Monica Cuellar

Monica was born and raised in the Central Valley where her family worked as farm workers, fruit-packers, and work laborers. In the 1970s, her parents became organizers and joined hundreds of farmworkers in Detroit and New York, where they were arrested, along with labor activists Dolores Huerta and Richard Chavez, and incarcerated for refusing to recognize an illegal injunction prohibiting picketing activity. Her entire family was placed in Wayne County Jail for several hours until released late that evening. Monica was 6 years old.

These experiences led Monica to pursue her education and become an educational advocate. After graduating from UC Davis with a BA in English, she earned her master’s degree in Humanities and taught high school for 18 years, with a primary focus on creating educational environments that hold space for restorative and listening practices amongst multiple voices; especially those that are marginalized.

Monica is currently earning her doctorate degree at USC with a focus on Community Leadership and Educational Change. “Advocacy work is about planting seeds and ensuring those seeds are ecologically supported to enhance fruitful growth and expansion. Si se puede!”