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Cesar Chavez Foundation and Housing Authority of the County of Kern Break Ground on High-quality Affordable Housing Community in Bakersfield, Calif

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Cesar Chavez Foundation and Housing Authority of the County of Kern Break Ground on High-quality Affordable Housing Community in Bakersfield, California 

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (October 30, 2023) – The Cesar Chavez Foundation and Housing Authority of the County of Kern announced the groundbreaking of a new affordable housing community in Bakersfield, Calif. Renaissance at Baker will create 85 units of affordable housing for low-income families and persons with disabilities, including individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 

The groundbreaking marks the start of construction of the 85 units, comprised of 37 one-bedroom units, 21 two-bedroom units and 26 three-bedroom units reserved for families earning between 30%-60% AMI. Forty-two of the units will be reserved for persons with disabilities with incomes at or below 30% AMI. The development will seek a highly sustainable LEED-certification and is designed by Y&M Architects. It will feature an outdoor space spread out over two courtyards that includes spaces for sitting and a life-size chess area. The total development cost for the project is $48.5 million.

The Housing Authority of the County of Kern, a local government agency providing safe, affordable housing to thousands of Kern County residents through special programs serving families, individuals, senior citizens, veterans, persons with disabilities, homeless, farm workers and emancipated foster youth, will provide residents with on-site service programs.  

“Renaissance at Baker will address a significant shortage of affordable housing and the need to assist Kern County’s homeless and chronically homeless,” said Paul Chavez, President of the Cesar Chavez Foundation. “Our mission is to improve the lives of working families, and this development is a step towards achieving that goal in an area where my father began his work more than 60 years ago.” 

“We’re pleased to partner with the City and Cesar Chavez Foundation to help revitalize the Old Town Kern neighborhood and bring much needed affordable housing and services to the area,” said Stephen Pelz, Executive Director at Housing Authority of the County of Kern. 

“Building new affordable housing for the most vulnerable of our community in a once vacant lot is an investment in the wellbeing of Bakersfield residents and aligns with the City of Bakersfield’s revitalization efforts for Old Town Kern,” said Bakersfield Councilman Andrae Gonzales.  

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2023 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards

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The 2023 Annual Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards Gala, the Cesar Chavez Foundation honored artist and activist Carlos Almaraz (posthumously), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Executive Director Angélica Salas, and pioneering Latino political figure Richard Alatorre at the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles on March 23, 2023.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass delivered the keynote address, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta made special remarks.

The annual Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards Gala brings together international, national, and local leaders from every sector of business, government, labor, and education to remember the life and work of Cesar Chavez and honor distinguished individuals for their commitment to social justice and their positive contributions in their respective fields.

To view the event’s program, visit: 2023 Awards Gala Program.

 

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Chavez Foundation Breaks Ground on High-Quality Affordable Housing Community in Montebello, Calif

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High-quality, affordable housing community in Montebello named for pioneering labor-community activist J.J. Rodriguez

Montebello, CA – Vista de J.J. Rodriguez, a new affordable housing community in Montebello with 63 units for families, including supportive units for survivors of domestic violence, will be dedicated on Friday, June 2 by the Cesar Chavez Foundation in partnership with the Downtown Women’s Center, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit serving and empowering currently and formerly homeless women. It is named for a pioneering Los Angeles labor and community leader who was a key colleague and supporter of civil rights and farm labor leader Cesar Chavez dating back to the 1950s.

“We’re pleased to break ground on our first affordable housing community in Montebello to address the needs of Latinos and working families,” said Chavez Foundation President Paul F. Chavez. “It’s fitting to name this property after J.J. Rodriguez, a dedicated veteran activist in Los Angeles who was an early champion of the Chicano movement.”

The total development cost for the project is $46.7 million. The project received $27.1 million in Tax Credit Proceeds, which will be in partnership with PNC Financial Services. In addition, the project received $4 million from the City of Montebello in the form of a City Land & Impact Fee Loan and $549,000 in the form of a City Development Loan. The project received $2 million in Affordable Housing Trust Funds from the Los Angeles County Development Authority as well as 31 project-based vouchers. The California Department of Housing and Community Development is investing $2.5 million through its Infill Infrastructure Grant Program. The San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust is investing $1.7 million into the project. Lastly, a Permanent Loan of $8.7 million was done in partnership with City National Bank.

