"Chavez came from really humble beginnings and throughout his life, he encouraged his kids and grandchildren to get an education and go to college," said Ronald Venegas, vice chairman of the Redlands Human Relations Commission, which hosted the ninth annual Cesar E. Chavez Breakfast Celebration.

"He felt it was important for all people to be educated because that is how we are to fight injustices."

The breakfast raised about $4,000, Venegas said. One senior from each local high school with a graduating class – Redlands, Redlands East Valley, Orangewood and Grove – will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the funds raised.

"The scholarships are given to students who embody the spirit of Cesar Chavez and his commitment to community service," Venegas said.

Koby Rodriguez, a special projects coordinator for Campus Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Redlands, attended the breakfast along with university students who are part of a peer-monitoring program, Peers United for Educational and Direct Empowerment (PUEDE), aimed at supporting first-generation college students and those from under-represented groups.

He said about one-quarter of the school’s students are first-generation college students, several who were in attendance Thursday. He said Chavez not only promoted the importance of education, but the value of supporting one another.

"Cesar Chavez is really about people coming together and supporting each other," Rodriguez said. "One of his quotes talked about not doing things alone and how you can’t be successful by yourself, so (PUEDE) fits right in with that philosophy. This class (of PUEDE students) represents that entirely."

"Just like Chavez, we cannot do it alone," said U of R student Kijuan Randall, who spoke to breakfast attendees. "Simply answering to the call is enough to get a movement started, but there is still more to be done.

"So on this celebration, we do not give thanks to an end but thanks to a well-sought out hope. … A dream is only the precursor to an action, the desire which becomes tangible, touchable and feasible to us. … We must come together. … We need that courage and I believe that courage is the magic that transforms a dream into a reality."

Fellow event speaker Miguel Figueroa, an activist from Blythe, spoke about his life as a union worker and his personal encounters with Chavez, echoing the value of unity.

"(Because of Chavez) hopeless people see hope," Figueroa said. "This is what (Chavez) did, he gave us all hope that no matter how weak you are or how poor you are, if we join together we have power and with power we can change anything. Si se puede, yes we can."

The Cesar E. Chavez Breakfast Committee is made up of members from the City of Redlands Human Relations Commission, Redlands Police Department, the Office of Campus Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Redlands, the Redlands Northside Advisory Committee, and American Legion Post 650.

Donations for the Cesar Chavez scholarships may be sent to the Human Relations Commission, P.O. Box 3005, Redlands, CA 92373.

Note that money is for scholarships.

     
E-mail Staff Writer Chantal M. Lovell atclovell@redlandsdsdailyfacts.com