Community members gathered to honor the Cesar Chavez 2024 Awards Celebration on April 5, in Los Medanos College Conference Center. This celebration has been going on for 30 years, with this in person event marking the second ceremony since the COVID-19 pandemic.
As attendees gathered for the reception, balloons were strung on each table with tablets around the room decorated with photographs of Chavez, his contributions to the United Farm Workers, and their achievements.
Within the first 20 minutes, the room buzzed with excited chatter as guests made their way through the room, laughing, hugging and taking pictures. LMC staff were dressed in shades of black and red, representing the colors of the UFW.
Amidst the socializing, food was served and guests were free to fill their plates with the food, provided by New Mecca Cafe.
Once everyone was seated, LMC President Pamela Ralston gave a welcome and shared the progress LMC has made to increase Latino student retention and success.
Ralston introduced the co-hosts, World Languages Professor Laurie Huffman and Counselor Marco Godinez — both of whom were recipients of the East County Educator Award in past ceremonies.
After an introduction in Spanish, Huffman shared stories of her family. Addressing the hardships and injustices her grandparents faced as laborers and immigrants entering the United States.
“‘At times, the owners of the field,’ he [my grandfather] told me, ‘would rather shoot their workers dead than pay any wage due to them,’” said Huffman.
Godinez spoke of the importance of recognizing the work honoring the spirit of Chavez, then introduced Cesar Chavez Advisory Group Member Paul Ramirez.
Ramirez shared a personal anecdote about the farm workers in Brentwood from his childhood. Having seen firsthand the conditions they were subjected to in the camps, it shed light on tirelessly working in the scorching cornfields and not enough food to share amongst them.
Afterward, two Cesar Chavez Spirit Awards were presented to LMC Student Leader Gabriel Perez-Cano and Pittsburg High School Student Teyoltlahui Gonzalez, whose friend accepted the award on her behalf.
Pittsburg High School Student Chelsea Fernandez recited her poem, “No más porque si se puede,” to the audience.
East County Educator Awards were presented to Puente Counselor Jessica Linares Boyle and Dean of Equity and Inclusion Rosa Linda Armendariz.
“This award is really about all of us,” Armendariz said. “It’s about being part of Pittsburg, it’s about being part of Antioch, Brentwood, and this whole community.”
The final award was presented to United Latino Voices of Contra Costa County Chair Concepcion James, who received the Cesar Chavez Award for Exemplary Community Service. She stated how impressed she was with the honorees and the work being done to ensure a more equitable world for the Latino community to thrive.
James shared how she grew up poor with her mother as a farm worker, and witnessed the hardships. She emphasized her mother’s stories made her who she was.
“She told me to never forget who I was or where I came from, and I will never,” said James. “I can tell that the people in this room — you feel that, too. You’re proud of who you are.”
Ramirez stated that recognizing the farm workers and laborers across the United States is important because they are still subject to injustices. He spoke on how instrumental it is to humanize and recognize these workers, who are often not considered at all.
“We cannot let our society forget who feeds us every day. So easily forgotten, and we can’t let that happen,” said Ramirez.
The celebration ended with the audience singing “De Colores.”
In the future ceremonies, organizers hope the attendance reaches pre-COVID levels, and the appreciation for Chavez’s legacy extends to other campuses within the community.
