UFW Foundation – Cesar Chavez Foundation

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opportunity for us to strengthen our outreach programs and begin sharing our organizational archives to find meaningful historical documents that showcase the legacy of Cesar Chavez.”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.

La Campesina’s “Punto de Vista” broadcasts live from the White House

April 6, 2023, by CCF

La Campesina’s “Punto de Vista” broadcasted live from the White House this past Cesar Chavez Day. Program Director Maria Barquin and La Campesina radio personality Tony “El Tigre” sat down with White House staffers Luisana Perez Fernández, director of Hispanic media, and Jennifer Molina, deputy communications director, to discuss their current positions and reflect on their personal journeys to the White House. In conjunction with Cesar Chavez Day celebrations, La Campesina highlighted the farm worker delegation, which included UFW Foundation Chief Executive Officer Diana Tellefson Torres and United Farm Workers President Teresa Romero, accompanied by representatives of the nation’s largest agricultural states to discuss issues affecting farm workers. Listen to the entire episode by visiting: Podcast – Campesina Network

From left, La Campesina radio personality Tony “El Tigre, “Luisana Perez Fernández, White House director of Hispanic media, Jennifer Molina, White House deputy communications director, and Maria Barquin, communications fund program director.

From left, Maria Barquin, communications fund program director, stands with Julie Rodriguez, senior advisor to President Biden at the White House and Cesar’s granddaughter, and La Campesina radio personality Tony “El Tigre” near a bust of Martin Luther King Jr.

Chavez Foundation’s Maria Barquin and Tony “El Tigre” prepare for a live broadcast of “Punto de Vista” from the White House.

The Communications Fund’s flagship program, Radio Campesina (La Campesina), was founded by Cesar Chavez in 1983 to produce community-building programs while also providing great entertainment as a means of encouraging listeners to interact, engage and share resources. The Communications Fund reaches millions of people each month through multiple platforms, engaging a multi-generational, multi-cultural audience with current high-quality programming that entertains, informs, and inspires.

World Central Kitchen & Farm Worker Movement Distribute Meals for Farm Worker Families

April 23, 2020, by CCF

Delano, Calif.—More than 1,000 meals were distributed Wednesday in Delano to families suffering amidst the coronavirus pandemic, launching a joint effort by the UFW Foundation and World Central Kitchen, in coordination with the United Farm Workers and Cesar Chavez Foundation, that will expand throughout many farm worker communities in California. The meals passed out at the movement’s Forty Acres property west of Delano were prepared by local restaurants. Meals will be provided at least once a week in Delano and in each of the farm worker communities that will be served through this partnership. Farm worker communities are being notified of the food distribution through the Cesar Chavez Foundation radio networks, La Campesina and Forge.

Since its founding, World Central Kitchen has served more than 17 million meals to those impacted by natural disasters and other crises around the world, including the coronavirus global pandemic.

Nate Mook, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen, said, “Farm workers truly are the backbone of America’s food system … without them, there would be nothing at our grocery stores and farmers markets, no food on our plates. We’re proud to stand beside this community and help uplift them at this vital time, working with and supporting local restaurants to serve not only meals to farm workers and their families, but also dignity and hope for the future.”

Diana Tellefson Torres, executive director of the UFW Foundation affirmed, “Farm workers and their families remain some of the most vulnerable during this pandemic even though they are officially defined as essential workers. Our partnership with World Central Kitchen, local restaurants and sister organizations in the farm worker movement provides relief and is a sign of hope for thousands of families that have been especially hard hit.”

Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers, stated, “It is an especially tragic irony that too many of the people who produce the food that sustains all of us are in need during the crisis. These meals are also important because too many farm workers who are undocumented receive no benefits such as unemployment insurance and taxpayer checks from relief measures such as the $2.2 trillion stimulus law recently passed by Congress.”

Paul Chavez, president of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, said, “The Cesar Chavez Foundation is proud to be a partner in this important effort taking place at the historic Forty Acres. Through actions like food distributions, my father’s legacy lives on and continues to inspire and transform our most vulnerable communities during these difficult times.”

Tag: UFW Foundation

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

La Campesina’s “Punto de Vista” broadcasts live from the White House

World Central Kitchen & Farm Worker Movement Distribute Meals for Farm Worker Families

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