The American Democracy Project (ADP) at IU South Bend is sponsoring two days of service in honor of Cesar Chavez day. On March 28 and 29, volunteers are needed to read and present to children in public schools as part of a diversity reading program. Volunteers are also needed to work in a local community garden on March 29.

Cesar Chavez was a farm worker and civil rights activist who utilized fasting and other nonviolent forms of protest to better the American food supply.

According to www.cesarchavezholiday.org, Chavez and the United Farm Workers were pioneers on the issue of environmental justice, combining the struggles against pesticides with the fight for a safe food supply in America. Chavez’s birthday, March 31, was first recognized as a holiday in California in 2000, marking the first time that a labor leader or Latino has been honored with a public legal holiday.

“The American Democracy Project is sponsoring this event in the hopes that students will give back to their community by participating in a day of service and honor the life and work of Cesar Chavez,” said Event Coordinator Chaise Cope in an email.

To sign up for the reading program visit http://bit.ly/103ssBe. Volunteers wishing to work in the Potawatomi community garden from 1-3 p.m. on March 29 can register at http://bit.ly/Ykb9Zb.

For more information contact Chaise Cope at chaicope@iusb.edu or call 574-520-4622.