‘Have the courage to work for change’

Before becoming the most influential Latino in U.S. history Cesar Chavez struggled with the idea of abandoning the security of a full-time job so he could dedicate his life to organizing farm workers.

It was 1962. The future labor and civil rights leader, whose state holiday will be observed Thursday, was 35 years old with a young family and a steady paycheck as director of the Community Service Organization, which focused on voter registration.

"It was the first steady job he had outside the fields," Paul Chavez, one of his sons, recounted Monday morning to more than 800 people who attended the 13th annual Cesar Chavez Commemorating breakfast at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.

Paul Chavez is president of the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation, whose mission is to preserve and promote the legacy of the legendary Mexican-American civil rights and labor leader.

Paul Chavez said his father chose a life of self-imposed poverty and sacrifice to help improve the lives of marginalized farm workers.

Paul Chavez said his parents worried about financial security but "despite those fears he quit the best job he ever had and moved his young family to Delano, a dusty town (in Central California)."

Chavez went on to start the National Farm Worker Association, which later became the United Farm Workers. He led the farm labor movement in the 1960s and 1970s that brought nationwide attention to the plight of poor agricultural workers and led to better wages, benefits and working conditions for them.

He preached nonviolence, fasting for long periods to bring attention to farm worker problems, and led successful boycotts and strikes. He died in 1993. California honored him with a state holiday in 2000.

Paul Chavez urged the audience to continue his father's legacy of service even when it involves personal sacrifice.

"The greatest monument to my father isn't found on a street sign or an official holiday," Paul Chavez said. "The greatest monument to my dad is having the courage to work for change, the same courage he instilled in his people and in millions of other people who never worked on a farm but were inspired by this small brown man."

At the Chavez Commemoration, the winners of the annual Cesar E. Chavez High School Essay Contest were announced.

The grand prize of $1,000 was awarded to Kalindakay Thomas of San Ysidro High School. Her essay where she discusses the importance of service was published in the program. Thomas had been involved in distributing food to homeless people.

"By being involved in my community, I know I can make a difference. In the famous words of this national icon: ¡Sí se puede! (Yes, it can be done!)"