by
Eddi
Trevizo
Nearly 125
kids
packed into a Boys & Girls Club in Avondale last week to
sing "happy birthday" and celebrate the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez,
the late Mexican-American labor leader.
Chips, salsa, drinks, folkloric dancing and a slice of history were
served up as a tribute to Chavez, who was born in
The local event was organized to
teach children about Chavez's accomplishments and the
struggles of farm workers. The celebration was coordinated by the club's
Tri-City West Thornwood Branch, Avondale, Goodyear and AmeriCorps VISTA
volunteers.
Organizers said observing Chavez's birthday is especially important in
"It would be a shame not to celebrate," said Norma Cunningham,
neighborhood stabilization coordinator for Goodyear.
Avondale Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers, 61, spoke to kids about growing up in
a migrant farming family and her memories of seeing Chavez speak to
local farmers in person. Chavez died in 1993 at age 66.
"He was a big inspiration . . . I have a poster of him in my office,"
Her parents, Martin Lopez and Oralia Lopez, would bring the children to
help work on the farms.
"I remember him telling us that if we didn't want to do this (farming)
forever, we needed to stay in school,"
Throughout the event, children watched a shor video showing several
peaceful marches and boycotts organized by Chavez.
"They need to know where they came from to know where they are going,"
Ten-year-old Alexxis Barazza, a Boys & Girls Club member, agreed.
"Celebrating (Chavez) is important because of my culture; I'm Mexican.
Cesar Chavez wanted to let people know about equal rights," Barazza
said.
The event wound down with games, a coloring contest, dancing lessons
and a piņata.