Hermila ‘Mily’ Treviño-Sauceda
Hermila ‘Mily’ Treviño-Sauceda
Hermila 'Mily' Treviño-Sauceda grew up working in the fields in Idaho and California, witnessing and experiencing unethical and hazardous working conditions related to migrant farming. Her experiences would lead her and her family to join the United Farmworker Movement to learn about their rights and how to exercise them to create more equitable workplaces. She continues to advocate for migrant farmworker justice in her current role as Executive Director at Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Inc. Her work has taken her to the steps of Congress to local communities and has earned her several awards, including being named one of the "100 Heroines of the World" in 1998 and Leadership for a Changing World awards from the Ford Foundation and New York University in 2004 and two Cesar Chavez Legacy awards.
“be all you can be without hesitation” - Mily Treviño-Sauceda, 2024.
Treviño-Sauceda, M., 2022, February 14. Women Farmworkers Demand Change. The Progressive Magazine. https://progressive.org/op-eds/women-farmworkers-demand-change-trevinosa...
Treviño-Sauceda, M., 2020, May 23. Essential farmworkers put food on our tables. Where are their basic protections? USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2020/05/23/farmworkers-cor...
Barrett, J. & Treviño-Sauceda, M., 2018, May 2. #MeToo is Creating a ‘Ripple Effect’ for Domestic and Farm Workers. Vice. https://www.vice.com/en/article/9kgp7y/metoo-domestic-workers-farm-worke...
Miley Treviño-Sauceda was born in Bellingham, Washington, to Leopold Treviño-Guerra and Francisca Sosa-Treviño, immigrant farmworkers from Mexico. Her family lived in Idaho, where she started working in the fields at age eight, before relocating to California, where her family continued to work, this time in lemon orchards near Blythe. Her family worked alongside several other migrant farmworkers, all exposed to pesticides during work. She recalls a pregnant woman working who died during childbirth. Treviño-Sauceda says that the experience was traumatizing. She says, “The symptoms were overbearing, and there was no water to clean our faces and eyes, making it worse. I felt dizzy, nauseous, weak, headaches, eyes itching, and coughing. The labor contractor took all of us back home two hours away in a bus, and we didn’t have any aide until we arrived at the labor camp where we lived to take our baths. At work, there were no toilets, and therefore, there was no water to wash our hands. Other pesticide spraying incidents while working in the fields also happened in the Central Valley of California. My family and I suffered from wage theft, sexual harassment, and sex discrimination, including pregnancy discrimination. As a young adult, I even almost lost my pregnancy in my early months. We also saw children being born with many health issues and even with deformities. When my family learned about the United Farmworker Movement UFW, we joined because we wanted to learn about our rights and wanted respect and to be treated as human beings. That’s when I felt the importance of exercising our rights and understood how the use and misuse of pesticides were harming our bodies.” This experience would influence her profession and lifelong dedication to organizing and advocacy. She earned her GED at age 20 before studying at a community college for an associates. Treviño-Sauceda later completed her BA at California State University, Fullerton, in Chicana/o Studies and Antioch University for her Master’s in Social Science, Rural Development, Leadership, Capacity Building, and Oral History.
Treviño-Sauceda began her advocacy work in agriculture and farmworker rights in the 1970s when she joined the United Farm Workers, still working as an agriculture field laborer. In 1981, she joined California Rural Legal Assistance as a Community Worker, where she served as a liaison between clients and attorneys and helped clients with interpretation and education (1981-1991). During this time, she also joined the California Community Workers Union. Afterward, she oversaw recruitment at Women Farmworker Leaders, previously known as "Mexican Women." She advanced human rights in the role, specifically focusing on migrant Mexican women. She was promoted to President and served in the role for 12 years. Treviño-Sauceda joined Lideres Campesinas as their Executive Director (1997-2009). Shortly afterward, she co-founded the National Alliance of Farmworker Women, the first national grassroots women's farmworker organization. Treviño-Sauceda currently serves as Executive Director of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Inc., building on her previous experiences and expertise in farmworker rights and community engagement (2018-present). In addition to this role, she provides freelance consulting on farmworker rights, women's rights, community engagement, and grassroots organizing (2010-present).
Treviño-Sauceda's work advancing farmworker rights earned her several awards, including being named one of the "100 Heroines of the World" in 1998 and Leadership for a Changing World awards from the Ford Foundation and New York University in 2004. Additionally, she was featured in People Magazine and received two Cesar Chavez Legacy awards. On several occasions, Treviño-Sauceda has lobbied state and federal governments concerning labor rights, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when farmworkers were deemed essential. Reflecting on career highlights, Treviño-Sauceda discusses her commitment with Mujeres Mexicanas, a pioneer farmworker women's movement, to build a national network of farmworker women. Additionally, she mentions helping create the California State Farmworker Women's Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Program, which is the only state-financed program in the nation of its kind.
Treviño-Sauceda says several "great souls have mentored [her]" (2024). She first highlights her family, including her two older brothers, Jose Treviño-Sosa and Leopoldo Treviño-Sosa, and her sister, Veronica Treviño-Sosa, as wise and loving figures throughout her life. She also cites Gilberto Padilla, a former board member and organizer of United Farmworkers, Juan Uranga, an Attorney at the California Rural Legal Assistance, Gizelle Apodaca, Sandra Henriquez, and David Serena as mentors and role models helping her develop professionally as an activist and organizer. Treviño-Sauceda also highlights Devra Weber, a former professor and friend, and several friends, including Rosa Lucas, Elizabeth Cordero, Suguet Lopez, and Lideres Campesinas. Aside from providing support and wisdom, these individuals encouraged her to recognize her talents and helped her become a more confident organizer and advocate.
Treviño-Sauceda says, "There is so much talent in each of us. It's a matter and a great difference how you use your talents" (2023). She reminds young professionals that individuals are capable of a lot of change. Still, then, when you work with others, "it creates even more ripples," but it is important for you to "be all you can be without hesitation" in order to do so (2024). Furthermore, she emphasizes the importance of thanking those around you.
(JEDSI) Survey and interviews conducted by Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Sustainability Initiative staff. 2022-2024. Yale University-School of the Environment. New Haven, Connecticut.
Mily Treviño-Sauceda. (2023). Wikipedia. Retrieved July 1, 2024 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mily_Trevi%C3%B1o-Sauceda
Mily Treviño-Sauceda [Photo]. (2023). Wikipedia. Retrieved July 1, 2024 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mily_Trevi%C3%B1o-Sauceda
Mily Treviño-Sauceda. (n.d.). LinkedIn. Retrieved July 1, 2024 from https://www.linkedin.com/in/mily-trevino-sauceda-a7a688b/
Mily Treviño-Sauceda [Photo]. (2023). Wikipedia. Retrieved July 1, 2024 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mily_Trevi%C3%B1o-Sauceda