Roberto Hernández: Working for La Comunidad | Wisconsin Biographies

Roberto Hernández’s story shines a spotlight on the fight for better educational opportunities for members of Milwaukee’s Latino community during the 1960s and 70s. Roberto grew up in a Mexican American family in Texas. His family was part of the migrant labor workforce that did important agricultural work throughout the country, including in Wisconsin. Some workers stayed and made homes in locations like Milwaukee, finding new work in places like factories. Two of Roberto’s family members came to Wisconsin for work, and Roberto later joined them and went to school in Milwaukee. A chance meeting with an activist while in college set him on the path to advocate for better educational opportunities for fellow Latino students and gave him a lifelong commitment to helping others.