SUBJECT:

UC San Diego César E. Chávez Celebration

The life and achievements of Cesar E. Chavez, labor leader and champion of human rights, will be observed with a month-long series of diverse activities during April at the University of California, San Diego.

This year’s celebration includes:

April 8, 11:30 a.m. at the International Center, the Cesar E. Chavez Celebration Kickoff will recognize community member Isidro Ortiz, UCSD staff member Anthony Valladolid, ’72, and alumna Delia Pacheco,’02, for their efforts to further the ideals of Cesar Chavez in their communities. For ticket information, please call 858-534-6862.

April 12, 10:00 a.m. at Peterson Hall, members of the UC San Diego community will join artists Mario Torero and Fernando Vossa to create an interactive art installation that celebrates African, Native American and Latin traditions and the importance of art in shaping campus climate. Peterson Hall is home to UC San Diego’s community mural, “Chicano Legacy,” created by Torero and Vossa. The mural is a collage of vivid images and features iconic figures in Chicano history including Chavez, as well as San Diego landmarks such as Chicano Park and the Coronado Bridge.

April 29, 6:00 p.m. at Peterson Hall, the Cesar E. Chavez Celebration finale will feature a presentation by popular author and comic artist Lalo Alcaraz. Alcaraz is a cartoonist and multimedia humorist best known for his daily syndicated comic strip, “La Cucaracha.” He was born in San Diego and grew up in the neighboring city of Lemon Grove. He has drawn for “LA Weekly” and in late 2002, “La Cucaracha” debuted in daily newspapers nationwide.

For more information on the month-long celebration, please visit:
http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/chavez

I am approving two hours of administrative leave with pay so that employees may participate in a UC San Diego Cesar E. Chavez activity, and I ask supervisors to allow employees to attend, as long as the absence does not infringe upon the performance of required job duties or patient care.

I would like to thank the members of the UC San Diego Cesar E. Chavez Planning Committee for their work to coordinate these educational and celebratory campus activities. Please join the UC San Diego Cesar E. Chavez Planning Committee, special guests, visitors and me as we collectively and publicly celebrate the legacy and contributions of Cesar E. Chavez.

Marye Anne Fox Chancellor