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Andres P. Chavez has been appointed executive director of the National Chavez Center (NCC), its Board of Directors announced. He recently served as the Cesar Chavez Foundation’s director of strategic initiatives and assumed his new post on March 31, 2022, on what would have been the farm labor and civil rights leader’s 95th birthday and an official holiday in 11 states.

The NCC promotes and preserves the legacy of Cesar Chavez across the nation and manages historical properties near Delano and at Keene, Calif., where he spent his last quarter century and is home to the César E. Chávez National Monument, the 398th unit of the National Park Service administered in partnership with the NCC.

Raised in the farm worker movement, from an early age Andres has served as a key ambassador representing CCF and the farm worker movement at innumerable public events across the nation. As CCF’s current Director of Strategic Initiatives, Andres’ duties have included playing key roles advising on business decisions, strategic direction, operations, government relations, and media. Most recently, Andres played a lead role in the establishment of CCF’s Social Investment Fund. While spearheading CCF’s COVID-19 response team, Andres oversaw the development of CCF’s internal COVID-19 efforts, vaccine and contact tracing policies, and educational messaging. At the height of the pandemic, Andres supported the coordination and oversaw mass vaccination clinics for farm workers at the historic Forty Acres. These efforts were highlighted with a visit by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s visit on March 31, 2021 in conjunction with Cesar Chavez Day. For nearly a decade, Andres has overseen the NCC Speakers Bureau coordinating and presenting at nationwide conferences, community-based events, marches, and universities.

“As the National Chavez Center aims to meet the goals set forth in its recent strategic plan, Andres Chavez brings all the competencies we need to transform the National Chavez Center into a vibrant and leading institution inspiring millions of Americans through the legacy of Cesar Chavez,” said Manuel Bernal, CCF chief operating officer.