INTRODUCTIONS:

 

Leno  00:01

Dolores Huerta, two years ago, I wrote a poem called No I am Dolores, trying to describe this tsunami of Hope who loves Mother Earth and all her creatures, Yuko Kodama and her 15 year old daughter, Mika, took this poem and brought it to life with the grassroots voices of 30 women. When we honor Dolores, we honor all the women and young girls who fight for justice and freedom.

 

Yuko  00:33

No, I am. Dolores is a poem written by activist Magdaleno Rose Avila, and it captures many of the wonderful sides and history of Dolores, Huerta, I'm Yuko Kodama. Myself and my daughter Mika, were excited to work with Magdaleno to produce the many voices that read stanzas of this epic poem.  We wanted the women and girls you'll listen to next to lend their voice and spirits to this magical presentation that will not only help us to better understand Dolores, but also challenges us to do more and to do better for the rights of others.

 

Mika  01:15

Why Dolores Huerta?  She is the most amazing woman, who, at 94 is still working and organizing. She was Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers Union, along with Cesar Chavez, and 20 years ago, founded the Dolores Huerta Foundation that does outreach, education, motivation and activation of men and women at the grassroots level. Dolores is a feminist who's a leading voice on the environment, workers' rights, LGBTQ+ rights, women's health rights, and one of the strongest advocates for voting. There is not another figure in the Latino community and nationally like Dolores Huerta. Her story is particularly motivating to young women and also reaches many men who struggle within a race-tainted economic system. Her stance on judicial reform and abolition of the death penalty help us to understand why changes need to be made. Dolores believes that we have the people power to make this a better world for everyone.

 

Yuko  02:25

Before we move on to the poem, you'll listen to the participants introduce themselves.

 

Naija  02:32

Hi. My name is Naija Taeyang Che, and I'm six years old. Thank you for helping the community. 

 

Angela  02:39

I am the Reverend Angela Ying, senior pastor at Bethany United Church of Christ in South Seattle.

 

Velma  02:47

Hi, Dolores, my name is Velma Veloria. I'm a former state representative and a fan of your work.

 

Palmira  02:56

My name is Palmira Figueroa. I am an immigrant from Mexico. I've been in the US for 22 years, working for immigration justice, and currently, I work for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, organizing laborers around the country.

 

Kassie  03:13

My name is Kassie Goforth, and I am a therapist. I'm a teacher, I'm an activist, especially for immigrants' rights, and I accompany immigrants and try to help them access services, and I try to convert the hearts of my own community. Buenoso lo que area Desir les Senora, Dolores de que pues somos muchos los que usted no conoce, que somos me agradecidos con es por su ejemplo, y todo lo que hay Chor nosotros, tanto pues gente gringa, gente americana Blanca, como gente Latina y de verdades el Corazon. Muchas gracias.

 

Stefanie  03:56

I'm Stefanie Anderson. I was part of the team in Washington state that ended the death penalty here and I worked for a few years at Witness to Innocence.

 

Cristina  04:09

Hi, Dolores. I am so unbelievably honored to get to play a part in this project. My name is Ana Cristina, and I'm just so grateful for everything that you have done for your community and for our community, our beloved community. Thank you so much.

 

Bethany  04:21

Hello. My name is Bethany Black, and I am a librarian at Glacier Middle School in Highline School District - Actually a teacher librarian, if we would like to be more specific,

 

Winona  04:36

My name is Winona Hollins Hague -  and Dolores, I am so honored to have had the opportunity to speak into how important the selfless work that you done has been such a benefit to all. We thank you. We love you and keep up the good work.

 

Angelina  04:58

I'm Angelina Godoy. I'm the Director of the University of Washington Center for Human Rights,

 

Judith  05:02

Hola. This is Judith Mercado, and I have the honor and privilege of working for Youth Eastside Services as a Latino youth and family support specialist. I just want to say: Dolores Huerta, Mil gracias for being an inspiration, a role model, a hero from all the way to Seattle a little girl dreaming and getting to know your history has been such an honor and living your legacy. Muchos, gracias for all of your hard work y Si Se Puede.

