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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 03272012 - D.2Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Our Commitment Makes a Difference Welcome to the Nineteenth Annual Cesar E. Chavez Commemorative Celebration Cesar’s Life... 1927: Cesar Chavez is born on March 31, 1927 in Yuma, Arizona. 1938: The Chavez family loses its farm during the Great Depression and begins following crops as migrant farm workers in Arizona and California. 1944-45: Cesar Estrada Chavez serves in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II. 1947: Influenced by his father’s involve- ment in labor issues, Chavez joins his first union, the National Agricultural Workers Union. 1952: Chavez is recruited to work with Saul Alinsky’s Community Service Organization (CSO), designed to help Latinos who have problems with immigration and police. 1958: Chavez is named General Director of CSO. 1962: Chavez leaves CSO after it refuses to form a farm-workers union and in Delano starts the National Farm Workers Association, the precursor to the United Farm Workers Union (UFW). 1965, Sept. 8: Filipino grape pickers in Delano go on strike for higher wages. 1965, Sept. 16: Chavez’s union joins the strike against grape growers. 1966, March 17: Chavez and 70 strikers begin a march on Sacramento to drum up support for the union effort. 1966, April 11: The Chavez led group marches to the State Capitol. Its ranks swell to as many as 10,000 supporters from around the nation. 1968, Feb. 14: Cesar begins 25-day fast to garner support for non-violence in union- organizing efforts. 1968, March 10: Cesar breaks fast in Delano with supporters, including Senator Robert F. Kennedy. 1968, March 24: Cesar announces in Los Angeles plans for a “worldwide boycott” of California grapes. 1968, July: More than 100 grape growers and shippers sue Chavez and the UFW, claiming $25 million in losses because of the boycott. 1970: Contract agreements between UFW and most major grape growers reached. Lettuce boycott begun. 1972: Cesar conducts a 24-day fast to protest right-to-work law. 1973: Chavez organizes the United Farm Workers of Americas Union, and a new round of boycotts begins when grape growers fail to renew contracts. 1988, August 21: Cesar ends a 36-day fast to protest pesticide use. The fast is the longest for the labor leader and leaves him severely weakened. 1993, April 23: Cesar Estrada Chavez dies in San Luis, Arizona, near where he was born 66 years ago. 2000, August: The State of California officially establishes the Cesar E. Chavez holiday. 2003: The U.S. Postal Service unveils a Cesar E. Chavez postage stamp. Refreshments immediately following ceremony in foyer Nineteenth Annual Commemorative Celebration & Youth Hall of Fame Awards March 27, 2012 Cesar E. Chavez Master of Ceremonies: Stephen L. Weir, Clerk-Recorder Welcome: Mary N. Piepho, Chair, Board of Supervisors Reflection of Cesar E. Chavez: Trish Dominguez, Secretary, Advanced Level Musical Performance Introduction: Barbara Riveira, Senior Management Analyst Musical Performance: Mariachi San Miguel Entertainment Introduction: Eren Mendez, Election Outreach Coordinator Entertainment: Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl Keynote Speaker Introduction: Eren Mendez, Election Outreach Coordinator Keynote Speaker: María Leticia Gómez, Journalist Introduction of Board of Supervisors: Stephen L. Weir, Clerk-Recorder Introduction of Honorees and Presentation of 2012 Youth Hall of Fame Awards: Olga Rivera, Social Service Program Assistant Acknowledge sponsors and committee: Stephen L. Weir, Clerk-Recorder Adjourn: Stephen L. Weir, Clerk-Recorder María Leticia Gómez, Journalist Keynote Speaker aría Leticia Gómez was born in Rosario, Argentina, and grew up in Mexico City and Washington DC. She earned a double degree in French Literature and Sociology from the University of Maryland, and a master’s degree in Sociology from George Washington University. For her master’s thesis, Ms. Gómez lived among the Zapatistas in the rainforest in Southeastern Chiapas, Mexico, where she discovered her passion for journalism. After reporting for TV Azteca and Univision News in Mexico City, in 1995 Ms. Gómez became the Washington DC correspondent for Canal de Noticias NBC. Ms. Gómez also wrote articles for Spain’s newspaper “El País”, and worked as an anchor/reporter for Univision in New York. In May 2000, she joined the Univision team in San Francisco as a prime time anchor. She is a two-time Emmy Award winning journalist and, among multiple professional recognitions, has been honored with five Mark Twain Awards from the Associated Press. MARIACHI SAN MIGUEL Mariachi goes beyond music, it is the sum of a cultural revolution expressed through a group of musicians, dressed in charro suits which encompasses the essence of México and its people. It is something cultural, spiritual and traditional that is unique to this country, an experience not to be missed. Mariachi San Miguel continues the Gravilla Family tradition which started in their native San Miguel El Alto in the state of Jalisco. There are 18 siblings in the family who proudly inherit this musical tradition from generation to generation! The mariachi originated in the southern part of the state of Jalisco, sometime in the 19th century and it is an integral part of Mexico’s culture and history. Today, mariachi music is played around the world! For more information contact: Francisco Gravilla (209) 423-5669 Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl The Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl (BFN) was founded in 1996 by Dance Director, Netzahualcoyotl, “Netza” Vidal. It is currently comprised of thirty students representing