Magdaleno Rose-Avila

The son of immigrant parents and one of 12 children Magdaleno Rose-Avila began his working life in the onion fields of southeast Colorado at the early age of 11. By 13, he was traveling the migrant stream picking fruits and vegetables.

The road from the dusty 'campos' of the Southwest to international advocate for human rights was not an easy one. It was a journey filled with countless obstacles, great faith and the support of numerous friends and family.

The difficult work of thinning onions as a child provided the background and impetus needed to advocate for workers rights at a very young age. After spending several years organizing workers in Colorado, Rose Avila took on the position of lead organizer and spokesperson for the efforts of Cesar Chavez's United Farm workers Union in the state of Colorado. He was a leading voice and figure in the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and '70s and ran for public office for La Raza Unida Party.

Throughout his career, Rose-Avila has been a United States Peace Corps Country Director in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Paraguay and Micronesia. He has run congressional campaigns and worked for the Democratic National Committee, worked for Colorado Legal Services and The Colorado Migrant Council, taught theatre and sociology at the University of Colorado, and sociology at Colorado College. He has worked in a variety of administrative and leadership positions for the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights organization Amnesty International USA, and was the Western Director for Amnesty International's Campaign to Abolish the Death Penalty. He served as the inaugural Executive Director for the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation.

With Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of Dead Man Walking he founded The Moratorium Campaign. He also co-founded The Ahora newspaper and bookstore in Colorado, and is the founder of Homies Unidos.

A gifted public speaker, he has inspired thousands throughout his career speaking at high schools, colleges, universities, meetings, conferences, and various public events.