The rally and press conference outside the San Dimas city chambers will begin at 6 PM. Please show up to San Dimas City Council (245 East Bonita Ave.) at 6 PM for a rally and press conference on Tuesday, April 10th before the San Dimas City Council (set for 7 PM) where the city council will be taking up a discussion on opposing Senate Bill 54 (California Values Act). This is part of a strategy of conservative right-wing groups to build momentum to get cities to sign on to a brief opposing the statewide bill that curtails cooperation between city and police with federal immigration officials.
Author Archives: Jose Calderon
Join us for Press conference, rally, city council meeting on Tues., April 10 – ICE Out of San Dimas
We need your support! Please show up to San Dimas City Council (245 East Bonita Ave.) at 6 PM for a rally and press conference on Tuesday, April 10th before the San Dimas City Council (set for 7 PM) where the city council will be taking up a discussion on opposing Senate Bill 54 (California Values Act). This is part of a strategy of conservative right-wing groups to build momentum to get cities to sign on to a brief opposing the statewide bill that curtails cooperation between city and police with federal immigration officials.
San Dimas Councilman Ryan Vienna said he decided to personally sign a brief opposing Senate Bill 54, passed last year and known as the California Values Act, because he believes it’s an important public safety matter. He urged his fellow elected officials Tuesday night to engage in a dialogue about the law’s potential impact to San Dimas.
After hearing the comments from Vienna at Tuesday’s meeting, San Dimas Councilman Emmett Badar proposed the council hold a study session on the issue.
The council is set to meet again on April 10 and will have the issue on the agenda.
Jose Zapata Calderon President of Latino and Latina Roundtable of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Chicano/a and Latino/a Studies 1050 North Mills Avenue Claremont, CA 91711-6101 (909) 952-1640 Jose_Calderon@pitzer.edu Website: www.josezcalderon.com
Invitation to Rally at 12 noon on Apr. 4 for U.S. Senate Kevin de León at Pitzer College
You are invited to a rally for U. S. Senate candidate and Pitzer College Alumnus Kevin de Leon on April 4th at 12 noon at Pitzer College. Please get the word out. As you know, Kevin has taken strong positions in support of health care, the environment, and sanctuary for our immigrant families. I urge your support for this rally.
Jose Zapata Calderon
Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Chicano/a and Latino/a Studies
1050 North Mills Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711-6101
(909) 952-1640
Website: www.josezcalderon.com
Senator de León has led a bold agenda to increase economic opportunity for all Californians with a focus on maintaining California’s global leadership role in fighting climate change and building a clean-energy economy, rebuilding our state’s infrastructure, public education, work-place and health-care, equity for women, immigrants and low-wage workers and public safety.
Through his ambitious approach to policymaking, Senator de León has authored groundbreaking legislation on a variety of issues that have become national models. The progress that has been made on critical issues confronting California and the nation stands in stark contrast to the gridlock in the U.S. Congress.
In many ways, Senator de León embodies the promise of America. From a childhood of poverty to community activism, to the upper echelon of the California Legislature, his respect and commitment to working families and the betterment of all Californians has never diminished.
Senator de León is the son of a single immigrant mother who supported her family in the San Diego barrio of Logan Heights working as a housekeeper and other pick-up jobs. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college.
He attended U.C. Santa Barbara and graduated from Pitzer College at the Claremont Colleges with honors. He is a Rodel Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a guest lecturer at the University of Southern California. He has one daughter.
Before entering into politics, Kevin served the public as a community organizer, taught English as a Second Language and U.S. Citizenship, and advocated for public schools.
Working for both the National Education Association and the California Teachers Association, Kevin fought for additional funding for schools in low-income neighborhoods, more school construction, and health insurance for children. He fought against schemes to take funds from public schools through taxpayer-funded vouchers and academic censorship in public schools.
Senator de León was elected by his colleagues to lead the Senate in 2014, making him the first Latino to hold that position in over a century. Prior to that, Kevin served four years in the Assembly before his election to the Senate in 2010.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please email senpres@students.pitzer.edu.

