Ella Ochoa

Ella Ochoa
Ella Ochoa during her "50 in 52" Journey interview.
Born	Laredo, Texas
Known for	NAF Multicultural Human Development Corporation
Movement	Advocate for migrant workers in Nebraska

Ella Ochoa founded the Nebraska Association of Farmworkers (NAF) in 1979 and operated it until it closed in 2011. She is also an advocate for the rights of disabled individuals.

Biography

Ella Ochoa was born in Laredo in 1945 and raised in Cotulla, Texas.[1] She was dedicated to her family, exceptionally so when she lost her mother and later her father at a young age. While education was a top priority she eventually left her schooling to take on many jobs to support her family. She worked as a migrant farmworker across Texas, North Dakota, and Minnesota.

In 1979, Ochoa co-founded the Nebraska Association of Farmworkers and became its executive director. The organization became the NAF Multicultural Human Development Corporation with advocacy missions for physical, financial, social and educational well-being of seasonal farmworkers, minorities and other disadvantaged persons.[2] She also was a member of the Farmworker Justice Fund Inc between 1995 and 2003.[3]

In 2000, Ochoa was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and began to advocate for the rights of the disabled.[4] In 2011, she was a volunteer with the Minority Health Advisory Committee for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.[5]

Ella Ochoa passed away on May 5, 2023 surrounded by family after a long hard-fought battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband Aurelio Ochoa, her 3 adults sons, and 4 adult grandchildren.

Nebraska Association of Farmworkers

The NAF was an organization headquartered in Nebraska with locations in Scottsbluff, North Platte, Grand Island, Lincoln, and Omaha. While operating from 1979-2011, it offered many benefits to immigrant workers and helped to meet educational, developmental, and social needs.[6]

Awards

Ella Ochoa received The Ohtli Award in 1997, which is one of the highest awards given by the Mexican government to the Mexican community abroad.[7] She also received the Nebraska commission of the status of women “Women of the Year”.^[citation needed]^[when?] In 2005, she received the Cesar Estrada Chavez Award.[8] In 2012, she received the MAFO Lifetime Achievement Award.[4]

References

1. "Ella Ochoa Interview". YouTube.
2. Ramos, Athena K. (May 2017), https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/1936/ Precarious work, invisible people, unjust livelihoods: A social ecological model of migrant farmworker health in the Midwest]," Clemson University. Retrieved March 8, 2018
3. "Farmworker Justice News" (PDF). Farmworker Justice News. 16: 2. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
4. "Ella Ochoa, Farmworker to Advocate". Ella Ochoa, Farmworker to Advocate: 1. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
5. (December 6, 2011), "Minority Health Advisory Committee", Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved March 8, 2018
6. Ramos, Athena (2017). Precarious Work, Invisible People, Unjust Livelihoods: A Social Ecological Model of Migrant Farmworker Health in the Midwest. pp. 22–23.
7. "Embassy of Mexico selects David Lubell for Ohtli Award". Welcoming America. 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
8. WICKENS, TERESA (4 February 2006). "Ochoa honored by legislators". North Platte Nebraska's Newspaper. Retrieved 2020-10-06.