This is your invitation to the 15TH ANNUAL CESAR CHAVEZ PILGRIMAGE MARCH AND CELEBRATION, with the theme “A New Beginning: Sanctuary for All”
What: 15th Annual Cesar Chavez Pilgrimage, with a program of speakers, live music and food
When: Saturday, April 29, 2017; 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 PM
Where: starting at 9:30 a.m. at Pomona School District Education Center (800 S. Garey Ave.) with noted community speakers and followed with a pilgrimage walk to Garey High School (321 W. Lexington Ave., Pomona, Ca). Acelebration and health fair will take place at Garey High Schoolfrom 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM (Open to the Public).
(Pomona, CA) – A coalition of local leaders, parents, students, teachers, and community groups will honor civil rights leader Cesar Chavez with the 15th Annual Community Pilgrimage, commemorating the pilgrimages that Chavez led to highlight the issues of social justice in our diverse communities. The pilgrimage honors the birthday of Cesar Chavez on March 31 and also the day he passed away, on April 23, as part of continuing a legacy of advancing human rights, peace, and social justice in the region. The primary Pilgrimage march theme “Sanctuary for All” focuses on defending the rights of immigrant families and ensuring the protection of rights of all targeted groups at this time. Anthony Chavez, grandson of Cesar Chavez and with the Cesar Chavez Foundation, will be one of the speakers and help lead the march and festival. As in previous years, a ceremony at 9:30 A. M. in front of the PUSD Administrative Offices, will include elder leaders from the community who will honor a 300-year old tree, symbolizing respect for our elders and the sacredness of the environment (including PUSD Superintendent Richard Martinez, School Board member Roberta Perlman, Bishop Herbert Wilkins, Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval, NAACP leader Jeanette Royston, Tony Cerda from the Ohlone Tribe, and Mohammed Zafarullah from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community). After, a pilgrimage walk, led by Danza Grupo Toyaacan, will make its way to Garey High School where a small tree will be planted and various speakers will speak on the importance of ensuring the development of our future young leaders (including Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Cesar Chavez’s grandson Andres Chavez, Garey High School principal Stacey Wilkins, students Melanie Andreok, Lizette Merino de la Concha, Vanessa Pavon, and scholarship winners Marleni Munguia and Ulysses Marquez (Garey High School) and Olga Gudino and Adam Castaneda (Pomona High School).
The entertainment will include the Son Real Band, Danza Azteca Toyaacan, Le Chic Filipino Dance Group,Ballet Foklklorico No Te Rajes, Singer Manuel Castellejo; Slam Poetry of Alejandro and Fabian. Food will be available for purchase with all the proceeds going to student scholarships.
Sponsors include: Latino/Latina Roundtable; Pomona Unified School District, PUSD Parents, University of LaVerne, Danza Grupo Toyacaacan; Cal Poly Cesar Chavez Center for Higher Education; Garey High School M. E. C. H. A.; Mount Sac M. E. C. H. A., Cal Poly M. E. C. H. A.; NAACP, Pomona Valley Branch 1085B, IDEAS, NAACP, National Council of Negro Women, Encuentros Organization, Rural and Urban Social Movements class, Pitzer College Latino Student Union, Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, Pomona Inland Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Project, UFCW 1428; UPWARD – Uniting Peach With Actions, Respect, and Dignity
