Our vital work at the Cesar Chavez Foundation is guided by our conviction to stand shoulder to shoulder with immigrants and working families to battle together against unforeseeable hardships and discouraging odds.
The fear and outrage following brutal raids by heavily armed ICE agents on innocent workers and families in peaceful communities throughout the country– most recently in Los Angeles communities—is nothing short of disheartening. SEIU California President David Huerta was injured and arrested while witnessing one raid. “Our community is under attack and has been terrorized,” declared Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), who we honored with the Cesar Chavez Legacy Award in 2023.
I recall the trauma of immigrating as a young child from Mexico, undocumented and penniless. These dark times force us to think hard about what more we can—and must—do to stand up for our beliefs and principles. As a start, we at the Cesar Chavez Foundation vehemently reject the needless and violent acts we are witnessing.
Let us draw upon our combined strength and power during these difficult times.
Manuel H. Bernal
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cesar Chavez Foundation
Cesar Chavez’s legacy lives on through grassroots organizations that continue his fight for justice, dignity, and equity. This March, from Michigan to Arizona, communities gathered to honor his memory and keep his mission alive through action.
The annual Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice in San Antonio, TX, on March 25, 2025.
One of the largest tributes to Chavez’s legacy takes place in San Antonio, Texas, where thousands of marchers unite for the annual Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice. This event, deeply rooted in community activism, brings together families, students, and advocates to honor Chavez’s contributions and highlight ongoing social justice issues.
Local organizers in Grand Rapids, Michigan, host a social justice march, gala, and scholarship program supporting young leaders. Visalia, California, continues its commitment through events led by Roberto Capitan Bustos.
In San Luis, Arizona, Maria Robles and her team at WeAreSomos—including former UFW members—have established a visitor center dedicated to Cesar Chavez’s life and mission. The center serves as a hub for education and reflection, offering programs that connect the past struggles of farmworkers with today’s ongoing labor movements. Robles shares, “We must pass on from generation to generation the importance of working as a team for the common good, following the model of Cesar Chavez, who unified and transformed the issues of farm workers into impactful actions by working together.”
San Luis, Arizona Street Sign Donation on March 6, 2025.
A significant recent addition to the San Luis visitor center is a street sign donated by the City of San Luis, now proudly on display. This milestone was made possible through the collaboration of the National Chavez Center Archives and WeAreSomos, further cementing Chavez’s presence in the heart of the community.
During a recent visit to the San Luis Center, Manuel Bernal, President and CEO of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, saw the newly installed Cesar Chavez street sign donated by the City of San Luis. “We’re deeply grateful for the grassroots commemorative groups who honor Cesar’s legacy year after year—not for recognition, but out of love for their communities and a lasting commitment to justice,” said Manuel Bernal, President and CEO of the Cesar Chavez Foundation.
The annual Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice in San Antonio, TX, on March 25, 2025.
Andres Chavez, Executive Director of the National Chavez Center, added, “From Grand Rapids to San Antonio, Visalia to San Luis, these efforts are not isolated—they’re part of a national tapestry of remembrance and action. Each scholarship, each march, each community event is a reminder of my Tata’s legacy and how the movement remains alive. What these communities show us is that we only lose if we give up. As long as we keep organizing, educating, and believing in our collective power, we continue moving forward. The fight for justice isn’t over—and thanks to these local leaders, it never will be.”
From Michigan to Texas to California and Arizona, these grassroots groups exemplify the power of local activism in keeping Cesar Chavez’s spirit alive. As we reflect on his legacy, we celebrate the individuals and organizations who continue championing his vision for justice, dignity, and equality for all.
The National Chavez Center Speakers Bureau is a year-round program dedicated to sharing Cesar Chavez’s life and legacy. Official Speakers and representatives from the National Chavez Center present at nationwide conferences, community-based events, marches, universities, and more, lending contemporary meaning to Cesar’s core beliefs and values.
Cesar Chavez’s legacy in Texas is marked by his deep commitment to organizing farmworkers and advocating for Mexican American communities throughout the Southwest. His influence, while strongest in California, found a significant foothold in Texas, particularly Austin, where he frequently visited to deliver boycott speeches, engage in campus discussions, and support East Austin community initiatives. On Labor Day, September 5, 1966, Chavez highlighted his dedication to the cause by leading a rally on the statehouse steps. He concluded a 400-plus-mile march from Rio Grande City by farmworkers, including early UFW members from Texas. This historic march, which began on the Fourth of July, aimed at securing a $1.25 minimum wage, drawing as many as 6,000 attendees, according to the American-Statesman.
Cesar Chavez is applauded before a talk sponsored by the San Antonio Friends of the Farm Workers. Among those in attendance, standing to his right, are Judge Albert Peña, Jr., and Bishop Raymundo Peña, July 26, 1979. (San Antonio Express-News Collection)
To honor Chavez’s enduring legacy and continue his work, the Cesar Chavez Foundation is committed to significantly expanding its programs, mainly targeting young Latinos in the major urban centers of Texas, without overlooking the foundational communities in California’s Central Valley. With plans to establish a robust operational presence in Texas by December 31, 2026, the Chavez Foundation is dedicated to uplifting and supporting the communities Cesar Chavez fought for, ensuring his legacy thrives well into the future.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through week-long sample lessons from the Cesar Chavez Foundation’s signature K-8th grade curriculum. Develop students’ knowledge of Hispanic culture and ability to share and connect to their own stories.
For more information about our full curriculum offerings, including After-School & Summer programming, contact edu.partnerships@chavezfoundation.org
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Cesar Chavez’s legacy lives on through grassroots organizations that continue his fight for justice, dignity, and equity. This March, from Michigan to Arizona, communities gathered to honor his memory and keep his mission alive through action.
