General – Page 6 – Cesar Chavez Foundation

Cesar Chavez began his activism 72 years ago by mobilizing Latino voters. Let’s do it again!

August 22, 2024, by CCF

The Legacy of Cesar Chavez in Activism

Before he organized farm workers, Cesar Chavez’s activism began by registering and turning out poor Latinos to vote. He also fought Republican voter suppression tactics as early as 1952 in the impoverished Eastside San Jose barrio called Sal Si Puedes(Get Out If You Can).

Think about it. Why did President Biden have Cesar Chavez’s bronze bust placed in the Oval Office on the first day he entered it as president—27 years after Cesar’s passing? Why did 17 million Americans support his boycott of California table grapes in 1975? Was it partly because the genesis of Cesar’s activism was community organizing and voter engagement? He was a civil rights leader before becoming a farm labor leader.

Cesar Chavez’s organizing career started at age 25, when he met Fred Ross Sr., one of America’s greatest community organizers.

Cesar Chavez and Fred Ross Sr.
(Bob Fitch)

“The first time I met Fred Ross, he was about the last person I wanted to see,” Cesar recalled when eulogizing his mentor and teacher in 1992. Ross arrived in the rough East San Jose barrio in the spring of 1952, organizing a local chapter of the Community Service Organization after forming the original chapter in East Los Angeles. Cesar had recently left field work. He initially believed Ross was one of the college professors who came down from Berkeley or Stanford while studying Mexicans and asking them rude questions. Once Ross started talking, he quickly realized that wasn’t the case. He spoke about empowerment through the ballot box—and Cesar’s life was forever changed. Ross wrote that night in his diary, “I think I’ve found the guy I’m looking for.”

Over more than a month of frantic days and nights, Cesar helped CSO register 4,000 new voters. When Election Day arrived, the local Republican Party dispatched “challengers” to threaten Latinos voting for the first time. It was reminiscent of voter suppression still taking place in too many places when people of color cast ballots. The tactic failed. One Latino voter exclaimed, “At first, I got really mad, but then thought if they go to all that trouble to keep us from voting, it means they are paying attention to us.”

The Impact and Importance of Mobilizing Latino Voters

So many Latinos turned out to vote that county authorities got packinghouses to stop dumping waste into barrio creeks. And they fixed cesspools that had been producing amoebic dysentery.

After that successful drive, Ross saw to it that Cesar was put on as a full-time CSO organizer. Together, the two men established 22 CSO chapters across California and in Arizona. More than 500,000 voters were registered.

Cesar Chavez mobilized the Latino vote while working with CSO in Oxnard in the fall of 1958.

Some 50,000 residents become U.S. citizens. This organizing produced indigenous leaders such as Edward Roybal, Herman Gallegos, and Cruz Reynoso, among many others. CSO attracted broad support by addressing the concerns expressed by the people who were being organized. It confronted voter suppression, battled police brutality, and opposed employment discrimination and school segregation. The diverse coalition it assembled included Latinos, African Americans, Jews, Catholics, Japanese Americans, and union leaders.

CSO registered 160,000 Latino voters and turned them out to the polls for John F. Kennedy’s 1960 race for president. Cesar won praise from Robert F. Kennedy, who met with him and would later play a key role in the farm worker movement.

Mobilizing for Today and Tomorrow

“You can’t do anything by talking,” Cesar explained. “You can’t do anything if you haven’t got the power…And the only way you can generate power is by doing a lot of work.”

This year, let’s do a lot more work by making sure everyone is registered to vote—and votes. How better to honor Cesar Chavez than by doing what he did? As he once said, “We don’t need perfect political systems; we need perfect participation.”

Let your voice be heard! Visit vote.org now to find your polling center and get all the info you need for your state’s election. Together, we can create a powerful impact on the future of our nation.

Groundbreaking Celebration for Esteban E. Torres Village in Baldwin Park, CA

July 24, 2024, by CCF

The Cesar Chavez Foundation held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Esteban E. Torres Village, a new affordable housing project in Baldwin Park. This project aims to provide not just homes but hope and opportunity to the community. The village is named in honor of the late Congressman Esteban E. Torres, a dedicated advocate for Latino civil rights and empowerment. It is designed to offer safe, affordable housing for low-income families with 51 units dedicated to serving these vulnerable populations, the project is a testament to the power of collaboration and a shared vision of social justice and community support.

Features and Amenities

The Esteban E. Torres Village will encompass a total of 6,362 square feet of space dedicated to residential services, including:

Recreational and Meeting Spaces: Two courtyards, two central laundry facilities, property management offices, meeting rooms, and spaces for social services.
Educational and Social Services: The village will offer vital social services, including programming lounges, an educational space, a community garden, and warming kitchens for cooking demonstrations. It will also provide mental health care referrals, education, employment training, and more.
Outdoor Spaces: With over 5,693 square feet of passive open space, residents will enjoy beautifully landscaped courtyards, an occupiable roof deck, indoor recreational rooms, BBQ grills, and a community garden for outdoor activities and relaxation.

Watch Highlights of the Esteban E. Torres Village Groundbreaking

Resident Impact Stories: The Martinez Family’s Journey to Plaza Ortiz

June 25, 2024, by Vanessa Gonzalez

Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II is CCF’s second project in the City of El Monte and honors 19-year-old native of El Monte killed during the Korean War. In 2019, he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

Marlee Martinez, who grew up in El Monte and has recently returned from the high desert, now lives in Plaza Ortiz II. She shares how relocating to Plaza Ortiz has significantly transformed her life and her family’s.

