He sat in this small, crowded office, pencil in hand, waiting on the people. Cesar Chavez was a field representative for the Community Service Organization, his small office more fitting of a one-room cottage, was situated on Vine Street, in the heart of the barrio, in Visalia.

The year was 1961, and it was the beginning of a hot summer. The summers of the San Joaquin Valley can get very hot. I had just been discharged from the military, and Cesar’s office was across the street from my home. One day I dropped by his office. It was a slow hot day and not many people were coming by, so we had some time to talk about what he was doing and his thoughts about the future. He had a passion and fierce drive for discussing and promoting societal changes. He was unrelenting in his talk that change had to come from the bottom up, that to have power you had to take power.

"Rarely will those in power hand over power," he said. His method and personal way of conveyance was neither threatening nor confrontational, but, in a subtle way, his message ran deep. People in our community recognized that Cesar was more than just a local community organizer. He was an organizer and leader with a broad vision, a vision that would evolve into a labor and national civil rights movement that would forever change the social landscape of the Latino community and consciousness of the nation. He left an impressionable imprint in our community.  

A few years later and after his rise as leader of the United Farm Workers of America, Cesar was back in town, and he quickly found his way to North Visalia — the barrio. He came to our house, and my mother answered the door. He said, "Hello" and was about to introduce himself when my mother interrupted him and said: "Yes, I know who you are and you have been causing a lot of trouble … however, probably good trouble." Cesar let go with a big sigh of relief. Cesar asked my mother if she would be willing to invite neighbors over to our home for an evening meeting so he could share his thoughts about the farm worker movement and seek help from the community.

My mother agreed, but only if she and other women of the community could make a meal for the occasion. Without having much of an option, Cesar agreed.

The meeting was set for the next evening. Chickens were sacrificed and cooked delicately in the red mole sauce. The pinto beans and tomato-colored rice were cooked with the same loving care. This was Mexican food like no other. About 25 neighbors were invited to eat and hear Cesar Chavez tell them about his social movement and the urgency involved. The women had worked hard all day in the hot kitchen preparing the meal.

The meeting hour came and neighbors started to arrive. Shortly thereafter, Cesar arrived with several of his associates. The tables and chairs had been arranged so that Cesar would sit at the head table. The food came out, and the rich aroma of the mole wafted throughout the house — a delicious meal was at hand. The people lined up to be served, and Cesar was served while at the head table. Grace was said, and it was time to eat. Cesar stood and said, "My friends, I cannot eat this meal knowing that many of our fellow farm workers are out there tonight with nothing to eat." A freezing silence captured the moment. My mother, the cooks and the rest riveted their eyes on Cesar. My mother, with both hands on her waist and a chillingly stern look, told Cesar, "Eat!" With a half grin he politely sat down, picked up his tortilla and ate his mole.

Understanding the timing of when to comply allowed him to become a great leader. Without this understanding he probably would have become mole himself. He understood the power of the Mexican woman. The meeting was a success.

The farm worker movement created profound change in the Latino community and was mostly positive. During the height of the movement, the constant theme was that education was the key to a better life, as it is today. Many problems remain and exist in the Latino community and challenges are constant. The effect of the movement, however, brought to light that all things are possible. As Cesar used to say, "Si se Puede," in essence, "Yes, we can do it!"