Elvira C Hernandez1916 when ELVIRA CHAVEZ was six years old, her family IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES to escape the violence of the MEXICAN REVOLUTION. Her father quickly found WORK ON THE RAILROAD in EL PASO, TEXAS; then in the MEAT-PACKING PLANTS of KANSAS CITY; ad finally on the FARMS of SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA. Elvira began working in the SUGAR BEET AND POTATO FIELDS at eleven years of age, continuing that BACKBREAKING LABOR for nearly fifty years when her husband Maique died. For a time, she worked as a kitchen assistant in the schools. Then, she became an ADVOCATE FOR MIGRANT FARMWORKERS with a community action center, founded a WOMEN'S SENIOR CENTER, and worked as a foster grandmother in a day care center. All her life since she was nine years old, she was responsible for MAKING ALL THE TORTILLAS for her large family and for boarders in their household. Ultimately, after 80 years as a TORTILLERA, she was estimated to have made over ONE MILLION TORTILLAS. Read More Read Less