Cesar Chavez Foundation
  • About Cesar
  • Licensing
  • Chavez100
  • Store
  • About Cesar
  • Licensing
  • Store
  • Who We Are
    • History
    • Executive Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • What We Do
    • National Chavez Center
    • Housing & Economic Development Fund
    • Education Fund
      • Summer Curricula and Services
      • After-School Curricula and Services
      • Cesar Chavez Migrant Education Program
      • School-Year Curricula and Training
      • Innovation
      • Contact Us
    • Chavez Media
  • News
  • Events
    • Staff Convocations
    • Legacy Awards
  • Contact Us
    • Careers
    • Request A Speaker

Tag: El Monte

This is our archive page
  • Cesar Chavez Foundation > El Monte
post-thumb

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.

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, residential services spaces, a recreational meeting space, and conference and meeting rooms.

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.

post-thumb

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.

post-thumb

Grand Opening of Plaza Ortiz in El Monte

June 30, 2022, by CCF

Cesar Chavez Foundation announces grand opening of high-quality affordable housing community for homeless veterans & low-income residents in El Monte named for U.S. Army Cpl. ‘Mac’ Ortiz Jr. who died during Korean War in 1950 

El Monte, Calif. (June 29, 2022) – The Cesar Chavez Foundation (CCF) held a grand opening celebration on June 29 for a new affordable housing community for homeless veterans and low-income residents in El Monte. The property is named Plaza Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz, in honor of the 19-year-old El Monte native who was killed during the Korean War and whose remains were returned nearly 70 years after he was reported missing in action. The 53 units of housing for homeless veterans and low-income households features onsite social services provided in partnership with Step Up, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit delivering compassionate support to people experiencing serious mental health conditions, and persons who are experiencing chronic homelessness so they can recover, stabilize, and integrate into the community. The property also features a new mural by artist Ignacio Gomez honoring Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz and other community heroes.  

The project houses a Si Se Puede Learning Center, Chavez Foundation’s flagship afterschool program for young residents and 6,849 square feet of space for residential services, recreational meeting space, conference and meeting rooms, and staff office space as well as to provide services and resources for homeless veterans.  

Ysabel “Mac” Ortiz joined the U.S. Army at age 17. He was serving during the Korean War, assigned to an M-19, small anti-aircraft tank with an exposed cockpit in the 7th Infantry Division when he went missing while in combat in North Korea on Dec. 2, 1950. Barely past his 19th birthday, Cpl. Ortiz’s remains were never recovered. DNA testing confirmed he was among the remains of 55 U.S. service members turned over to the U.S. by North Korea almost 70 years later in 2019. He was brought home, buried in Riverside National Cemetery, and posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. 

"Affordable and Supportive Housing on the Rise in El Monte"

Affordable and Supportive Housing on the Rise in El Monte

August 27, 2020, by CCF

AUGUST 27, 2020 | Urbanize Los Angeles

Press Inquiries:

Suzy Silvestre

Director of Strategic Communications

ssilvestre@chavezfoundation.org

 

Marc Grossman

Spokesperson

mgrossman@chavezfoundation.org

Recent Posts
  • Together in Purpose: Highlights from the 2025 CCF Staff Convocation
  • Building Brighter Futures: The Education Fund’s Summer Math Program with Klein ISD
  • Radio Campesina: The Voice of the Community
  • Celebrating the Grand Opening of Vista de J.J. Rodriguez in Montebello, Calif
  • United in Community: The 2025 Cesar Chavez Legacy Awards
Cesar Chavez Foundation
.

Important Links

  • What We Do
  • Who We Are
  • News
  • Contact

Contact Us

P.O. Box 310
29700 Woodford-Tehachapi Rd.
Keene, CA 93531

contact us

Newsletter Subscription

    © Copyright Cesar Chavez Foundation 2024. All Rights Reserved.

    site design and site maintenance by Dream Warrior Group