Rachel Coleman was born in in Fayette, Mississippi. Rachel came to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1957 from Vicksburg, Mississippi, with her husband and young son. She advanced from her position as glass washer at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino to executive housekeeper at the Hacienda Hotel and Casino in 1969. Rachel became a representative for the Culinary Union 226 in 1973, then became department head of the union in 1981, and finally ran for union president in 1987.

Mirna Preciado was born July 21, 1956 and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. When her family decided to immigrate in 1980, she decided to reach for her American dream. Preciado’s husband wanted her to be a stay-at-home mom, but the idea of working and buying her own bread intrigued her. She became a waitress at the new Margarita’s Restaurant in the Frontier Hotel. Though she liked her work, she was bothered by the other workers with requests to join the Culinary Union Local 226. Soon, those workers became her guardian angels.