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Chico State

Acts of Service, Education Fair Highlight Events to Honor César Chávez at CSU, Chico Next Week

Students that volunteered their time to honor the legacy of César Chávez during the 'Cats in the Community landscape outside Hooker Oak Elementary School in 2015 for a day of community service. This year's 'Cats in the Community takes place on Friday, March 30, 2018.
Jason Halley / University Photographer

Students that volunteered their time to honor the legacy of César Chávez during the ‘Cats in the Community landscape outside Hooker Oak Elementary School in 2015 for a day of community service. This year’s ‘Cats in the Community takes place on Friday, March 30, 2018.

California State University, Chico will honor the work and legacy of Cesar Chavez next week with six days of events, learning opportunities and acts of service, starting with an on-campus workshop Monday and culminating with a community march on Saturday.

Chávez devoted his life work to improve treatment, pay and working conditions for farm workers, and his legacy is still felt today. Additionally, Chávez was instrumental in the passage of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which established collective bargaining rights for farm workers.

President Barack Obama designated March 31, 2014, as Cesar Chavez Day in his honor, urging Americans to make it a national day of service and education, noting, “Let us remember that when we lift each other up, when we speak with one voice, we have the power to build a better world.” CSU, Chico and other state universities and offices will be closed on Friday, March 30, to commemorate Chavez’s birthday and provide students and the Chico community the opportunity to participate in civic engagement.

On March 30, the University will hold ’Cats in the Community, an opportunity for students to honor Chavez by participating in a day of community service, followed by a free barbecue at the Wildcat Recreation Center. This is the eighth annual event, and approximately 200 volunteers took part in last year’s ’Cats in the Community. This year offers over a dozen volunteer opportunities in Chico, including restoring native habitat in Bidwell Park, beautifying the Chico City Plaza, and cleaning up Sherwood Montessori School.

The week’s complete event schedule is:

“Who is Chavez?” Workshop
Monday, March 26, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Cross-Cultural Leadership Center

“Hidden Figures” Workshop
Tuesday, March 27, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Bell Memorial Union, Room 210

Education Fair
Wednesday, March 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Trinity Commons

In Honor of Farm Workers Gallery
Thursday, March 29, 7 to 10 p.m.
Arts and Humanities Building, Room 112

’Cats in the Community Day of Service
Friday, March 30, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Meet in front of the Wildcat Recreation Center, and conclude with a free barbecue

Cesar Chavez Celebration
Friday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
The HUB and Sutter Hall Courtyard

Community March
Saturday, March 31, 2 p.m.
Meet in front of the Bell Memorial Union

CSU, Chico is proudly committed to service, with approximately 2,000 students engaged in over 60,000 volunteer hours annually through Community Action Volunteers in Education (CAVE) and an extensive civic engagement curriculum. To learn more about ’Cats in the Community, including volunteering, visit its website or contact program director Ann Schwab at 530-898-5940.

For questions about the week’s events, please call Tray Robinson, director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 530-898-4764.

People who require an accommodation in order to participate in the week’s events or who have questions about accessibility should contact the Accessibility Resource Center at 530-898-5959.