2026 Defenders of Justice Awards

Lariza Garzón

Lifetime Defender of Justice for Grassroots Empowerment!

Lariza Garzón has dedicated her career to the essential work of grassroots empowerment. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, and moving to the United States as a teenager, her advocacy began at Stetson University within the farmworker movement. This initial spark grew into a lifelong commitment to social justice; a journey that eventually led her to Mexico to work alongside Central American migrants and study the roots of migration and the intersections of migration and food sovereignty.

Throughout her years in North Carolina, Lariza has served as a steady bridge between systemic advocacy and the people it serves. Whether leading the community efforts at the Farmworker Unit at Legal Aid of NC or serving as Executive Director of the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry, her leadership has been defined by a “people-first” approach. She is widely recognized for her ability to foster genuine collaboration and build community power in spaces where it is often marginalized.

Currently, as the North Carolina Director for the Hispanic Federation, Lariza focuses on lifting up others by providing capacity-building support for over 100 Latino-led organizations across the state. Under her guidance, the federation has launched landmark initiatives: including the state’s first bilingual health line and a mobile immigration clinic for rural “legal deserts.” A firm believer that progress is built through unity, Lariza has also been instrumental in establishing Latino coalitions, uniting diverse voices to advocate for long-term, systemic change.