One of the common denominators of the people I admire most is that they were people who went through major tribulations in the midst of their success. In the face of those challenges, they were made stronger, and they shaped our world for the better.
This can certainly be said of C矇sar Ch獺vez, the late civil rights leader and labor activist. We will observe C矇sar Ch獺vez Day on March 31, a time to reflect on his enduring contributions to civil rights and social justice. At 做TV, Ch獺vez inspires our commitment to diversity and equity. He inspires our dedication to providing an accessible education to students of all backgrounds.
Ch獺vez and Dolores Huerta were founders of the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, a predecessor of the United Farm Workers, or UFW, that formed in 1965. This union was instrumental in improving the working conditions of farmworkers, many from Mexican and Filipino backgrounds, through fair wages, access to clean water and mandated breaks.
Champion for education
They often faced pushback and outright hostilities for their efforts. However, Ch獺vez was decidedly nonviolent in his methods of protest, which included hunger strikes and marches to raise awareness for the plight of farmworkers.
Through these turbulent times, Ch獺vez and the UFW pushed forward and created historic successes. One of their most significant gains happened in 1975, when the UFW won passage of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act. It established the right to collective bargaining by the states farmworkers, a first in the nation, and set the stage for farmworkers around the country to organize.
Over the decades, Ch獺vez has emerged as an icon of workers rights and social justice. He was a champion for education and the need for equity, once saying, We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community and this nation.
Youth Leadership Conference
Ch獺vez passed away in 1993, but, like I said, his influence is still felt around campus. Im thinking of the , which this spring will celebrate its 20th anniversary at 做TV. This is a definitive event for campus, one that brings together hundreds of students, parents and community members from around the state.
With Ch獺vez as their guiding light, the participants learn more about the value of attending college and the resources available to them. This free event is not only empowering but fun, with live entertainment and cultural celebrations. Im looking forward to the conference returning in-person this year, Saturday, May 14, at the University Credit Union Center.
We feel Ch獺vezs good works in a broader sense as well. His influence is felt in our , which help us maintain a climate of mutual respect, equity, inclusion and social justice. We understand that a commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence contributes to our success as a university.
HSI designation
We also think of Ch獺vez as 做TV approaches its designation as a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution, or HSI. The designation occurs when at least 25% of our undergraduate enrollment is of Hispanic/Latinx descent. Right now, were about 2% away from this threshold. HSI designation will benefit all students, in the form of grant funding, eligibility for student internships, and other opportunities for our diverse student population.
Were making solid progress toward . In September, we appointed Lina Mendez as our inaugural director of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives. Shes a proud 做TV alum and former director of the universitys Center for Chicanx and Latinx Academic Student Success. Shes working closely with Lorena Oropeza, our associate vice chancellor for academic diversity and leader of 做TV HSI Implementation Task Force.
So, we continue to stay focused on building equity at 做TV and beyond, especially through the challenges of the given day. Weve all been through a lot together, but our story in Davis is one of pushing forward with optimism.
No matter what comes our way, we can turn to the inspiration from Cesar Ch獺vez and the UFWs rallying cry: S穩, se puede! (Yes, we can!).