for our LGBT brothers and sisters are all manifestations of these rights."
An Evening with Dolores Huerta
An unforgettable conversation with one of the most iconic changemakers of our time. A wide-ranging conversation with Dolores Huerta, drawing from her powerful life story, organizing wisdom, and unwavering belief in collective action. Whether through Q&A, fireside chat, or keynote remarks, Dolores shares insights from decades of activism—from the farmworker movement to today’s fights for justice.
Latinx Power and Possibility: From Movement History to Future Generations
Honoring the past, organizing the present, and inspiring the future of Latinx leadership. Dolores Huerta draws from her lived experience as a Chicana labor leader and civil rights icon to highlight the often-overlooked contributions of Latinx communities to U.S. history. She shares powerful stories from the farmworker movement and the broader fight for racial, economic, and gender justice—while uplifting the next generation of Latinx changemakers leading today’s struggles. This talk is a call to action rooted in cultural pride, intergenerational wisdom, and the enduring belief in sí se puede.
Weaving Movements Together: Immigration, Environment, Labor, Women’s Rights, and LGBTQ+ Equality
How collective struggle, and solidarity across movements, fuels lasting change. Drawing from her decades of organizing experience, Dolores Huerta reflects on the deep interconnections between the major justice movements of our time. From marching alongside farmworkers in California’s fields to advocating for environmental protections, immigrant rights, gender equity, and LGBTQ+ dignity, Dolores speaks to the power of coalitions and people-powered action. This talk invites audiences to see social issues not as separate causes, but as part of a shared fight for human rights and collective liberation—and challenges us all to organize across lines of difference to win a more just future.
Labor Rights Are Human Rights: Lessons from the Fields to the Frontlines
A firsthand look at the power of organizing and the fight for dignity at work. Dolores Huerta reflects on her role in the historic United Farm Workers movement and connects past struggles to today’s labor organizing efforts across industries. This talk inspires workers, students, and communities to build power from the ground up.
Intergenerational Justice: How Youth Movements Carry the Torch
Why today’s young leaders are the key to continuing the legacy of justice. Dolores shares stories from her lifetime of organizing and speaks directly to rising generations about courage, persistence, and the responsibility we all share to build a better future. This is a popular choice for student audiences and intergenerational gatherings.
Dolores is available to speak about other topics or appearances.
