Northern Nevada
César Chávez Celebration VII
Tuesday/Martes, March/marzo 31, 2009
Circus Circus-Reno

Watch this website for updates.
Call (775) 786-1455 for sponsorship information
or e-mail barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us

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Northern Nevada
César Chávez Celebration VI
Monday/Lunes, March 31, 2008
Circus Circus-Reno
Click on the above link for complete information on the event and the Washoe County School District Essay Contest

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Reno César Chávez Celebration V
March 31, 2006
DÍA DE CÉSAR CHÁVEZ Jueves 31 de Marzo del 2006

     Again sponsored by Laborers' Union Local 169 and Culinary Union Local 226, this year's event will take place from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on March 31, 2006, at the Neil Road Community Center in southeast Reno. Washoe County School District students will fabricate signs and march from Pine Middle School to the center to begin the celebration.

     The public is welcome at the no-charge event which will again feature food, scholarship winners and entertainment – even a DVD produced by Pine students about the school's César Chávez mural.

     Click here for complete 2006 details. See you there!

COUNTDOWN TO CHÁVEZ DAY —

On March 10, 1968, Robert Kennedy and César Chávez met in Delano, California, for the breaking of Chavez's anti-violence fast. Chávez's physicians had contacted Kennedy to ask for his help in convincing Chávez to end his fast before it did more damage to his health.

On March 17, 1966, farm workers led by César Chávez began a march from Delano to Sacramento.

On March 31, 1927, César Chávez was born near Yuma, Ariz.

New York Times obituary, April 24, 1993: "Mr. Chávez, who was described by Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 as 'one of the heroic figures of our time,'was widely acknowledged to have done more to improve the lot of the migrant farm worker than anyone else. Fighting growers and shippers who for generations had defeated efforts to unionize field workers, and later fighting rival unionists, Mr. Chávez for the first time brought a degree of stability and security to the lives of some migrant workers. Largely because of him, the California Legislature in 1975 passed the nation's first collective bargaining act outside Hawaii for farm workers, who are largely excluded from Federal labor law coverage. 'For the first time,' Mr. Chávez said when asked to describe the union's achievement, 'the farm worker got some power.' Asked what had motivated his stubborn fight, he said, 'For many years I was a farm worker, a migratory worker, and, well, personally — and I'm being very frank — maybe it's just a matter of trying to even the score.'"

[[Courtesy of longtime Nevada reporter Dennis Myers' Poor Denny's Almanac]]

Chávez's hometown San Jose Mercury News 6-14-2007 by Mercury News staff César Chávez, iconic civil rights leader of the 1960s, spent much of his youth in San Jose. At the time, the neighborhood was called Sal Si Puedes — "Get Out If You Can." It was in San Jose that Chávez honed the community organizing skills that served him well in launching the United Farm Workers union and leading the famous grape boycotts of the 1960s. Earlier this year, the city of San Jose dedicated a new street sign at San Antonio Street and Scharff Avenue, pointing visitors to the site of the Chávez home. If you walk by 53 Scharff Ave., you will find a squat, brown stucco duplex now sitting on the spot where young César spent his formative years. A bronze plaque on the site reads: "César Estrada Chávez Family Home." That's not exactly correct. The original house doesn't exist anymore, but the marker — and the directional sign — are proof of the entire city's pride in the fact that San Jose played an important role in the life of Chávez.

