Colonia cleanup to honor César Chávez
IF YOU GO:GARBAGE PICKUP
WHEN: 10 a.m. Thursday
WHERE: 6510 Brazil Ave., Edinburg
WHAT: Organizers, volunteers and colonia residents pick up garbage
RALLY AT UTPA
WHEN: 11 a.m. Thursday
WHERE: UTPA campus, off University Drive, between Sugar Road and North Fourth Avenue, Edinburg
WHAT: Queremos M.A.S. Teach-in, a rally to defend against cuts to UTPA’s Mexican-American Studies Program
EDINBURG — Local volunteers will break out the gloves and trash bags on Thursday to recognize the birthday of Mexican-American labor leader César Chávez.
EDINBURG — Local volunteers will break out the gloves and trash bags on Thursday to recognize the birthday of Mexican-American labor leader César Chávez.
Social advocacy group La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) will work with affordable housing developments Casa Saldaña, Jardines de la Fuente and Casa Messina to help residents of Edinburg’s Charro 2 colonia collect garbage from the area.
The public is welcome to attend the event, which begins at 10 a.m. Thursday at 6510 Brazil Ave. LUPE organizer Martha Sanchez said it was easy to decide to put volunteers to work to commemorate Chávez.
“He always wanted to do a day of service,” she said.
Chávez founded LUPE in California in 1989. He also is known for founding the United Farm Workers, which has many members in the Charro 2 colonia.
Sanchez said she thought it was important to gather both colonia residents and outside volunteers to assist in the effort.
“You involve people in whatever you do because they have to be part of the solution,” she said.
LUPE members also plan to participate in a “Rally for Solidarity” on Thursday at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg. The “Queremos M.A.S. Teach-in,” which is slated to begin at 11 a.m., will support students protesting to save the university’s Mexican-American Studies Program from possible cuts.
Sanchez said it was important to make March 31 a day of action rather than a holiday.
“We don’t take a day off to remember César,” she said. “You work to remember César.”
Elizabeth Findell covers Pharr, San Juan, Alamo, the Mid-Valley and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.