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Dear friends,
American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez, the recent Sundance-awarded film, reminds us how little those outside of the Chicano and Latino communities know about their lives — and when there are efforts by those communities to hold up their hopes, their struggles, their humanity, we all too often respond with ignorance and trivialization, or at worst, a fearful degradation of their humanity that pursues their removal from our presence.
Into this historical and seemingly never-ending cycle, someone occasionally breaks through and offers us a glimpse of humanity — the humanity of others and our own humanity — and we are all the better for it. Dolores Huerta was one such blessing for all of us in the United States and beyond.
Her witness with and to the farmworkers of California through the creation and leadership of the United Farm Workers union was an inspiration to thousands upon thousands across the land. Her success, her work and the work of countless other union members laid the foundation for the work of laborers and allies in New York.
Time and time again, I have run into people who proudly point out that they participated in the grape boycotts — boycotts that were a part of a campaign that took place decades ago. That is what captures the angelic quality of Dolores: she broke through the injustice and presented a pathway for us that would fill us with pride and hope.
It was not an easy pathway. It was filled with battles, abuse and powers that sought to destroy, and yet she continued to march with a vision of justice that served as her north star. And it became our north star as well.
The Justice for Farmworkers Campaign in New York, which began in the 1990s, had its roots in the work of Dolores and others in California. Witnessing their victories decades earlier, we were determined that there could be justice in New York’s fields, orchards and dairy farms as well. Thus, our campaign was launched. Who knew it would take 20 years to succeed? (Dolores, I bet, did). As in California, there were countless meetings and two statewide assemblies among farmworkers. There were marches across the state, endless vigils and rallies at the Capitol, and hundreds of legislative visits. They were inspired by Dolores, César Chávez and the farmworkers of California, and the multitudes of allies who stood with them.
One of the points that constantly struck me during this period was the ease we had in enlisting people to join the campaign. We didn’t have to explain the oppression and plight of farmworkers —people already knew it, because of Dolores and others. People knew there was injustice, and masses joined. Throughout those decades of the Justice for Farmworkers Campaign, we would be buoyed by the presence of Dolores at rallies and visits with legislators and governors. She brought her passion to us from California, and we were all stronger because of her presence.
One moment that especially stands out for me took place in Washington, DC, when Kerry Kennedy and the RFK Center for Human Rights invited our youth leaders to join Dolores at the Center and Dolores named our colleague, Librada Paz, the RFK Human Rights Laureate for her leadership in the JFW Campaign. To see an icon take the time to discuss strategy and vision with a group of young leaders was breath-giving.
Even after the passage of the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act in 2019, which finally gave historic equality to farmworkers, Dolores was not done with us in New York. In April of 2025, longtime fellow advocate David Schilling, who had worked alongside Dolores in California, hosted a birthday party for her. At the age of 95, Dolores was not interested in celebrating; instead, she wanted to focus on urging those gathered to keep fighting against those forces of evil and cruelty — something we needed to hear in the midst of the cruel forces emanating from Washington.
Perhaps it was a deep passion that kept her going so long — she was always focused not only on others — especially those who were oppressed — but equally on empowering multitudes of us to live into our own power, lovingly affirming us, and yet pushing hard. As I reflect on her life, I can’t help but think that I have been in the presence of an angel, and that I, and all of us who came across Dolores Huerta, have been blessed ... and then I have a sneaky feeling that she would say: “Get Back to Work: Sí, Se Puede!”
In peace,
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