Community Organizer
Delano

Born in Michoacan Mexico, Refugio first came to U.S. in 1987 to Ventura County, CA. He worked in the fields as farm worker for about 17 years, mostly under union contract as member of United Farm Workers Union (UFW). As a member Refugio was very active with the union. He participated in the UFW grape boycott, helping to mobilize members in Los Angeles and other cities. He visited stores to ask for support for farm workers rights. He participated in the UFW campaign for the 1986 Immigration Reform that gave thousands of people the opportunity to become legal in U.S. He participated in campaigns in support of local and state candidates who supported farm worker’s rights. As a member, Refugio participated in his place of employment where he worked as crew representative and member of the leadership committee. In June 1996 Refugio started working as an organizer for UFW. He organized in the Watsonville Salinas area for the strawberry campaign that eventually won union contracts representing farm workers. Refugio was an organizer with UFW until 1999. Refugio joined the Center on Race Poverty & the Environment as community organizer on March 1, 2009.

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