Day 9. Dolores Huerta – “Sí Se Puede,” Still.
Co-founder of the United Farm Workers alongside César Chávez, Dolores Huerta remains a fierce advocate for labor, women’s, and civil rights. Her rallying cry, “Sí, se puede” (“Yes, we can”), continues to echo through movements worldwide. Her leadership reminds us that labor justice is inseparable from racial and gender equity.
When we say “Sí, se puede,” we’re not just invoking a slogan. We’re affirming a legacy of fearless, grassroots leadership rooted in justice, dignity, and love.
Dolores Huerta, born in 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico, has spent more than seven decades as an organizer, agitator, and visionary. She helped change the course of labor rights in the United States, particularly for the Latinx, Chicanx, and migrant communities who make up the backbone of our agricultural systems.
“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” – Dolores Huerta
A Story of Grit and Grace: Organizing in the Fields
In the 1960s, Huerta and Chávez founded the United Farm Workers (UFW), organizing grape and lettuce workers in California. Huerta was the lead negotiator in labor contracts – a woman, a Latina, at a time when few women held visible leadership.
While César Chávez became the public face of the movement, Huerta was the tireless organizer behind the scenes and on the frontlines, facing harassment, police violence, and systemic misogyny.
In 1988, she was beaten by San Francisco police during a peaceful protest against then–presidential candidate George H. W. Bush. Her recovery was long, but her spirit never broke. She returned to organizing with even more clarity: “We must invest in women and young people to keep this movement alive.”
Her Legacy: Intersectional Justice
Dolores Huerta’s work shows us that labor rights cannot be separated from gender justice, reproductive rights, immigration reform, and racial equity. She has championed LGBTQ+ inclusion, public education, and voting access – especially for historically marginalized communities.
“We can’t let people drive wedges between us… All our struggles are connected.” – Dolores Huerta
In 2012, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. And in 2024, at age 94, she’s still organizing, speaking, and mobilizing.
Learn More
- FILM: Dolores (2017, dir. Peter Bratt) – A compelling documentary that centers her contributions and the sexism she faced even within the movement.
- BOOK: A Dolores Huerta Reader (edited by Mario T. García) – Collection of essays, speeches, and historical analysis.
- ORG: Dolores Huerta Foundation – Continuing her mission to inspire and train the next generation of organizers.
- PODCAST: Latino USA – Episode: “Dolores Huerta on Power, Feminism, and Si Se Puede”
- YOUTH RESOURCE: Teaching for Change – Dolores Huerta lesson plans & bios
Reflect & Act
- What does “Sí se puede” mean to you, in your community, right now?
- How can we honor women and femmes of color in our labor justice work – not just historically, but today?
- Who are the unsung Dolores Huertas in your community, quietly building power?
Let us remember: Justice is not a finished fight – it’s a lifelong practice. Dolores reminds us that change is always possible, especially when we act with collective courage.
“Sí se puede.” And still – yes, we can.
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