Lucas Benitez is a co-founder of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers movement: a worker-based human rights organisation internationally recognised for its achievements in fighting human trafficking and gender-based violence. Lucas has played a critical role in the investigation of several slavery cases, helping to free over 700 workers in one case alone.

Lucas has won numerous national and international awards, including: The “Ohtli” Award, the highest distinction conferred by the Mexican Government on citizens living outside of the country; the Distinguished Mexican Citizen Award from the Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior in 2019; the Rolling Stone Magazine Brick Award for “America’s Best Young Community Leader”; the US Catholic Bishops’ Conference Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award; the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. Luca is also a recipient of the Wallenberg Medal.

Lucas is currently a key organisational leader and member of the Fair Food Program worker education team, leading international expansion of the Fair Food Program in countries such as Chile, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.