Ross, Fred, 1910-
Community and labor organizer, primarily in southern California. In the early 1940s he helped Japanese American internees obtain jobs and in 1946 went to work for the American Council on Race Relations in response to the racial tensions that had surfaced during the war. From 1947 to 1952 he worked for Saul Alinsky and the Industrial Areas Foundation. With their support Ross established the first Community Service Organization in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles. In 1952 he met Cesar Chavez, then a young man in San Jose, and hired him. Both men founded 22 CSO chapters throughout California in the 1950s. He continued with numerous community organizing projects, including the Giumarra strike of 1967, the grape boycott of 1968, the lettuce strikes of 1970 and 1973, and the Gallo wine boycott of 1973. In 1978 Ross directed Jerry Brown's campaign for governor. Ross died in 1992.
From the description of Fred Ross papers, ca. 1910-1992. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 462019282
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