The Cesar Chavez Legacy & Educational Fund is established to keep the dream and legacy of Cesar Chavez alive for upcoming generations. The people of San Antonio, Texas, have been very receptive to the “Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice.”
The City of San Antonio was again a co-sponsor of the 23rd annual Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice that was held on March 30, 2019. Cesar E. Chavez is a great American hero and role model. Through his example of non-violence, social justice, and his commitment to ending the mistreatment of farmworkers, improving their living conditions, and bringing dignity to all workers in the United States, he will always be remembered in the hearts of the people.
There is no question in my heart and in the hearts of the people who knew Cesar Chavez which side of the struggle he was on. Cesar has shown us all through his important work and courageous examples that if we want, we can “Si Se Puede” (Yes We Can) really achieve the greatest accomplishment through good education, unity, perseverance, and hard, dedicated work.
San Antonio was a key stop for Cesar Chavez when he was mobilizing across the country to initiate actions to promote social justice. He fought for the farmworkers, the forgotten people; from the early days of his actions in the late ’60s up to his death, many people from across the United States joined Cesar in his efforts to improve the working conditions and lives of farmworkers. Cesar Chavez was visiting San Antonio on many occasions and he was successful in engaging San Antonio activist groups, the Catholic Church, labor organizations, and community leaders.
After Cesar Chavez’s death in 1993, many people across the nation started to raise awareness of the principles and teachings of Cesar. After returning from Cesar Chavez’s funeral, Jaime P. Martinez, the founder of CECLEF, was convinced that the San Antonio community should do something to keep the legacy of Cesar Chavez alive.
Cesar is one of SFSU’s true heroes, as are some more pioneers for justice. You are welcome to join all of the Cesar Chavez organizing committees in this historic event. Please join us in keeping Cesar Chavez’s visions and dreams alive and making them a reality through our actions and upcoming marches!
In the Spotlight
Throughout my 28 years as a teacher and community leader, I have been privileged to work with, teach, and serve others. From these relationships, I have come to recognize that people are not all alike and should be appreciated for their contributions to the homefront, workplace, or serving the community. Simply put, there are people who ask for help, get involved in a cause, or, better yet, are selfless in helping someone else without being told.
With that said, I would like to recognize a young man whom I met last year that I have gotten to know and respect. What I found interesting about him was that he is steadfast in going to college and enjoys working in the community. I also found that he is very polite, well-mannered, and ready to help out without being asked.
The name of this young man is Bruno De Leon who is 12 years old, attends Hawthorne Academy, a member of the Young Brown Berets, has 1 brother and 2 sisters and is the proud son of Irma and Carlos De Leon.
Last year, Bruno came to one of our meetings and showed us a drawing of an eagle with a fist holding a rolled-up paper with the word diploma. I had a sit-down with Bruno and asked him why he designed it, and his reply was that he wants all students to graduate from high school and make our communities a better place. As an educator, I was touched by his words, not just because of what he said but because of his age. Bruno is one of those few who is selfless in helping others and stands behind his convictions.
On our Grand Opening, Bruno was awarded the Eagle Award, which is only given to the chosen few for their contributions to serving the community. We are proud of Bruno for being a role model for others to follow and taking a step forward in making his dreams become a reality—job well done.
