Schools Celebrate Latino Leader’s Legacy with Service and Learning Activities

Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) schools celebrate the birthday of late farm worker and labor leader Cesar E. Chavez this week with classroom learning and community service activities. Earlier this month, students participated in a district-wide essay and art contest that challenged them to learn about his life and legacy. Winners will be honored at a Board of Education meeting later this Spring.

Last Saturday, students and their families participated in Pasadena’s Peace Walk, co-sponsored by El Centro de Accion Social and PUSD, where Superintendent Edwin Diaz delivered the keynote address.

"Cesar Chavez was a great hero and a leader to many who fought racial and economic discrimination against Latino residents,” said Superintendent Diaz. ”That struggle has now moved from the fields of California to the classrooms, where we are working every day to fulfill Cesar Chavez’s beliefs through educational achievement for all students."

Activities at schools include standards-based classroom lessons about Chavez’ life and work at Jackson Elementary, Altadena Elementary, Madison Elementary; classroom community service projects at Franklin Elementary; Parent Center clean-up at Muir High School; a Hispanic Heritage Assembly at Rose City High School; and an art, essay and poetry display at Roosevelt Elementary School.

Earlier this month, the PUSD Board of Education approved a resolution encouraging schools to schedule service and learning activities on March 31.