Latino American activists and leaders

This resource is designed to help everyone learn the stories of Latino/a American activists and leaders, past and present, who have stood up for the rights of their own communities and others. 

Take a look through and think about how you want to share these stories with your children or students. Older children may be able to read through the stories on their own, while younger children might benefit from reading through together with a caregiver. For each story, take time to reflect and talk through the Questions to Explore together. 

Here are some of the activists and leaders featured in this guide! 

Sal Castro

A lifelong educator in Los Angeles, California, who helped organize school walkouts and became a hero for Mexican American students in the 1960s. 

Rosa Clemente

A Black Puerto Rican American activist, journalist, and scholar who has spent her life fighting for the rights of Black and Latino communities in the United States.

Laurie Hernandez

A Puerto Rican American Olympic gymnast and actor who advocates for mental health awareness.

Dolores Huerta

An activist who has organized and led many efforts to support the rights of farm workers, women, and other groups, using methods like strikes, boycotts, speeches, and solidarity across communities.

José “Cha Cha” Jiménez

A Puerto Rican activist in Chicago who founded the Young Lords Organization and led efforts to bring better housing, education, and health care to his community.

Cristina Jiménez Moreta

An Ecuadorian American organizer and activist who has spoken out for the rights of immigrant communities and encouraged young immigrants to share their stories.

María Teresa Kumar

A Colombian American activist who works to protect voting rights and to encourage Latino/a Americans to make their voices heard by voting.

Ralph Lazo

A Mexican American man who, as a teenager, voluntarily chose to live in an internment camp to show solidarity with his Japanese American friends during World War II. 

Jamie Margolin

A Colombian American activist who organizes young people to push leaders to take action on climate change.

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez

An American activist and musician of Indigenous Mexican heritage who has been using his voice to protect the environment since he was six years old.

Sylvia Mendez

A Mexican and Puerto Rican American civil rights activist who was part of a court case that ended legal racial segregation in California schools.

Sylvia Rivera

A Puerto Rican and Venezuelan American activist who worked to protect the rights and well-being of gay and transgender people in New York City.