In her own words:

“Living in Plaza Ortiz has positively changed my family’s life. Our new home has brought us closer together and provided great educational and healthcare opportunities. The community is welcoming, and the secure apartments give us peace of mind. Having my mother close by has been a great support. Moving here has allowed me to focus on my studies and has brought us new opportunities and support. I highly recommend Plaza Ortiz to anyone looking for a welcoming community, better educational opportunities, and improved healthcare access.”

Watch the video below to hear from Marlee and learn how the Chavez Foundation inspires and transforms communities through affordable housing.

Agbayani Village: A Legacy of Unity and Courage in Delano

June 9, 2024, by Vanessa Gonzalez

This summer marks the 50th anniversary of Agbayani Village. As we celebrate, we remember the significance of this historic location.

Just outside Delano, California lies a testament to the enduring spirit of solidarity, courage, and the fight for justice. Paolo Agbayani Village, once a beacon of hope for Filipino farm workers, remains a poignant reminder of the struggles and triumphs of those who came before us and the pivotal role played by the Delano Manongs (respected elders) in shaping the course of the farm labor movements in the United States.

The summer of 1974 marked a significant milestone. More than 3,000 people gathered to dedicate Agbayani Village. The first affordable housing complex was named after Paolo Agbayani, a Filipino farm worker and United Farm Workers member who died of a heart attack on the picket line during the Delano Grape Strike in 1967.

The Birth of a Movement: The Delano Grape Strike

On September 8, 1965, Filipino American vineyard workers, members of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee led by Larry Itliong, walked out on strike against Delano-area table and wine grape growers, protesting years of poor pay and conditions. The Filipinos quickly asked Cesar Chavez, who led the mostly Latino farm workers union, the National Farm Workers Association, to join their walkouts.

Decorations and a sign that reads “Mabuhay Agbayani Village, 1965 – 1972,” courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs.

Cesar Chavez and the NFWA leaders believed it would be years before their fledgling union was ready for major field strikes. But they also knew growers historically pitted the races against each other to break unions and crush walkouts. Cesar’s union voted to join the Filipino workers’ picket lines on Mexican Independence Day, September 16, 1965. The two unions merged in 1966 to form the UFW. Solidarity between the races was a key factor in the success of the 1965-1970 Delano strike and the emergence of the UFW as the nation’s first enduring farm worker union.

Paolo Agbayani: A Symbol of Sacrifice

Paolo Agbayani’s untimely death on the picket line underscored the gravity of the worker’s plight. In honor of his sacrifice, what today is the Chavez Foundation built a Filipino farm worker whose untimely death on the picket lines underscored the gravity of the workers’ plight. In honor of his sacrifice, the National Farm Workers Service Center, now known as the Cesar Chavez Foundation, established the Paolo Agbayani Retirement Village in 1974. Agbayani Village wasn’t just a housing complex; it was a sanctuary for those who had given their all to the movement, with 57 men and one woman as its first occupants.

Filipino Farm Workers gather to plan the construction of Agbayani Village in 1972. Photo Credit: Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives Of Labor And Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Over the years, Agbayani Village evolved into something more. It has become a vibrant hub of cultural and educational exchanges, welcoming visitors and scholars keen on understanding the intricacies of the Filipinos’ immigration and their heroic labor history in America. Through these interactions, the village fostered a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices and achievements of the Filipino farm workers and their allies.

Agbayani Village was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2011, ensuring future generations would recognize and learn from the perseverance and unity these brave Filipino farm workers demonstrated. It continues serving as a beacon of hope and a reminder of the power of collective action and the enduring legacy of Delano Manongs.

Agbayani Village will celebrate its 50th anniversary on October 19, 2024, with celebrations planned during Delano’s Philippine Weekend at Forty Acres, an annual gathering of the Filipino community in Delano. Stay tuned for more on this historic event.

Cesar Chavez Foundation Celebrates the Grand Opening of Plaza Ortiz II in El Monte, CA

June 5, 2024, by CCF

The Cesar Chavez Foundation (CCF), the City of El Monte, and stakeholders including Boston Financial, JP Morgan Chase, and the California Department of Housing and Community Development, celebrated the grand opening of Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II, a new affordable housing community for low-income families in El Monte, California.

Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II is CCF’s second project in the City of El Monte and honors a 19-year-old native of El Monte killed during the Korean War. It is the second property commemorating the young soldier, whose remains were returned nearly 70 years after being reported missing in action.

In attendance, El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona remarked, “One of the things that warms my heart is the addition to the beautiful housing is a Si Se Puede Learning Center. The commitment to families and children is one of the missions of the Cesar Chavez Foundation and one the council values here in the City of El Monte—providing a brighter future for children and families. Families don’t have to go elsewhere for their children to receive additional support by having those opportunities within this development.”

Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II provides 53 units of 100% affordable housing and community services, including a Si Se Puede Learning Center, Chavez Foundation’s flagship afterschool program for K-5 students, spaces for residential services, a recreational meeting space, conference and meeting rooms. The property also features a new mural by artist John Park, “Celebración,” paying homage to the city’s farm worker history and Latino culture.

Marlee Martinez, who currently resides in Plaza Ortiz II and was raised in El Monte, has recently moved back from the high desert. She commented, “That’s the whole point of affordable housing…it allows people to thrive in the communities they grew up in and continue to do so. It has been very helpful for my family, as we are finally close together.”

Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz II is CCF’s second project in the Main Street Specific Plan corridor in the City of El Monte. CCF’s first project, Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Oritz, is located east of the new development at 10950 Railroad Street and provides 53 units of affordable housing for veterans and families.

Category: General