Prince George's County hosts a keynote conversation with civil rights leader Dolores Huerta and County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks.
This event recognizes the essential role and contributions of Latin Americans and Hispanics in advancing civil rights for all Americans. Co-presented by the Prince George's County Memorial Library System and Office of Human Rights as part of Hispanic Heritage Month 2021. Learn more at pgcmls.info/hispanic-heritage. ASL interpretation will be provided. Presented in English. Spanish captions available on YouTube. English captions available on Facebook.
About Dolores Huerta
Dolores Huerta is a legendary labor leader, women's advocate and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW).
Working alongside UFW President César Chavez, Huerta was involved in numerous community and labor organizing efforts in Central California and quickly became a skilled organizer and negotiator for the union. In the UFW she was instrumental in the union's many successes, including the strikes against California grape growers in the 1960s and 1970s. As an advocate for farmworkers' rights, Huerta was arrested twenty-two times for participating in non-violent civil disobedience activities and strikes.
Huerta stepped down from her position at the UFW in 1999, yet she continues to work to improve the lives of workers, immigrants and women and children. As founder and president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, she travels the country, engaging in campaigns and influencing legislation that supports equality and defends civil rights. Five decades since the creation of the UFW, Huerta still works tirelessly, developing new leaders and advocating for the working poor, women, and children. She speaks regularly to students and organizations across the United States and abroad about issues of social justice and public policy.
Huerta has received numerous awards and honors for her activism and community service including the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award from President Clinton, The Puffin Foundation's Award for Creative Citizenship, the Ellis Island Medal of Freedom Award, and The Smithsonian Institution's James Smithson Award, among many others.
Ms. Magazine named Huerta One of the Three Most Important Women of l997 and Ladies Home Journal listed her as one of the 100 Most Important Woman of the 20th Century. She has nine Honorary Doctorates from universities throughout the United States and Huerta, mother of 11 children, was inducted to the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993.
In 2012, President Obama bestowed Huerta with her most prestigious award, The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. Upon receiving this award Huerta said, "The freedom of association means that people can come together in organization to fight for solutions to the problems they confront in their communities. The great social justice changes in our country have happened when people came together, organized, and took direct action. It is this right that sustains and nurtures our democracy today. The civil rights movement, the labor movement, the women's movement, and the equality movement for our LGBT brothers and sisters are all manifestations of these rights."
About County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks
In November 2018, Angela, a proud, life-long Prince Georgian, was elected as the 8th County Executive for Prince George’s County and the first woman to hold the position. Her administration is committed to providing a world-class education system, safe communities and a robust economy that creates jobs and opportunities for all and increases the commercial tax base to ensure residents are provided with the services they deserve.
After graduating with her B.A. in Public Policy from Duke University and her J.D. from the University of Maryland Law School, Angela began her career as a Prince George’s County Assistant State’s Attorney in 1997, eventually becoming the county’s first full-time prosecutor assigned to handle domestic violence cases.
In 2002, Angela was appointed by the County Executive to serve as Education Liaison, where she organized educational forums to help increase parental involvement in schools and environmental-based learning opportunities. In 2003, she was appointed the Executive Director of the county’s Revenue Authority. Under her leadership, the agency increased revenue by 40% through their parking enforcement program and some of those funds were used to help the county maintain a balanced budget during the recession.
In 2010, Angela was elected to serve as the county’s State’s Attorney, becoming the youngest and first woman to be elected to the office in Prince George’s County. Angela is a member of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and is involved in the effort to raise breast cancer awareness in her community. Angela resides in Upper Marlboro with her daughter, Alex.
AGE GROUP: | Teen (13-18 yrs) | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Women's History | Virtual Event | Special Event | Speaker or Panel | Hispanic Heritage |
TAGS: | Hispanic Heritage |