different cultures and the student ages range from five years old to….well, she won’t tell us how old she is. Director, Netza Vidal, is originally from Compostela Nayarit, Mexico and studied dance at Escuela de la Danza Mexicana. Jaime Buentello Bazán has been a dance instructor and director for over 20 years teaching both adult and children at different locations such as Concord, San Rafael and Santa Rosa. The highest goal for the ballet has been to research the folklore of the Mexican culture and share with the world some the country’s most prized gifts: its dances, customs and traditions! BFN is proud to have participated in the Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, many local community events, festivals, county fairs as well as private parties. For more information call (415) 613-4822 or e-mail:bfnetza@yahoo.com Entertainment Contra Costa County Youth Hall of Fame Sponsored by Board of Supervisors The Youth Hall of Fame was established in 1998 as a way to recognize the commitment and service of local youth to their peers, schools and communities. The awards are given every year to deserving youth (between 12 and 18 years of age) from Contra Costa County. The Board of Supervisors believes that there are many young people who make valuable contributions to our community and are rarely recognized for these good deeds. We are pleased to announce two outstanding high school youth have been chosen for the Contra Costa County Youth Hall of Fame. Honorees’ names will be added to a commemorative plaque in the lobby of the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers. Leadership: Mayam Lopez – 12th grade, Ygnacio Valley High School, Concord Representing youth who exhibit outstanding leadership and who lend a helping hand for the good of the school Mayam Lopez is an 18 year old Senior at Ygnacio Valley High School with a 3.23 GPA. She served as the president of Latinos Unidos Club last school year, and did a marvelous job and the club really flourished under her leadership. She is a natural leader. Mayam is artistic, inventive, honest, reliable, creative, hard working and always ready to help. She is respected and admired by her peers and teachers. She is the first one volunteering to do any kind of work or project inspiring others to do the same. This year she has supported Latinos Unidos Club by mentoring the new president. Mayam is a great student and a wonderful person and a great help at school, at home, and in our community. Valiant Volunteer: Maria Siliezar – 12th grade, Ygnacio Valley High School, Concord Representing youth who give their time and energy to a worthy organization or cause Maria Siliezar is an 18 year old Senior at Ygnacio Valley High School with a 4.0 GPA. She is ready to help, tutor and mentor anybody who crosses her path. She helped with the organization of La Biblioteca (Our Spanish Library at Ygnacio Valley High School). This is a first of its kind in our school district! Maria arrives at school at 6:30 a.m. every morning to help at La Biblioteca. Being a senior she helps our English Learning Students before and after school with English and other subjects. She is very kind and generous with her time and knowledge, she makes all students feel welcomed and she always tries to encourage them to do nothing but their best. She also volunteers at her church putting other people’s needs ahead of her own. Maria also volunteers as a Teacher Assistant without compensation or school credits. Maria has a generous heart and willingness to serve others. Youth Hall of Fame, 2012 Honorees Past Speakers YEAR SPEAKER / PLAY 2011 Blas G. Guerrero, Ph.D., Dean of Student Development at Los Medanos College 2010 Jane C. Garcia, CEO of La Clínica De La Raza 2009 Gonzalo Rucobo, Bay Area Peacekeepers 2008 Jim Hernandez, Youth Violence Prevention Specialist Johnny Rodriguez, One Day at a Time, Founder 2007 State Senator, Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont) 2006 Honorable Judge Maria Rivera 2005 Nicolas Vaca, PhD., Attorney at Law 2004 Ruben Rosalez, Assistant District Director, U.S. Department of Labor 2003 Peter Garcia, President, Los Medanos College 2002 Dolores Huerta, VFW Co-founder with Cesar Chavez 2001 Paul R. Chavez, Grandson of Cesar Chavez 2000 Paul Ramirez, Federal Investigator, Department of Labor 1999 Teresa Delgado, 1st Granddaughter of Cesar Chavez 1998 Play, “Maria,” written by Richard Martinez, Director of Contra Costa County Housing Authority 1997 Play, “Los Regalos,” (The Gifts), written by Richard Martinez 1996 Play, “The Warriors,” written by Richard Martinez, 1995 Play, “Abuelito, ¿Quién es Cesar?,” (Grandfather, Who is Cesar?) Latino Student Alliance, Diablo Valley College 1994 Ed Trujillo, Chair of Drama Department, Diablo Valley College 2012 Cesar E. Chavez Committee Clerk-Recorder Steve Weir Ruth Helot Eren Mendez General Services Gail Myers County Administrator’s Office Barbara Riveira Health Services Lorena Barajas Arturo M. Cruz DCD—Building Inspection Trish Dominguez Employment & Human Services Olga Rivera Member in Memoriam Gina Martin Sponsors Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Contra Costa Health Services Department Contra Costa Employment & Human Services Department Contra Costa Public Works Department Contra Costa General Services Department Public Employees Union, Local #1 Acknowledgements Catering Prepared by : Los Panchos Resturant, Pacheco Beverages: Las Montañas Market, Concord Flowers: Granshaw’s Flowers, Martinez Flyer / Program Design by: Wiz Huang Program Printed by: GSd, Print & Mail Services Visual Support services: CCTV Please recycle Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Federal D. Glover Karen Mitchoff Gayle B. Uilkema Mary N. Piepho John Gioia