César Chávez Celebration IV March 31, 2005 VETERANS — Left to right, Maria Zamora, Librado "Lee" Chávez and Tony Mayorga. Lee Chávez holds up a United Farm Workers of America flag signed by his late brother. The flag is part of Ms. Zamora's collection of Chávez/UFWA memorabilia which she displayed at the 2004 Chávez Celebration and will do so again this year. Ms. Zamora marched with César Chávez in the 1960's and cooked for the multitudes as they trekked across California. Tony Mayorga is President of Laborers' Union Local 169, a founding sponsor of the celebration. Reno César Chávez IV Thursday, March 31, 2005 Reno Hilton Crystal Ballroom DÍA DE CÉSAR CHÁVEZ Jueves 31 de Marzo del 2005 Program for the evening Welcome Leopoldo Ramos, General Manager, KREN and KAZR Invocation Rev. Richard "Whitey" Engeseth International Folkloric Ballet Company Official Proclamations Pete Sferrazza, Washoe County Commissioner César E. Chávez Chautauqua Performed by Gilbert Cortez Chávez Foundation Film Presentation Reading of César E. Chávez Essays Dan Carne, President, Washoe County School Board Essay Awards Presentation Lynn Draper, V.P., Greater Nevada Credit Union When César Chávez came to Reno     How often do we get to meet the great men of our age? Of the great apostles of nonviolence who have lived in our time and generations, I got to meet only one, but that was a meaningful one. César Chávez's (1986) visit to Reno gave me the opportunity to meet him, to shake his hand, to stand in his presence. It was an honor, one of the privileged moments of my life.      On March 10, 1968, Robert Kennedy went to Delano to be with César when he broke his fast for nonviolence. Senator Kennedy said to César's supporters in the farm workers, "And when your children and grandchildren take their place in America, going to high school and college and taking good jobs at good pay — when you look at them, you will say, 'I did this. I was there, at the point of difficulty and danger'. And though you may be old and bent from many years of labor, no man will stand taller than you when you say, 'I marched with César'."      We have not been very good custodians of that hope. Good jobs at good pay seem further away than ever. We have to do better. César's example calls. — Courtesy of Dennis Myers' Poor Denny's Almanac Used by permission.

Harvest of Tears
Sparks Tribune 3-20-2005

UFW FLAG ART presented by César Chávez to Reno Musicians Union Local 368 Secretary-Treasurer Beth Shay at Reno César Chávez Day I on July 15, 1986. Each color is symbolic — black for the dark situation of the farmworkers of the time; red for toil and sacrifice and the white circle for hope. Chávez himself designed it.

      Northern Nevada will mark its fourth César Chávez Day celebration on Thursday, March 31, 2005, which would have been the soft spoken leader’s 78th birthday. Pappas Telecasting of Nevada, which owns stations KREN TV-27 (Charter Cable Channel 6), a WB affiliate, and KAZR TV-46 (Charter Cable Channel 24), an Azteca America affiliate, celebrates César Estrada Chávez with an essay contest and a special presentation.
      The region's first César Chávez Day was declared by the Reno City Council in honor of Chávez’s visit on July 15, 1986. The Pappas Telecasting stations began the annual commemoration in 2003. Last year's event drew twice the attendance of 2003.
      The public is invited to the event in the Reno Hilton's Crystal Ballroom. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on March 31, with the program beginning at 6:00 p.m. Nevadans who knew or worked with Chávez will speak on their experiences. Members of his immediate family are again expected to attend. There is no charge for admission, however anyone wishing to attend please RSVP with KAZR and KREN at 775-333-2727 before Friday, March 25.
      In conjunction with the Washoe County School District, students in three grade levels are again participating in an essay contest. The competition is open to all students from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Winners will read their variations on this year's theme, "How have César Chávez, his work or his ideas affected my life?"
      In late March and early April, KAZR TV-46 and KREN TV-27 will air special vignettes honoring César Chávez. KAZR TV-46 will premiere a new half-hour César Chávez documentary on the day of the celebration. It will air at 6:30 p.m. with repeats at 11:30 p.m. on March 31 and at 1:30 a.m. on April 1.
      César Chávez was born on March 31, 1927, on a small farm near Yuma, Arizona. At 10 years of age, Chávez began life as a migrant farm worker. This ultimately led to his cause or "La Causa," advocating for better wages and working conditions for the nation's farm workers. In 1952, he began the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) to strive for equal rights for agricultural workers.
       César Chávez learned from and practiced the non-violent principles of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mohandas K. Gandhi. Chávez died on April 23, 1993, at the age of 66. He was posthumously awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. The United States Postal Service issued a commemorative first class stamp bearing his image in 2003.
      Reno’s WB broadcast television network focuses on Reno’s younger demographic with top quality family programming. Azteca America broadcast television network focuses on the rapidly-growing Reno Hispanic population. Reno’s affiliate produces the only Spanish language newscast in Northern Nevada.

