On April 1 California State University, Stanislaus dedicated the day to having three events to show the importance of Cesar E. Chavez.
The event started off with a display in the quad, then a documentary titled “Cesar’s Last Fast” with a Q&A with Cesar Chavez’s son, Paul Chavez and it ended the day with a memorial celebration at Main Dining Hall.
The main event in Main Dining Hall brought the community on campus to showcase the art and essay contest top winners. The Cesar E. Chavez Committee (CEC) celebrated the 20^th Annual Memorial Celebration the life of Chavez by including many pieces of the Hispanic culture.
Paul Chavez gave quick background information and how important the grape strike was for both the Filipino and Mexican farm workers that were involved in the Huelga [strike].
“Under my father’s leadership things were done differently,” Paul Chavez said. “He challenged conventional wisdom on how work should be done.”
Paul Chavez talked a lot about the movement and how it changed in rural California. The movement was taking civil rights and placing them in a labor work setting. He mentioned the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation and how it continues to grow to support Chavez legacy about succeeding in education.
“When you think about what is success now a days? I was thinking about my dad [. . .] And I kept coming back that I should have paid more attention to his consejos [advice] but the one thing I do want to share is that you only lose when you give up,” Paul Chavez said.
He continued to discuss the legacy that his father left and that for a humble man, he left a lasting impression that hard working men can be just as wealthy.
The event continued with a presentation of the Chavez Sculpture and recognition of the poster and essay contests. The members of the CEC presented the University Library with a gift that depicted Cesar Chavez.
Throughout the event there were dances by Balet Folklorico, Los Falcones and Balet Folklorico-Los Luceros de Osborn to entertain the audience.
The 20^th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Celebration brought the Turlock community and the campus community together.
“I liked the event a lot because I saw unity with the students coming together and seeing the younger generations learn more about our heritage,” Reynaldo Alfaro (junior, Business) said. “The huelga took ten years before it started to make a move. There was a lot of sacrifice that went into making these rights for our people. It’s a beautiful thing to see younger kids get awards for their posters and essays.