Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta spoke to Cal State San Bernardino students as part of the “Sí Se Puede: A Dialogue with Dolores Huerta,” on March 7. Hosted by CSUSB’s Associated Students Inc. the free event was held at Santos Manuel Student Union Events Center.

Huerta, one of history’s most notable champions for civil rights who also challenged 1950s gender convention, fought for racial and labor justice alongside fellow activist and civil rights leader César E. Chávez, and still continues to fight today at the age of 87. 

She urged the students to get involved in social issues and politics if they want to make change in society.

“If we don’t do it, nobody is going to do it for us,” Huerta said. “We are the ones who have to get involved and get engaged to make it happen.”

As part of that involvement, she told the students that must include voting and registering to vote.

“The only way you can change politics is by electing the people to make the decisions,” Huerta said. “By electing the people that are going to decide what to do with our tax dollars. Is it going to go for more jails or is it going to go for more schools.”

She began her activist journey in 1955, when she and Fred Ross, the founder of the Community Service Organization (CSO), started the Stockton chapter of the CSO, a grassroots group that worked to end segregation, discrimination and police brutality, and improve social and economic conditions of farm workers. In 1960, Huerta created the Agricultural Workers Association (AWA) and, a few years later, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) with Chávez. In 1965, the AWA and the NFWA combined to become the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee, or simply, the United Farm Workers.

Huerta’s legislative successes include securing Aid for Dependent Families (AFDC) and disability insurance for California farm workers in 1963 and the enactment of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, the first law of its kind in the U.S. granting farm workers in California the right to collectively organize and bargain for better wages and working conditions.

Huerta, who is a recipient of the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom for civic engagement, is also the founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, a community benefit organization that creates leadership opportunities for community organizing, leadership development, civic engagement and policy advocacy in health and environment, education and youth development, and economic development.

The documentary “Dolores” was shown in the Santos Manuel Student Union Theater for two days prior to Huerta’s visit.

For more information, contact CSUSB’s Associated Student Inc. at (909) 537-5932.

For more information on Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Strategic Communication at (909) 537-5007 and visit inside.csusb.edu.