Last week, we sat down with RALIANCE Co-founder Sandra Henriquez, a Latina who described a culture of connectedness in her community that has enabled action from the grassroots level to prevent sexual misconduct, harassment, and abuse. Today, we want to recognize several women who are leading that charge:
• Dolores Huerta, at 91 years old, remains a preeminent labor leader and civil rights activist. Alongside Cesar Chavez, Huerta co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, an organization that would later become the United Farm Workers. In addition to advocating for safer working conditions, Huerta is an outspoken champion for LGBTQ and women’s rights. She continues to empower a new generation of activists through her work at the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
• Veronica Lagunas, Anabella Aguirre, Alejandra Valles, and Sandra Diaz are transforming California’s janitorial industry for the better through their work at Ya Basta Center. Founded by Lagunas and Aguirre, both janitors themselves, the Ya Basta Center advocates for the needs of janitorial workers, demonstrating the power of speaking from a lived experience. By uniting their community, they led the passage of legislation in California that provides new protections for janitorial staff vulnerable to sexual violence. You can read more about the Ya Basta Center here.
• Mily Trevino Sauceda and Suguet Lopez are two women working to build a better future for farmworkers. Suguet Lopez is the Executive Director of Lideres Campesinas, the country’s first organization for farmworker women, which has organized for the implementation of domestic violence and prevention programs. Lideres Campesinas is now a member organization of Alianza Nacional De Campesinas, which is helmed by Trevino-Sauceda. Comprised of 15 member organizations from across the country, Alianza Nacional De Campesinas was founded to take on many challenges, including preventing gender-based violence.
All of the women featured in this blog are evidence that people have the power to protect their communities and change the world for the better.
RALIANCE provides consulting, assessment, and employee development services to help build more equitable workplace cultures and create environments free from sexual harassment, misconduct and abuse. We stand ready to support your organization’s goals – contact us today at info@raliance.org to get started.