Growing Up with the UFW — A Conversation with Cesar's Granddaughter

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.sanfernandosun.com/sanfernsun/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3435&Itemid=2

Written by Information Provided to San Fernando Valley Sun
Wednesday, 25 March 2009


JULIE CHAVEZ RODRíGUEZ Photo courtesy Cesar E. Chavez Foundation


Julie Chavez Rodríguez is Cesar Chavez's granddaughter. She has worked with the United Farm Workers (UFW) on voter registration and community empowerment programs in California. Since November 2000, she has been the Programs Director for the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation. Among her many responsibilities, she is in charge of the National Youth Leadership Initiative to address academic and civic disengagement among today's youth. Rodríguez has also worked jointly with the State of California on the development and administration of the Cesar ChavezDay of Service and Learning as well as the development of a web based K-12 curriculum on the life and work of Cesar E. Chavez.

She spoke with San Fernando Sun/El Sol Editor DianaMartinez this week. The following is an excerpt from the interview.

San Fernando Valley Sun/El Sol: I know your grand father made many sacrifices and as the President and co-founder of the UFW often had to be away from your family.

Chavez Rodriguez: Often times, we talk about the sacrifices that he (Cesar) made which were extremely significant and very selfless on his part as well as on the part of the farmworkers themselves. But I think one area that isn't talked about is the sacrifices that many families made. It's the hundreds of families of organizers and volunteers. They were really on the front lines because theworkwent well beyond the 9-5 job. It was a life time commitment. It required that of everyone, including the smallest children in the family.

San Fernando Sun/El Sol: What was it like for you growing up in the UFWmovement?

Chavez Rodriguez: I think my experiences were kind of different, without both parents in the home because of different campaigns and organizing. But I think another part of the experience I find rewarding and it helped to develop so many of us that grew up in the farm workers movement, was really being involved in the marches and on the picket lines and being an active, contributing member of the farmworkersmovement despite our age and despite some of the skills that we had at that time. I saw it as a classroom for me as much as some formal educational experiences.

I do knowwhen Iwas five Iwent tomy parents and told them I was so excited to turn five becausewhen I turned five, thatmeant I got to get a job. They looked at me like I was crazy.

FULL story at link.

[Stargleamer]

1. Happy Birthday, Cesar (March 31)

thanks for all that you did. It's so nice to see your granddaughter engaging in the struggle too.