Teresa "Terri" Cruz

(1927-2017)

Inducted in 2023

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Terri Cruz was a prominent community advocate and activist for more than 46 years. She was one of the founders of Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) in 1969, an organization that fought for civil rights, farm worker injustices, and education discrimination in the Latina/Latino community. She was instrumental in organizing a 1970 boycott of Phoenix Union High District where 2,000 Mexican American students refused to attend classes. The boycott prompted several reforms by the District, including hiring more Latino teachers and counselors. She fought for those who were marginalized and handicapped by poverty and poor education. She spent many years as a social services counselor for CPLC.