“We stand proudly alongside the Cesar Chavez Foundation as a funder and provider of project-based vouchers for this development,” said Emilio Salas, LACDA executive director. “It is an honor to be part of an effort that will not only bring much needed housing to the community, but that will also recognize the legacy of an individual who fought for many years on behalf of the Latino community.”

Vista de J.J. Rodriguez will house a Si Se Puede Learning Center, Chavez Foundation’s flagship afterschool program for young residents, a playground, and multi-use community space. Chavez Foundation and its partners will provide ongoing property management and supportive services for all residents, including social services for survivors of domestic violence through a partnership with the Los Angeles Downtown Women’s Center.

Keeping with the tradition of the farm worker movement, the project memorializes the late J.J. Rodriguez’s lifetime of advocacy for social, labor, and civil rights. He began organizing City of Vernon packinghouse workers in 1928 and helped build their long-dominant packinghouse workers’ union. During the 1950s, Rodriguez was an important activist and leader in Los Angeles with Cesar Chavez in the Community Service Organization Latino civil rights group. For years, he served as president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. When Rodriguez died in 1991, Cesar eulogized his friend as a “pioneering trade unionist who fought many early battles of the Chicano movement.”

Chavez Foundation Celebrates Biennial Staff Convocation

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This past April, the Cesar Chavez Foundation gathered for the biennial staff convocation at the National Chavez Center after a 4-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

More than 250 staff members gathered from the Southwest and California to celebrate this year’s convocation theme, “Let the Spirit Flourish and Grow,” a stanza from the Prayer of the Farm Workers’ Struggle, written by Cesar Chavez. This year’s theme was a reminder of the importance of continuing Cesar’s legacy and celebrating our work of inspiring and transforming communities.

On the first day of the convocation, staff members enjoyed a tour and a welcome reception at the National Chavez Center, a place important to Cesar and where he lived and labored his last quarter century. On the second day, staff gathered at the Marriott in Bakersfield to celebrate, network, and be recognized for their contributions to Cesar’s legacy.

The convocation culminated with a recognition ceremony honoring years of service and our team’s commitment to ensuring Cesar’s legacy continues by improving the lives of the people and communities he served throughout his life.

 

 

 

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Introducing Chavez Foundation Branded GIF Stickers

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The Cesar Chavez Foundation has launched branded GIF stickers of Cesar Chavez with his beloved dogs, featuring Cesar Chavez, his beloved dogs Boycott and Huelga (“strike”), notable quotes, and more.

These GIFS can be pulled directly from the Cesar Chavez Foundation Channel on GIPHY and are accessible through simple search features on social media — type “Chavez Foundation” into the GIPHY search bar. Explore and share your favorites, and remember to tag us @ChavezFoundation.

GIFs can also be found with the following keywords: cesar chavez foundation, cesar chavez, si se puede, chavez foundation, huelga, strike, boycott, and CCF.

 

 

 

 

Cesar Chavez  marches with a “Huelga” Sign

“Huelga,” meaning “strike,” was a term Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers used that has evolved to signify the struggle of the movement. The Aztec eagle, once a symbol for farm workers, represented a cultural connection evoking a sense of pride.

 

 

 

 

 

Cesar Chavez with Boycott and Huelga

Cesar Chavez had two German Shepherds he trained himself named Boycott and Huelga (“strike”). He credited them for his commitments to vegetarianism and animal rights, and at his request, they are buried near him in the rose garden at The National Chavez Center.

 

 

 

 

Cesar Chavez Quote

“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed.” These words were extracted from Cesar Chavez’s 1984 address to the Commonwealth Club of California. He is shown holding a shovel inspired by a photograph taken of him in La Paz.

 

 

 

 

 

Cesar Chavez Foundation Logos

In 2018, the Chavez Foundation unveiled a new logo to reflect better the organization’s growing work in carrying out Cesar’s vision for a better future for our communities and families. It was designed to communicate the legacy of Cesar Chavez, the history of social activism, and the continued values the Chavez Foundation champions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need a quick tutorial? Check out the video below.

 

 

@chavezfoundation in Instagram stories. Don’t forget to tag @ChavezFoundation and use the hashtag #CCFConvocation23 when sharing your favorite Staff Convocation moments.

Need a quick tutorial? Check out the video below.