Helen Fabela Chávez facts for kids

Helen Fabela Chávez (born January 21, 1928 – died June 6, 2016) was an American activist. She worked hard for the rights of farm workers. Helen was a key part of the United Farm Workers of America (UFWA). She was also the wife of César Chávez, a famous leader. Helen grew up in a traditional Mexican-American family. She had a big impact on the labor movement.

Helen's Early Life

Helen Fabela was born on January 21, 1928. Her hometown was Brawley, California. Her parents came from Mexico. They moved to the USA after the Mexican Revolution. They married in Los Angeles, California. Helen's parents worked as migrant laborers. This meant they moved often for farm work. Helen saw how hard farm work was from a young age. She started working in the fields herself at age seven.

When Helen was fifteen, her father died. She left high school to help her family. She was the oldest of seven children. Helen worked in a grocery store. Later, she worked full-time in fields and vineyards.

Meeting César and Family Life

Helen met César Chávez in 1942. She was still a student in high school. César served in the United States Navy. After he returned in 1945, they spent more time together. They enjoyed simple dates. They would walk or go to a movie.

Helen and César married on October 22, 1948. They had a civil ceremony in Reno, Nevada. Helen was 20 years old. They also had a church wedding in San Jose, California. The couple settled in Delano, California. Over the next ten years, their family grew. They had eight children: Fernando, Sylvia, Linda, Eloise, Liz, Paul, Anna, and Anthony. They later had 31 grandchildren. Helen continued to support her own parents and siblings.

Joining the Labor Movement

Helen Chávez was influenced by her father's past. He was involved in the Mexican Revolution. This made her interested in political action. Helen and César soon became involved in labor organizing. This means they worked to improve conditions for workers.

They met Fred Ross, an organizer. He worked for the Community Service Organization (CSO). César was unsure about working with Ross at first. But Helen convinced him to join. César became a full-time CSO organizer. He later became the National Director in 1958.

Helen's Important Role

Helen Chávez focused on her home and children. Because of this, her husband got most of the credit. Other women activists, like Dolores Huerta, were more public. Helen's work was often behind the scenes. She helped in the office. She would make copies of flyers. She also sorted mail. She often worked after her children were asleep.

Helen's work for the CSO was very important. Her efforts, and those of other women, made the CSO successful. It helped many Mexican Americans in California. Helen raised her eight children. She also worked ten hours a day. She used her spare time to help the CSO. She taught reading classes to migrant workers. She helped them register to vote. She also helped them become US citizens. Helen wrote down César's daily reports for the CSO.

Later Union Work

César Chávez left the CSO in 1962. He wanted to start a new union. It was first called the Farm Workers Association. Later, it became the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA). The family moved back to Delano. While César built the union, Helen worked. She picked grapes in a field. She earned less than $2.00 a day.

The NFWA soon gave Helen a full-time job. She became an administrator for their credit union. This was a place where members could get loans. Helen was not sure about the job. She felt she lacked the skills. But she quickly learned bookkeeping. She kept financial records for the union for over 20 years.

In 1965, the NFWA joined another group. It became the United Farm Workers Organization Committee (UFWOC). César and Helen Chávez's work was called La Causa. This means "The Cause." They used peaceful methods to fight for rights. These included protests, strikes, and boycotts. They also held pickets, fasts, and marches. The UFWOC fought for fair labor practices. Helen was arrested in 1966. She shouted Huelga! ("Strike!") at a ranch.

Helen's Accomplishments

Helen Chávez mostly stayed out of the public eye. She helped with the union's office work. Her most public moments were her four arrests. Two of these were widely reported. Her actions encouraged other Mexican-American women. They also got arrested for the cause. Helen showed that women could be strong activists. She created a path for other Hispanic women.

Helen knew the hardships of field work. This made her a valuable part of the movement. Her passion motivated other Latinos to join. In 1974, news of her work reached Europe. In 1994, after César's death, she accepted an award. She received the US Presidential Medal of Freedom. She accepted it in her husband's honor. Many women were not recognized for their union work. Helen often remained unseen.

In 2008, Helen Chávez received another award. She was named Latina of the Year. This was from the National Latino Peace Officers Association.

Helen Chávez was played by America Ferrera in the movie Cesar Chavez.

Death

Helen Chávez passed away on June 6, 2016. She was 88 years old. She died in a Bakersfield hospital. She had been fighting an infection. Helen Chávez is buried in Keene, California. She rests beside her husband.