Reno, Nevada — El Norte de Nevada conmemorara el cuarto Día de César Chávez este Jueves, Marzo 31, el cual seria su cumpleaños numero 78 del desaparecido líder agrícola. Pappas Telecasting de Nevada, quienes son propietarios de las estaciones KREN 27 afiliada de WB y KAZR 46 afiliada de Azteca América a la vez, conmemorarán a César Estrada Chávez con un concurso literario y un programa especial.

El primer Día de César Chávez fue declarado por el Consejo Municipal de la ciudad de Reno en honor a la visita de Chávez en Julio 15, 1986. Las estaciones de Pappas Telecasting empezaron las celebraciones anuales de conmemoración en el 2003. El año pasado este evento duplico la concurrencia del año anterior.

El publico en general esta invitado al evento que se realizará en el Reno Hilton - Crystal Ballroom. Las puertas del evento abrirán a las 5:30 p.m., Marzo 31. Iniciándose el programa a las 6:00 p.m. Los nevadenses que llegaron a conocer y trabajaron con Chávez nos expondrán sus experiencias. Miembros de la familia Chávez se espera atenderán el evento. La admisión es gratis, sin embargo cualquiera que desee asistir puede hacer sus reservaciones con KAZR y KREN al teléfono 775-333-2727 antes del Viernes, Marzo 25.

En conjunción con el distrito Escolar de Washoe County, escolares de los tres diferentes niveles estarán participando nuevamente en el concurso literario. El concurso esta abierto a todos los estudiantes desde Kindergarten hasta el 12th grado. Los ganadores leerán sus composiciones basados en el tema de este año: "Como es que la trayectoria e ideas de César Chávez han afectado mi vida?"

KAZR TV 46 y KREN TV 27 estarán difundiendo durante el fin de Marzo y comienzos de Abril cortos especiales honrando a César Chávez. KAZR TV-46 estará estrenando un documental de media hora sobre Cesar Chávez el día central de la conmemoración. Este especial estará al aire a las 6:30 p.m. con repeticiones a las 11:30 p.m. el 31 de Marzo y a las 1:30 a.m. el 1 de Abril.

César Chávez nació el 31 de Marzo de 1927, en una granja cerca a Yuma, Arizona. A los 10 años de edad, Chávez empezó su vida como "brasero" junto a su familia. Este hecho en su vida provoco que Chávez se convirtiera en un abanderado por la justicia social, a la cual el llamo "La Causa", propugnando mejoras salariales y mejores condiciones de trabajo para los trabajadores en los campos de cultivo.

En 1952, el constituyó la Asociación Nacional de los Trabajadores del Campo- Nacional Farm Workers Association (NFWA) con el fin de defender la igualdad de derechos para los trabajadores agrícolas. César Chávez aprendió y practico los principios de No Violencia del Dr. Martín Luther King Jr. y Mahatma Gandhi. Chávez falleció el 23 de Abril de 1993, a la edad de 66 años. El fue honrado póstumamente con la Medalla Presidencial de la Libertad en 1994 por el presidente Bill Clinton. Además, el servicio postal imprimió una estampilla conmemorativa de primera clase con su imagen en el 2003.

Reno celebrará "Día de César Chávez"

¿Quién fue César Chávez?

"Una de las figuras heróicas de nuestros tiempos"

—Senador Robert F. Kennedy, D-NY

 

2005 CÉSAR CHÁVEZ DAY PROCLAMATIONS