Born to Mexican immigrant parents in the town of Delano, CA, Briseyda Zarate grew up in a farm worker family and culture. Her parents and extended family members work in the grape, lettuce, tomato and rose fields. Early on she learned the importance of and strength of unionizing, being that her family belongs to and organizes with the United Farmworkers of America. Briseyda is a first generation Chicana and the first in her family to graduate from a University. As a student at UCLA she double- majored in Chicana/o Studies and History. She was an active member of MEChA and Raza Women, in the former she served as the community and labor coordinator from 1996-1998. Briseyda was also active in organizing community and student support for the 1996 Latino March to Washington D.C. which promoted civil and human rights for immigrants. She also participated in the organizing efforts for the Raza Women's Conference and MEChA's Raza Youth Conference from 1996-1998. Briseyda helped organize support for struggles such as the United Farmworkers' Strawberry Campaign from 1998-1999, and the anti-209 and anti-187 movements in Los Angeles from 1996-1997. Currently, she is a third-grade teacher at Rosemont School in Echo Park, CA. Briseyda is active with Mujeres de Maiz and Flamenco Para la Gente, both are women of color artist collectives.

Back