STEP 1: Foundational Discussion 

We recommend that educators ask their students what they already know about any forms of organized labor including the following concepts and their historical implications:

• collective bargaining

• wages

• unions

• protests

• marches

• boycotts

• strikes

• voting

• non-discrimination policies

• workers' rights

It is worth visiting the United Farm Workers site for some history of “Sí, Se Puede" as well as other critical historical events and eras.

Often times throughout history, different human rights movements have "elevated" a singular "figure-head" [usually male] who, occasionally--without always intentionally vying for that position--are nonetheless foisted into these roles by a combination of media and carefully crafted emphasis on these singular figures' contributions and deliberate omission or erasure of the contributions of other critical individuals [especially non-male]. This is not only a disservice to the people who made significant contributions to that movement, but it is useful to the opponents of that historical movement--maintainers of the status quo--because it is always easier to manipulate propaganda with singular figures' histories.  It is also inherently politically expedient to deemphasize and diminish the power and impact of collective resistance because it adheres to an interplay between an "omnipotent" savior and "useless" non-saviors. And finally, having singular narratives undermines the credibility of real movements' histories because something so complex could not possibly be so devoid of nuance which, in turn, makes them easier to dismiss as nonsensical (see the March Archives for a discussion about the 9 words of the Black Civil Rights Movement and an amazing resource that touches on this very subject).

There are people who don't recognize the name of Dolores Huerta but DO recognize the name of César Chavez as THE champion of ______________. (To fill that blank, would the phrase "labor rights" be the first thing that comes to mind for most Americans? If you're thinking that many people would have answered "Latine Civil Rights," then that lends further to the misconceptions about César Chavez and his contributions to historical movements and it severely diminishes the scope of the Latine Civil Rights Movement). This is NOT to diminish or dismiss the beautiful life of César Chavez, but Dolores Huerta made monumental contributions to the same movements that César Chavez did and is often left out of the narrative. 

An educator needs look no further than a search on Amazon for children's books. The Chavez titles dwarf the Huerta titles by nearly 10 to 1. Perhaps as a final confirmation of the persistence of this imbalance, the book we are offering to educators in the K-5 category for Dolores Huerta--Side by Side: Lado A Lado--is certainly one of the best written and most widely available [and affordable to distribute] titles but it is one that focuses on BOTH César Chavez and Dolores Huerta. . .not Dolores Huerta alone. Besides it being an excellent book that stands on its own merits, it also is one of the only books about either of them that is written in a bilingual (English AND Spanish) format in one book.

Nonetheless, this website seeks to strike a bit of balance to the traditional "singular figurehead" narrative. If you're learning about Dolores Huerta for the first time, I strongly encourage you to read on, order a copy of the free book (scroll way to the bottom), and learn more about this TITAN of MULTIPLE movements over the past 7 decades. Once you and your class explore the life of Dolores Huerta, your students will recognize her for the living legend that continues to inspire young and old and people from all identities everywhere across the Earth. 

STEP 3: Watch the video interview "Necessary Trouble Archives Dolores Huerta 2022" A discussion with a living legend and president and founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation moderated by Amirah and Jenna from Lincoln High School. 

The total run time is 1 hour and 13 minutes.

This Google Classroom is designed to allow teachers from different classes/schools to facilitate collaboration and communication about student allyship, culturally responsive curriculum, and youth voice and empowerment. Before engaging in this culminating classroom discussion, all students should have A) read Dolores Huerta Stands Strong or Side by Side Lado A Lado  B) viewed the primary source video "Necessary Trouble Archives Dolores Huerta, 2022" (above) and  C) discussed and reflected on the reading/viewing of A) & B) with their classmates.

You are welcome to clone this class and share as you see fit within SDUSD. (Scroll up to directly above "Educator Pathway" for cloning instructions or--if you're not an SDUSD educator--a job-aid on how to build your own.)

Please note: Educators may need to go to "Stream" section of the General settings (below) and select "Students can post and comment" if it's not selected in the general settings. 

Classwork #1: Sí, Se Puede!

1. In the "Question" section of your "Classwork" tab, paste this:  

1. Dolores Huerta Student Prompt #1: “Sí, Se Puede" 

"When I came up with the slogan “Sí, se puede,” it was meant to encourage and inspire people to exercise their power and to take action especially when others were in need. Are there moments in your life when “Sí, se puede,” resonated with YOU? There are those times when we are faced with  difficult choices, but you know that you have to take a step forward and speak up and take an action to do what is right when somebody or a group of people need your help the most. What are those moments for you when you have an opportunity to address an injustice? It could be you addressing a big problem like underpaid labor, gun violence, the environment, but it also could be addressing injustice against one person, one of your schoolmates, one of your relatives, one of your neighbors. What is your plan of action?”

2. In the "Instructions" section, paste this:  

Synthesizing what you read in your Dolores Huerta text, viewed in the "Necessary Trouble Archives Dolores Huerta 2022" video, and your own life experiences, view Dolores Huerta's prompt (below) and compose a unique post.

Additionally, please respond to at least two other students' posts. Be sure to use academic language, proper punctuation, and respectful dialogue.

Attached is a discussion rubric and expectations for facilitating online communication. 

Classwork #2: How DO You Use YOUR Power 

1. In the "Question" section of your "Classwork" tab, paste this:  

2. Dolores Huerta Student Prompt #2: “How Do You Use YOUR Power?" 

"There were many times in my life when people told me that I couldn’t do something because I’m a woman, or because I’m a Latina. But I knew that I could do it. I ignored what they said to me. I believed in myself and what I could do. So I just jumped over those hurdles in a way that I could get the job done. Often times, those hurdles are just in our mind when we listen to people who tell us we can’t do something. So we know there were many times somebody you care about was also told that they couldn’t do something because they were too young, because they are a woman, because they’re an imigrant, because they’re a person of color–brown, black, or Asian, because they are gay, lesbian, or trans, or because they have a disability, or because they speak a different language or because they don’t speak English in a perfect way. What did that feel like? How can you use YOUR power to push back against people that talk like that and try to make people afraid or intimidate them. Yeah, we know that those are the people we have to stand up against and not let them diminish our power.

You have to use your personal power to push back against those messages of exclusion of hatred to make your school or community a place that sends messages of love, affirmation, and belonging so that EVERYBODY–ALL people–recognize their own value of what they can contribute to the world? Okay? That’s our job. To be the messengers of peace, justice, and to empower others so that they can know that they have value and they can contribute and not let anybody stand in their way. 

Sí, se puede. ”

2. In the "Instructions" section, paste this:  

Synthesizing what you read in your Dolores Huerta text, viewed in the "Necessary Trouble Archives Dolores Huerta 2022" video, and your own life experiences, view Dolores Huerta's prompt (below) and compose a unique post.

Additionally, please respond to at least two other students' posts. Be sure to use academic language, proper punctuation, and respectful dialogue.

Attached is a discussion rubric and expectations for facilitating online communication. 

Dolores Huerta Foundation Biographical Information

DHF lays out some concise but sweeping biographical details that outline the life of Dolores Huerta and her many contributions across myriad movements.  It also is a good step off point into other movements that have been inspired by Ms. Huerta and the people who have lead those efforts.