 

Mojdeh  05:36

Hello. Well, my name is Mojdeh Sami, and I wanted to thank you for all of your community service and advocacy work throughout the years. You're truly an inspiration to me, my daughter, and everybody who looks to serve the people. Si se puede.

 

Banessa  05:57

Hi, you guys. My name is Banessa Gómez. I work here at Youth Eastside Services as a Latino youth and family specialist. For Dolores, Muchas gracias por todo lo que hace Cho para la comunidad, you're very amazing in whatever you do.

 

Janay  06:14

My name is Janay Gonzalez. I am 17 years old, and I'd like to say thank you for the opportunity that you gave us women. I really find inspiration from you. Why I care about being involved is because I like to get our voices out there, knowing that we have a bunch of Latino Chicanos that sacrifice a lot for us and that they are the reason why we're here today as well. 

 

Paulina  06:42

My name is Paulina Gutierrez, and I am 20 years old. 

 

Doris  06:45

I'm Doris Yuri Mercado. I'm 11. Thank you for the changes you've made the past years. You fought for the farm workers that were getting exposed to the toxic chemicals. 

 

Zayuri  06:57

My name is Zayuri Aguilar Garcia. I am 15. Gracias Dolores por luchar, si miedo por a ver luchado por la gente que tenga miedo no ser subos. Pero sobre todo, pero don que usted Cesar que poner su vida en riesgo para que las cosas cambiana, aunque no estuve viva en ese tiempo. Yo se que todos ustedes son personas. Is on a manos emergency, entener una vida en lo que cabe normal, una vidas en discrimination. 

 

Lexi  07:32

I'm Lexi Gonzalez, and I am 16. Hey Dolores. I am such a big fan, and I really appreciate all the work that you have done for our Latino community over here in Washington. 

 

Mika  07:42

This is Mika Kodama Chew, and I'm 15 years old. Dolores, your work and your resistance against colonized structures is so inspiring. Thank you so much for everything you've done.

 

Sidney  07:58

Hello. My name is Sidney. I'm 16. It's important that people are doing this work, because our voices need to be heard.  I think that you're a very inspiring person, and I really enjoyed your work. 

 

Dalila  08:11

My name is Dalila Paredes, and I am the daughter and granddaughter of farm workers of the land. I'm also a descendant of Mexican Taraumara Indians, and I am now the Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math at Shoreline Community College, and I am proudly continuing the work you and my ancestors have started.  

 

Setsu  08:30

Hello Dolores, I am Setsu Versace Babilonia.  I am working as a spiritual advisor.  You are an inspiration for me since I learned from you, the power of voice and actions with true heart, hope, strong will and braveness. Thank you very much and the God and universe bless you more and more.

 

Michele  08:55

Hello, Dolores. My name is Michele Storms. I'm the Executive Director of the ACLU of Washington State. You are one of my many heroes, and I think of you all the time as I do my work for equity and justice. Thank you.

 

Dana  09:12

I'm Dana Schuerholtz, and I have worked as a social documentarian for a bunch of years, and various struggles that I've been involved with in movements including the farm workers' rights movement. And I currently teach social justice and ecological awareness at Vashon Green School with young people who hopefully take up the struggle long after I'm gone and Dolores, you have been an inspiration my entire adult life. Thank you for all you have done and do.

 

Martha  09:55

I'm Martha Kongsgaard. I am an environmental activist. 

 

Sharon  10:00

I'm Sharon Maeda, and I spent the better part of my career working in community media to get people to have their own voices be heard, whether it was radio or print media or even television and film. And I'm retired now, but still doing it.  Dolores, it's been so many decades since those days when you would come to Los Angeles, and I would sit with you across the street from KPFK Pacifica Radio, and give you little workshops so to speak over lunch and then dinner about how to start a radio station. And what I really appreciate about you, in addition to being able to spend time with you is that you always look for new ways to communicate with more people, create more understanding and share more and in addition to KUFW that you created your institute for labor and for workers to understand the future, and all of those things were really to build generations to come to be activists and to fight for justice. And I really appreciate that, and I loved seeing you in Seattle when you came up to see your niece. 

