Moreno was born Maria Torres Martinez in Karnes City, Texas to migrant workers.
Maria and Luis eventually had 12 children: Lillian, Abel, Elida, Elvira, Martha, Joe, Elizabeth, Tito, Yolanda, Eva, Olivia and Alex.
Accompanied by fellow AWOC members Otto Johnson and Violet Rotan, they drove across country to attend the conference, where Maria's impassioned speech convinced the organization to restore the funding.
[6] This was an important moment in California Labor history, as the movement remained at least minimally active, with the Filipino chapters of AWOC led by Larry Itliong being the most militant.
[7]In spite of this success, Moreno's position was terminated by the new management of the AWOC and the family moved to the Arizona desert, where Maria began her work as a Pentecostal preacher.