Community leader and activist Dolores Huerta celebrated her 95th birthday with a fundraiser for the Dolores Huerta Foundation on Friday, April 25. Held in Kern County, the event gathered over 100 attendees, including community activists, Bakersfield city council members, Cal State Bakersfield educators, and residents, all united in celebrating Huerta’s decades of legacy.

Yet Huerta wasn’t the only one being celebrated that night. Three local women leaders were recognized for their commitment to emulating equity and justice activism, like Huerta herself. 

Manpreet Kaur, Vice Mayor of Bakersfield, Rosa Lopez, Senior Policy Advocate and Organizer for ACLU, and Ucedrah Osby, Executive Director of Community Interventions, were all award recipients for various initiatives that they advocate for within the Central Valley.

“I’m deeply honored for this recognition from Dolores and the Dolores Huerta Foundation—this is for the countless voices, families, and communities that continue to fight every day for dignity, safety, and justice,” said Lopez. “Together, we can build a future where every person, regardless of immigration status, background, or circumstance, can thrive.”

Osby shared that “making good trouble is like the funnest stuff ever,” explaining that it is important for her to increase the involvement and community empowerment of those who look like her.

The evening also featured an exciting announcement when filmmaker Gregory Nava announced the currently developing film that is meant to be a biography of Huerta’s life. 

When Nava asked Huerta what she hoped the film would convey, Huerta replied, “I want the story of my life to inspire a new generation of activists and organizers.”

Nava shared with the attendees that this film is expected to be showcased worldwide. In an interview with Kern Sol outside the event, Huerta left attendees with a message of action and hope: “For young people, you got to get out there, you got to organize, you got to march.”