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Teresa "Terri" Cruz

Civil Rights

Year Inducted

2023

Achievement Areas

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.


To learn more, click on her induction video, below.



Many thanks to donors and supporters of the Arizona Women's Hall of Fame:

  • Arizona Capitol Museum

  • Arizona Historical Society 

  • Arizona Humanities

  • Arizona State Archives

  • Ed J. Hermes - Law Offices of Snell & Wilmer

  • Independent Communications Strategy (ICS)

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