 

Tina  11:25

I am Tina Morales, and I have the privilege and honor of working with Latino youth and families on the east side. Dolores, te queremos mucho. We love you. You are the inspiration. Keep going. Thank you for the inspiration, and Si se puede.

 

Yuko  11:41

Hi. I'm Yuko Kodama, one of the Co-Producers on this poem piece. Thank you, Dolores for encouraging everyone to be in community, to protect each other and to fight for one another so that we can all rise together. I have been really inspired by how you've brought these voices together to meet each other and learn about you and what everyone is working on and how we can help each other because of this poem project. Thank you for continuing to inspire us, even though you're not here in Seattle with us. Your presence here is powerful and the reach is generational.

 

Sameen  12:31

Hello. I am Sameen Stefan and I'm four years old. Thank you for doing everything. Dolores, love you.

 

Yuko  12:47

Those were introductions by the participants in this project. Finally, we bring you the poem. 'No, I am Dolores', written by Magdaleno Rose-Avila.

 

 

POEM:

 

Michele  13:00

No, I am Dolores. I am a woman who, like many other women, was born into a society that believed that men were better than women, born into a world where people of color were not considered full citizens. I was born into Dawson, New Mexico on April 10, 1930

 

Naija  13:26

I am Dolores at six years old. My dreams are bigger than the moon. I fight for all the children. As a child, I wanted to be heard. I wanted people to listen to my heart so I can help to change this world.

 

Doris  13:44

No, no, no, I am Dolores, a feminist to the bone and dreamer of full equality. I want all young girls to know that they're equal in every way, and that we need to ensure that this world of ours recognizes and respects young girls and women so that they can help us to move forward together.

 

Tina  14:09

I keep dreams alive. I am Dolores. My children, like so many, have had so many challenges growing up. It's not easy being a young person, but I work hard to keep the dreams alive of all young individuals.  Everyone deserves a second chance, or perhaps a third chance. They deserve our support every day, everywhere.

 

Zayuri  14:34

No Look at me. I am Dolores. I was accused of having someone else write my high school papers. They could not accept that I was a good writer. My teachers could not believe what their eyes were reading and that I had written it, and those teachers should know that I continue to write history by my speeches and my actions.

 

Lexi  14:57

No listen. I am Dolores who wants to meet everyone at every event I attend. I want to hear their stories. I want them to know that we need them to stand with me, with us, as we work to make this a better world.

 

Paulina  15:14

No, no, no, yo, yo soy Dolores. Chicana, Warrior, hola de Raza. I embrace the struggle for freedom and justice for all Chicanos and all those who need our voices and actions.

 

Angelina  15:27

Register this. I am Dolores. I was part of early efforts to register Latinos for Bobby Kennedy, and was standing with him on the stage the night he was assassinated.  I continue to register voters and also prepare them to become candidates - and win, to change laws and policies to make them better, and I remind everyone to vote for candidates who represent our values. 

 

Banessa  15:53

No, no, no. I am Dolores. I am the one who learned how to organize house meetings by the master of organizing, Fred Ross Sr, who was a major influence in my life.  With his lessons, Cesar Chavez and I organized CSO, the Community Service Organization. And there I began lobbying for the poor, changing attitudes and legislation, learning, of course, Fred Ross Sr.'s lessons on organizing, which continue to help us all. 

 

Stefanie  16:20

No, look at me. I am Dolores, a fighter for judicial reform, I work to eliminate the school to prison pipeline and the unfair judicial processes that targets people of color and the poor, and I know that we must end the death penalty. 

 

Sharon  16:42

No, no, I am Dolores. Everyday. It seems like I have more news of the day that I want to share with everyone, wishing I had my own radio program to announce to the world about the racism and oppression that tries to destroy us. And also, at the same time, I want to spotlight the women, men and youth who dream the impossible, and through hard work and sacrifice make it a reality.

