Hundreds Gather to Remember Cesar Chavez

"Si, se puede! SI, SE PUEDE!" the crowd chanted in a deafening crescendo at last weekend’s Cesar Chavez remembrance celebration at Villa Parke sponsored by El Centro de Accion Social and attended by PUSD students and a number of community leaders.

The chant was elicited by Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, who spoke about the history and impact of Chavez.

Chavez was an American farm worker of Mexican descent who rose to be a labor leader and civil rights activist and eventually co-founded what is known today as the United Farm Workers. Chavez died April 23, 1993.

Durazo was part of a program which highlighted students, music and dance, and Latino culture and which was followed by a "Peace Walk."  The Walk was joined by dozens of Los Angeles-based "Young Heroes" � middle school students from an AmeriCorps program called City Year.

An ceremony led by El Centro Executive Director Randy Ertll featured PUSD Superintendant Edwin Diaz awarding a number of students with scholarships and special recognition for essays written about Chavez.

Music was presented by The Pasadena Symphony Association.  The Symphony’s "Cl�sica � las ra�ces de la m�sica" (the roots of music) featured musicians Martin Espino with Mexika, Luis Villegas and dancers from the Tierra Blanca Dance Company.

Pasadena Ford owner Larry Reemtsen funded El Centro scholarships and was in the crowd.

Reemtsen tells of a sign he once saw which left a lasting impression and has motivated his community participation.  The sign read: "It takes an entire community to teach a child ."

"I’ve never forgotten that.  Anything that we try to do, we try to do for the youth," Reemtsen said.

"We are very happy and proud … to be involved with the community," added Pasadena Ford Sales Manager Douglas Bravo.