Cesar Chavez

Cesar Estrada Chavez was born March 31, 1927, on a small farm near Yuma, Arizona. He learned about justice and injustice early in life. The small adobe home where he was born was swindled from his family by dishonest people. Chavez's father agreed to clear eighty acres of land and in exchange he would receive the deed to forty acres of land that adjoined the home. The agreement was broken and the land sold to a man named Justus Jackson. Chavez's dad went to a lawyer who advised him to borrow money and buy the land. Later, during the Depression, when Chavez's father could not pay the interest on the loan, the lawyer bought back the land and sold it to the original owner. Later, Chavez would say "the love for justice that is in us is not only the best part of our being but it is also the most true to our nature."

In 1938 he and his family moved to California. He lived in La Colonia Barrio in Oxnard for a short period, returning to Arizona several months later. They returned to California in June 1939 and this time settled in San Jose. They lived in the barrio called Sal Si Puedes or "Get Out If You Can." Chavez thought the only way to get out of the circle of poverty was to work his way up and send his kids to college. He and his family worked in the fields of California.

Chavez was willing to make great sacrifices so that the union would continue and so that violence was not used. In 1968 Cesar went on a water-only, 25-day fast. He repeated the fast in 1972 for 24 days, and again in 1988, this time for 36 days. What motivated him to do this? "Farm workers everywhere are angry and worried that we cannot win without violence," he said. "We have proved it before through persistence, hard work, faith and willingness to sacrifice. We can win and keep our own self-respect and build a great union that will secure the spirit of all people if we do it through a rededication and recommitment to the struggle for justice through non violence."Cesar Chavez passed away on April 23, 1993, at the age of 66. The Cesar E. Chavez Foundation was established in 1993 by his family and friends to educate people about the life and work of this American hero. They have created a model curriculum to help youth understand his message of nonviolent activism. In honor of Cesar Chavez Day, the Foundation has worked with the California Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism (GO SERV) to establish a service learning grants program.As a result, on Monday, April 1, 2002 Californians from across the state, in both rural and urban areas, implemented programs to improve their communities and the lives of others. Activities promoted non-violence, justice, equality, tolerance, environmental stewardship and respect for humanity.

Chavez was willing to make great sacrifices so that the union would continue and so that violence was not used. In 1968 Cesar went on a water-only, 25-day fast. He repeated the fast in 1972 for 24 days, and again in 1988, this time for 36 days. What motivated him to do this? "Farm workers everywhere are angry and worried that we cannot win without violence," he said. "We have proved it before through persistence, hard work, faith and willingness to sacrifice. We can win and keep our own self-respect and build a great union that will secure the spirit of all people if we do it through a rededication and recommitment to the struggle for justice through non violence."Cesar Chavez passed away on April 23, 1993, at the age of 66. The Cesar E. Chavez Foundation was established in 1993 by his family and friends to educate people about the life and work of this American hero. They have created a model curriculum to help youth understand his message of nonviolent activism. In honor of Cesar Chavez Day, the Foundation has worked with the California Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism (GO SERV) to establish a service learning grants program.As a result, on Monday, April 1, 2002 Californians from across the state, in both rural and urban areas, implemented programs to improve their communities and the lives of others. Activities promoted non-violence, justice, equality, tolerance, environmental stewardship and respect for humanity.

Chavez was willing to make great sacrifices so that the union would continue and so that violence was not used. In 1968 Cesar went on a water-only, 25-day fast. He repeated the fast in 1972 for 24 days, and again in 1988, this time for 36 days. What motivated him to do this? "Farm workers everywhere are angry and worried that we cannot win without violence," he said. "We have proved it before through persistence, hard work, faith and willingness to sacrifice. We can win and keep our own self-respect and build a great union that will secure the spirit of all people if we do it through a rededication and recommitment to the struggle for justice through non violence."Cesar Chavez passed away on April 23, 1993, at the age of 66. The Cesar E. Chavez Foundation was established in 1993 by his family and friends to educate people about the life and work of this American hero. They have created a model curriculum to help youth understand his message of nonviolent activism. In honor of Cesar Chavez Day, the Foundation has worked with the California Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism (GO SERV) to establish a service learning grants program.As a result, on Monday, April 1, 2002 Californians from across the state, in both rural and urban areas, implemented programs to improve their communities and the lives of others. Activities promoted non-violence, justice, equality, tolerance, environmental stewardship and respect for humanity.