Dolores Huerta, Leader Of Labor Movement, To Speak
Thursday, November 19 at 3:30 p.m.
A leader of the labor movement, Huerta co-founded and is vice president emeritus of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), formerly the National Farm Workers Association. In these roles, Huerta was instrumental in the enactment of the 1975 Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which established collective bargaining for farm workers. She also directed the UFW’s national grape boycott, which resulted in a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the grape growers; established the first health and pension plans for farm workers; and worked to eliminate toxic pesticides that threaten farm workers, consumers and the environment.
A longtime advocate of civil rights, Huerta spent more than 50 years as a political and cultural activist, and grassroots organizer who supported a range of issues including desegregation, human rights, and the improvement of public services for low-income people. She continues to work for women, immigrants, workers and youth as the president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, a non-profit organization that works toward fair and equal access to healthcare, housing, education, jobs, civic participation and economic resources.
Huerta’s lecture is made possible by the Canisius College Justice in Action committee, as well as the Office of Student Affairs, the Institute for the Global Study of Religion, Campus Ministry and Justice Committee of U.S.A.
For more information, contact the Sister Patricia Brady, director of service-learning, at (716) 888-2177.
Canisius College is one of 28 Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.
Date released: 10/23/2009
