Community members recognized at Cesar Chavez Day event

The campus community celebrated Cesar Chavez Day with a series of events March 31. The national holiday celebrates the life and legacy of Chavez, an American civil rights and labor movement activist.  

New to Grand Valley’s celebration was an awards ceremony that recognized a group of community members and activists. 

Recipients of the Living Legacy Award are: 

- Jose Flores, founder of Community Voice/La Voz Magazine and Grand Rapids Public Schools board member

- Tony Baker, interim director for the Center for Latino Studies at Ferris State University and Grand Rapids Public Schools board member

- Zulema Moret, professor in the Modern Languages and Literatures Department, Grand Valley

- Rachel Lopez, director of Youth Services, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan

- Luz Calvo, immigrant rights activist

- Lupe Ramos-Montigny, State Board of Education member and chairperson of committee to honor Cesar Chavez

Among the activities was a live performance of “Elvira,” a play about a Mexican woman and her son who sought refuge at a Chicago church, and a screening of “Millie and the Lords,” a film about a group of Puerto Rican students in New York in the 1960s who joined the Young Lords. 

The event was hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Young Lords Student Organization, a new service and advocacy group at Grand Valley.