Hajar Hammado ’18
Student Body President
Request for your support
I am writing to request your support for our 14th annual Cesar Chavez Breakfast that will take place on Friday, March 30, 2018, from 8 A. M. to 10 A. M. (with registration between 7 and 8 AM) at the Conference Center at the Fairplex, California Ballroom (601 W McKinley Ave., Gate 3) in Pomona. As a result of your support, the Latino and Latina Roundtable now has an office and a director for the first time in its history. Although we have no other staff, we continue to sustain the work of our immigrant rights, community development, and education work through the commitment of dozens of volunteers and the resources that are raised from this yearly fundraiser. In keeping with our grass-roots organizing character, we continue to keep the cost at a minimum to ensure that the tradition is in keeping with the celebration of the life of Cesar Chavez and the many leaders, from all backgrounds, who have historically given of their lives to ensure a future with justice and equity. In keeping with the tradition of honoring leaders in our region who have exemplified the principles and values of Cesar Chavez, the Roundtable this year is honoring: Maria Alonso (Director of the community-based garden Huerta del Valle), Luis Nolasco (Community Engagement and policy Advocate with ACLU), the Pomona Dining Hall Workers (whose historic efforts turned around union-busting and the firing of 17 undocumented workers to vote in UNITE-HERE culminating in a union contract), Maura Ayala (Community Star Award for her consistent organizing efforts in the community), Melanie Andreo, Pomona Unified Garey High School Senior (College Readiness Scholarship for her community engagement efforts and advocacy work on advancing a college pipeline). In addition, Social Justice Scholarships will be presented to students from the region who exemplify the values of connecting their studies to community engagement and social change. Attached is the RSVP application that you can mail in. Please Mail RSVP & payment to: Latino and Latina Roundtable 1460 E Holt Ave, Mailbox 144 Pomona, CA 91767 by March 20. For questions, call at: (909) 480-6267 or e-mail at breakfast@latinolatinaroundtable.org
Jose Zapata Calderon
President of the Latino and Latina Roundtable
See the Video: Una Lucha Por La Justicia
Video By Jaleesa Parks on the issue of checkpoints.
14th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Breakfast
Join us in honoring leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to service and values highlighted by César E. Chávez.
Invitation to screening of “Dolores” at Pitzer College
You are invited to a showing of the movie “Dolores” at Benson Auditorium, Pitzer College (1050 N. Mills Ave.) in Claremont at 3 PM on Wednesday, February 28. It is open to the Public and Free of Charge. Organized by Rural and Urban Social Movements class.
Article in Daily Bulletin and Request for your membership
Here is the link to the article that appeared today on the Latino and Latina Roundtable and NAACP Pomona Valley Branch Celebration, opening of joint office, and our common work.
I would like to ask you, if you have not already, to become a member of the Latino and Latina Roundtable. Atttached is the membership application that you can send in.
The membership dues for one year are $25.00 for individuals and $10.00 for students, retirees, and low income individuals. Your dues help to sustain our organizing and advocacy efforts. As you know, our organization has always been a volunteer organization that is primarily sustained through membership dues and a yearly fundraiser. Only until recently, have we rented an office and hired an executive director which bring forward new fundraising challenges. All the work of our organizational, community development, and immigrant rights committees are carried out by community-based organizers who have emerged out of the civil rights and human rights movements. We are continually motivated through our practice of an “abundance mentality” where we continue to see the outcomes of our efforts in training and developing new leaders in our communities. In supporting our organization through your membership, you are helping to sustain the inspiration and efforts of our members in organizing an annual Cesar Chavez breakfast and Pilgrimage march; in advancing our collaboration with area schools and colleges, as part of the College4All Coalition in implementing a school-to-college pipeline; in implementing educational forums and workshops on voter, ballot initiative, and immigrant rights; in advancing our efforts to support workers and unions in our region; and in ensuring our ongoing participation in numerous coalitions on social justice and quality of life issues.
Jose Zapata Calderon
President of the Latino and Latina Roundtable
Urging your support
We are urging your support of our upcoming Latino and Latina Roundtable retreat by asking you to attend this most important meeting this Saturday, February 10 and also to invite others who might be interested in becoming members of our organization. Remember, the retreat begins at 9 A. M. and will be held in our new office at the Village in Pomona (1460 E. Holt Ave., Entrance #3, Room 6. This is your opportunity to help decide the priorities for the organization in the next year — and look forward to your participation.