Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta Among County’s Human Relations Honorees

Civil rights leader and activist Dolores Huerta on Tuesday will be among seven honorees of the 2023 John Anson Ford (JAF) Human Relations Awards hosted by the county of Los Angeles.

In June, Huerta joined nearly one hundred Design faculty, labor organizers, state officials, faith leaders, and student supporters from Pasadena’s ArtCenter College to call on the college’s leadership to negotiate a contract with the ArtCenter Faculty Federation (ACFF).

Since 1972, named after John Anson Ford, a long-time relations leader, the JAF Human Relations Awards have identified and honored human relations champions throughout the county. The L.A. County Human Relations Commission will lead the ceremony, which includes a presentation of JAF awardees by the county Board of Supervisors and a reception for awardees, guests, friends, civil leaders and community partners.

The 93-year-old Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union alongside Ceaser Chavez and founded The Dolores Huerta Foundation, is set to receive the Yvonne B. Burke Courage Award. This award honors an individual for their “bold, dauntless action to advance human relations,” according to the county.

Kent Wong, director of the UCLA Labor Center, where he teaches courses in labor studies and Asian American studies, will be awarded the John Allen Buggs Leadership Award, which honors a public official for their “human relations advocacy and leadership.”

The 10 a.m. ceremony will take place at the county’s Hall of Administration, 8th Floor Balcony, located at 500 W. Temple St.

County supervisors Hilda Solis and Lindsey Horvath will be in attendance, Robin Toma, executive director of the county’s Human Relations Commission, and Ilan Davidson, who serves as the commission president.

Five other honorees will be recognized for their outstanding human relations projects and programs throughout the county — one for each of the five county districts.

In the First District, represented by Solis, the Stop Hate Survey of Asian Youth Center will be recognized for its multicultural youth phone-banking team, which helped survey Asian American adults experiencing hate.

In the Second District, represented by Supervisor Holly Mitchell, the Testif-i Program of A New Way of Life will be honored for its multi-media initiative on mass incarceration, transforming public dialogue around the issue with the help of personal stories and lived experiences of formerly incarcerated women.

In the Third District, represented by Horvath, the GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society will be recognized for their work as one of the first LGBTQIA+ organization founded by Armenian Americans and serving LGBTQ+ individuals of Armenian descent.

In the Fourth District, represented by Supervisor Janice Hahn, the Sanemos Juntos Project of ORALE will be honored for its wellness workshops, providing safe spaces and practical tools for migrant and immigrant communities.

In the Fifth District, represented by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, H.E. Art will be recognized for its project to advance human relations through multicultural performing arts and initiatives to promote diversity.