23rd annual Cesar Chavez Day Celebration to be Sunday

The Madera Coalition for Community Justice will sponsor its 23rd annual Cesar Chavez Day Celebration on Sunday.

“This is a community awareness event to celebrate the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez,” said Raquel Rodarte, president of the organization’s board of directors.

“We have been putting on this event since a year after Cesar’s passing to promote his core teachings of self-sacrifice and service to the community among the youth” said Lourdes Herrera, program coordinator of the coalition. “Each year it has gotten bigger and bigger as more schools and local agencies are involved.”

This year the event will be at John W. Wells Youth Center, 701 E. 5th St. Keynote speakers will be Madera Mayor Andy Medellin and ex-mayor Marge Medellin.

There will also be testimonies from former farmworkers representing the United Farm Workers. Planned activities include a Mexican horse trick presentation by Charros Unidos.

There will be entertainment and music by local performers. During the festivities, the winner of the 2017 Cesar Chavez Lifetime Award will be announced. Food will be sold.

Prior to the beginning of festivities, there will be a “Know Your Rights” workshop for new immigrants.