 

Velma  17:12

No, I'm Dolores, Co-founder of the UFW, along with Cesar Chavez of the historic United Farm Workers Union and we Latinos joined a strike initiated by Larry Itliong and the Filipino farmworkers. We showed the power of farmworkers and the power of consumers by organizing successful grape and lettuce boycotts and winning contracts, improving the lives of workers.

 

Martha  17:45

Wait a minute. I am Dolores. I am a warrior for environmental justice. I knew early on about the damage done by herbicides and pesticides to farmworkers, farmers, the soil and the consumer. I am fighting for laws that will protect Mother Nature and all her creatures.

 

Mika  18:09

Watch what I eat. I am Dolores. I love eating vegetables. It is what Mother Earth provides for us. There is such a great variety of items growing wild along our rivers, in our forests and at amazing organic farms. As a vegetarian, I know that I need this natural medicine, and I know that by changing our diets, we can help everyone everywhere have enough to eat

 

Judith  18:39

Orale, I am Dolores who honors our indigenous roots, our sweat lodges, our drum ceremonies, our cleansing with the smoke of sage and with our dansantes Aztecas, I too dance with them and send my prayers up to the wind of four directions so that all will fight for justice.

 

Kassie  19:07

Of course, I am Dolores, protecting the LGBTQ community, knowing that everyone is equal when we protect their rights, we are ensuring that our rights are protected. All my life, I have made sacrifices. I sacrificed my family, my friends, my health, my everything, so that I could help to create a better future for everyone. 

 

Bethany  19:34

No, this really is me. I am Dolores, a school teacher who wanted to open the minds of so many students. As a teacher, I knew that I could help students to succeed. I knew that I would be a good teacher for all students, and now I must inspire not only students, parents, but also educators.

 

Sidney  20:01

I am Dolores. I enjoy reading. I want to read everything everyday. I want the news. I want the facts and, of course, a little fiction now and then is also good. Reading is as important as water and oxygen to keep us alive.

 

Palmira  20:17

What? You know, I am Dolores. I appreciate the arts, the poets, the artists, the dancers, the singers, muralists, musicians, the comics who make us laugh, laughing frees our spirits. I love an artistic and colorful march with full color banners and flags. I love that the arts give us life.

 

Cristina  20:42

Yes, I am Dolores. I had dreams as a child of becoming a dancer. Music would and does move my heart and my body, and I would have loved to put my body to the test. So please, dance with me now all the way into tomorrow.

 

Dalila  21:02

Let me be clear, I am Dolores. I love music, mariachis, rancheras, Hip Hop, Rock and Roll, Latino, country, soul, rap and folk - and protest in more than one language, but late at night, the music for my soul is jazz, which brings so much that my heart of hearts desires and gives me a chance to breathe deep and dream.

 

Yuko  21:31

Can't you see that I am Dolores, a peace activist. I believe in non-violence and do not accept wars as an answer. The damage that wars leave destroys people for years after the last bomb or bullet is used.  Peace is a lifestyle we must all embrace - and we must promote love.

 

Dana  21:59

Take my picture, because I am Dolores.  Over my lifetime, I have documented my dreams, my work with photos, videos, songs, murals, poems and news articles -  creating an archive of the struggle for freedom for generations to come so that they can learn from my journey and do even more.

 

Janay  22:28

See, I am Dolores making "Si se puede", not only a chant, but a reality. E ven today, there are some who say it can't be done, but to them, I say, Yes, it can. "Si se puede". But to make it a reality, you must work hard, sometimes against incredible odds, and never give up.

 

Angela  22:50

Every day I am Dolores. - an organizer in a freedom movement while giving birth to 11 children, I was and am a mother, organizer and grandmother.  Perhaps I should be in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most children while being a full time organizer.

 

Michele  23:20

No, at last, you will learn that I am Dolores -  Founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, who, along with my family and friends, are building a working model for activists of all colors, for everyone under the sun and moon who want freedom and justice. My spirit and work will live on long beyond the time when I have to leave this place in time and from afar, I will continue to whisper to one and all. "Si se puede, yes, it can be done! Si se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede!" yes, I am the Dolores Huerta!