Lucas Benitez

Winner/Finalist Info
Finalist or Winner: 
Winner
State: 
FL
Describe what this winner does/did: 
Lucas Benitez worked as the Co-Director of The Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Immokalee, FL. By educating and organizing fellow migrant workers, Lucas helped secure the first wage increase for tomato pickers in 20 years, exposed and stopped two slavery rings and launched a labor action rights program that collected nearly $100,000 in back wages.

Lucas continues to work for the CIW which, partnering with students and churches, forced the largest fast food company in the world to the negotiating table to improve farm worker conditions and sub-poverty wages! Lucas Benitez also frees modern-day slaves and works to change the system that allows slavery to flourish.

Year in which award/grant was awarded: 
1999