Author Archives: Jose Calderon

About Jose Calderon

Jose Zapata Calderon is Emeritus Professor in Sociology and Chicano/a Latino/a Studies at Pitzer College and President of the Latino and Latina Roundtable of the Pomona Valley and San Gabriel Valley.

Collective Wellbeing Summit

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A regional gathering to spark collaboration, uplift community leadership, spotlight local institutions and initiatives, and cooperatively grow a thriving, equitable, and sustainable Los Angeles County – Thursday, May 15 | 9am-5pm
Sheraton Pomona Fairplex

Great Turn-Out Celebrating The Contributions Of Day Laborer Leader Fernando Pedraza

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Great turn-out today celebrating the contributions of day Laborer Leader Fernando Pedraza as related to the meaning of Cinco de Mayo (when the Mexican people with less arms and resources defeated the French army in Puebla).
On Cinco de Mayo (May 5th), 2007, a spontaneous demonstration by the Minutemen against day laborers on the corner of Arrow Highway and Grove Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga, ended with the death of day laborer leader Jose Fernando Pedraza. Fifty-seven-year-old Pedraza died at the corner where he waited on a daily basis for one-day jobs. It is also the corner where Pedraza organized other day laborers to defend their rights. In 2002, Pedraza was part of a court case against the City of Rancho Cucamonga who wanted to enforce a law disallowing day laborers to gather on the street. In the recent months before his death, Pedraza had attended several meetings of the Rancho Cucamonga city council to support his fellow day laborers so that they could have a job center where they could be safe from hate-based attacks and traffic accidents.
Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, National Day Labor Organizing Network, Latino and Latina Roundtable, Community Engagement Center, Radio Jornalera
 

La Lucha Tambien Se Celebra

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Pomona Economic Opportunity Center is at Pomona Economic Opportunity Center.

3d Pomona, CA 
¡La lucha también se celebra! ✊🏽Acompáñenos este lunes 5 de mayo, de 10:00 am a 12:00 pm, en el PEOC para la conmemoración anual de nuestro líder jornalero Fernando Pedraza. Recordamos a Fernando, quien falleció trágicamente el 5 de mayo de 2007 en la esquina de Arrow y Grove mientras defendía los derechos y la seguridad de sus compañeros jornaleros.
¡Música en vivo por @losjornalerosdelnorte , comida y comunidad!
Join us this Monday, May 5th from 10 am to noon at the PEOC for the annual commemoration of day laborer leader Fernando Pedraza. We remember Fernando, who tragically died on May 5th, 2007, at the Arrow and Grove corner while advocating for the rights and safety of his fellow day laborers.
Live music by Los Jornaleros del Norte, food & community!

The Planting Of a Tree

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The planting of a tree has great meaning in our efforts to sustain the delicate balance of our environment, to advance resources for our quality of life – and, as practiced here at the end of the Cesar Chavez pilgrimage – to express the unity of our past, present, and future generations – to use our lives to create sacred spaces – spaces and places of sanctuary for all – enveloped with a spirit and practice of working and organizing for a more just and equal world.

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Invitation to Fernando Pedraza Memorial Celebration on May 5, 10 AM at PEOC in Pomona

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Because of construction on Arrow and Grove in Rancho Cucamonga, this year’s Fernando Pedraza Celebration and Memorial will take place at the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center (1682 W. Mission Blvd.) in Pomona on Monday, May 5 from 10 am – 12 noon.  You are invited to gather with us in remembrance of Fernando Pedraza – beloved day laborer, community member, and dedicated immigrant rights activist.  This annual event celebrates his life and legacy with music, food, and community.

 On Cinco de Mayo (May 5th), 2007, a spontaneous demonstration by the Minutemen against day laborers on the corner of Arrow Highway and Grove Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga, ended with the death of day laborer leader Jose Fernando Pedraza. Fifty-seven-year-old Pedraza died at the corner where he waited on a daily basis for one-day jobs. It is also the corner where Pedraza organized other day laborers to defend their rights. In 2002, Pedraza was part of a court case against the City of Rancho Cucamonga who wanted to enforce a law disallowing day laborers to gather on the street. In the recent months before his death, Pedraza had attended several meetings of the Rancho Cucamonga city council to support his fellow day laborers so that they could have a job center where they could be safe from hate-based attacks and traffic accidents.
Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, National Day Labor Organizing Network, Latino and Latina Roundtable, Community Engagement Center, Radio Jornalera