'''Teresita del Niño Jesús "Terri" Cruz''' (1927–2017) was a community advocate and a founder of Chicanos Por La Causa.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Fallece Terri Cruz, de Chicanos Por La Causa |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/inicio/2017/08/13/terri-cruz-de-cplc-fallece-sus-90-anos/563811001/ |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=es}}</ref>
== Early life == Teresa Cruz was born in Tucson, Arizona.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2019-05-30 |title=Here We Stand: Chicanos Por La Causa and Arizona's Chicano/a Resurgence by Chicanos Por La Causa - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/chicanosporlacausa/docs/book__digital_ |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Voz |first=Beatriz Limón, La |title=Terri Cruz: “Hasta que Dios me lleve” |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/noticias/2016/07/25/terri-cruz-hasta-que-dios-me-lleve/87546408/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gómez |first=Daniel Gonzalez and Laura |title=Terri Cruz, civil-rights activist and 'mother' of Chicanos Por La Causa, dies at 89 |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-breaking/2017/08/17/terri-cruz-civil-rights-trailblazer-and-activist-chicanos-por-la-causa-dies-89/578598001/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}</ref> Her parents were from Hermosillo and Durango.<ref name=":0" /> She was orphaned as a young child and raised by her aunt and uncle in Salt River Valley. After eighth grade, she left school and worked as a house cleaner.<ref name=":1" /> She began working with her local community by campaigning for John F. Kennedy.<ref name=":0" /> After twenty-two years, she decided to earn her GED and pursue a career in social services for the poor.<ref name=":1" />
== Career == Cruz worked with a War on Poverty program.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}} While in that position, she was approached by Chicano activists, including Joe Eddie Lopez, asking to use the spirit duplicator.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}} She became involved with their group, which became Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC).<ref name=":1" /> Cruz helped found Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) in 1969.<ref name=":0" /> Cruz served on CPLC's Board of Directors until she was hired by the organization.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Teresa (Terri) Cruz |url=https://www.azwhf.org/teresa-terri-cruz |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=AWHF |language=en}}</ref>
In 1970, she as instrumental in organizing a boycott against Union High District in which 2,000 Mexican American students refused to attend, leading to reforms including hiring more Latino teachers and counselors.<ref name=":2" />
Cruz worked at CPLC until her death in 2017.<ref name=":1" />
== Personal life == Cruz had eight children.<ref name=":0" />
== Awards ==
* 2023: Arizona Women's Hall of Fame<ref name=":2" /> * 2012: <dfn>Arizona</dfn> Latina Trailblazer<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-18 |title=Arizona Hispanic community leader Teresa Cruz dies at age 89 |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-4931077d03d7488c828c96abcc9cdca1 |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=AP News }}</ref>
== References == <references />
{{Arizona Women's Hall of Fame}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Terri}} Category:1927 births Category:Community activists Category:People from Tucson, Arizona Category:American social workers Category:2017 deaths Category:American activists of Mexican descent Category:Activists from Arizona