Jessica Govea Thorbourne

Jessica Govea Thorbourne (1947 – January 23, 2005) was a labor activist, United Farm Worker union leader, and educator. She is best known for her lifelong efforts to achieve justice, equality, education, and economic opportunity for Latino laborers.

Early life Govea Thorbourne was born in 1947 in Porterville, California to Juan and Margaret Govea, who were migrant workers. By the age of two, she had already begun working in the fields. At an early age, she began leading boycotts, such as her very successful grape boycott in Canada. Govea Thorbourne graduated valedictorian from Bakersfield High School.

Work with the United Farm Workers Union Govea Thorbourne began working closely with Cesar Chavez for the United Farm Workers (UFW) at age 19, since her father was a Mexican-American community leader and worked closely with Chavez. At age 21, she led boycotts in Canada that led to UFW Union contracts with a California grape company.