CCF – Page 8 – Cesar Chavez Foundation

Welcome Our Newest Board Members

January 22, 2024, by CCF

The Cesar Chavez Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Connie Perez-Andreesen and Ernest J. Martinez to our Board of Directors. We are thrilled to welcome them onboard, as they bring a wealth of experience and diverse backgrounds that will contribute to the Foundation’s mission of inspiring and transforming communities.

Connie Perez-Andreesen is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who began her career as a staff accountant, eventually becoming a partner at a regional firm in Kern County. Presently, she serves as the Chief Administrative Officer and National Vice President of the United Farm Workers, lending her expertise to the organization’s operations.

Ernest J. Martinez is a St. Mary’s University alumnus with a business degree and is an active César E. Chávez Legacy & Educational Foundation member in San Antonio, Texas. He has served in various capacities, including as a committee chair, fundraiser, and mobilizer of community event volunteers. Additionally, he is the owner of a Charles Schwab franchise.

Board of Directors Announces Paul Chavez’s Retirement

December 8, 2023, by CCF

The Cesar Chavez Foundation (CCF) Board of Directors announces President Paul Chavez’s retirement at year’s end. During more than 30 years with CCF, Paul Chavez has ensured the legacy and values of his father continue inspiring people to make a difference in their lives and communities. Under his leadership, CCF has grown and transformed into a successful collection of social enterprises supporting millions of Latinos and working families, inspiring and transforming communities from rural to urban areas throughout the Southwest and across the generations. We thank Paul for his unwavering determination, guidance, and his nearly 50 years of commitment to the movement.

The Board of Directors has named CCF’s Chief Operating Officer Manuel Bernal to succeed Paul Chavez as president. Manuel has spent nearly 35 years in community development and a quarter century in leadership roles crafting a vision for CCF. He first joined the foundation in 1999, and until 2011 was Executive Vice President for Housing and Economic Development. Then, he served on the Board of Directors until 2017. Most recently, as chief operating officer, overseeing CCF’s four core programs: affordable housing, education, communications, and legacy work. Manuel’s roots and passion for community development have provided a strong vision for CCF’s future.

We have full confidence in Manuel’s vision for CCF and wish him success in his new role. Following his retirement, Paul will continue to serve on CCF’s Board of Directors and will continue serving farm worker movement organizations as a member of their boards. We wish Paul a happy retirement and thank him for his service in expanding our impact inspiring and transforming communities. We stand ready to support Manuel as he guides the organization forward.

Sincerely,
Cesar Chavez Foundation Board of Directors

President Biden gives exclusive interview to Spanish-language Radio Network La Campesina

November 30, 2023, by CCF

On Wednesday, November 22, 2023, Radio Campesina‘s Tony “El Tigre” Arias and Idelfonso “El Kitito” Armenta spoke with President Biden on topics impacting the approximately 62.1 million Latinos living in the United States, including immigration reform, education, and the economy and how his policies benefited Latino families.

Listen to the full interview.

About Radio Campesina

Radio Campesina, founded in 1983 by Cesar Chavez, is the flagship program of Chavez Radio Group, a division of Chavez Media at the Chavez Foundation. Chavez Media reaches millions of people across its multiple platforms, engaging a multi-generational, multi-cultural audience with high-quality, current programming that entertains, informs and inspires. With diverse and targeted musical genres, compelling online content and high-energy events, Chavez Media efforts expand and solidify their global reach, powered by a commitment to entertain and educate audiences.

Chavez Media has Spanish and English-language stations across California, Arizona and Nevada. It’s flagship program, Radio Campesina, was founded by Cesar Chavez as a way to both entertain and instill a sense of community for Latinos and working families.

Celebration of Labor Leader Cesar Chavez through Photo Exhibition at William & Mary

November 6, 2023, by CCF

William & Mary University celebrated Latinx Heritage Month with a photo exhibition commemorating the life of Cesar Chavez.

The exhibition “Cesar Chavez: Legacy of a Leader” displayed 30 historic black and white photographs from the National Chavez Center archives. The exhibition gave an overview of the life and work of Cesar Chavez, beginning with his early life on an Arizona homestead and highlighting his efforts to unite farm workers through community organizing, labor strikes, marches, and boycotts. Notably, the exhibition focused on the 1965 Delano, California, grape strike, a turning point in the American labor movement.

The Muscarelle Museum of Art’s director of engagement, Steve Prince, and facilities and exhibitions manager, Kevin Gilliam, curated the exhibition. The Center for Student Diversity organized it with the aim of acknowledging and celebrating the achievements and contributions of Latinx students, faculty, and staff to the William & Mary community.

Andres Chavez, the executive director of the National Chavez Center and Cesar Chavez’s grandson, stated, “Partnerships like this are an opportunity for us to re-introduce Cesar Chavez to modern audiences and in modern contexts.” He added that Cesar’s legacy is widespread and nuanced, and they are thrilled to share it with students and scholars from across the United States as they lead up to the centennial of Cesar Chavez’s birth in 2027.

The grand opening of “Cesar Chavez: Legacy of a Leader” was held on September 22 and featured a keynote speech by Arturo Rodriguez, president emeritus of the UFW, who was its president for 25 years after Cesar Chavez’s death.

Eric Romero, director of archives at the National Chavez Center, and Prince conducted a community flag-making event with students at Lafayette High School. The event was based on the historic UFW work of boycotts, strikes, and marches. Members and supporters of the UFW would gather in community spaces to design and produce picket signs, banners, and flags for the movement. According to Romero, “This show is a great opportunity for us to strengthen our outreach programs and begin sharing our organizational archives to find meaningful historical documents that showcase the legacy of Cesar Chavez.”

Looking to learn more about the archives at the National Chavez Center? The National Chavez Center believes in sharing its history by connecting with diverse communities. For more information, please contact Eric Romero at eromero@chavezfoundation.org.

About William & Mary

The second-oldest institution of higher learning in the country and a cutting-edge research university. Building on more than 300 years of innovation and excellence, William & Mary transcends the boundaries between research and teaching, teaching and learning, learning and living. As a “Public Ivy” — one of only eight in the nation — we offer a world-class education at an exceptional value.

Credit: This news post was originally published by William & Mary.

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

October 30, 2023, by CCF

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.

Author: CCF

Welcome Our Newest Board Members

Board of Directors Announces Paul Chavez’s Retirement

President Biden gives exclusive interview to Spanish-language Radio Network La Campesina

Celebration of Labor Leader Cesar Chavez through Photo Exhibition at William & Mary

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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