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The story of Cesar Estrada Chavez begins near Yuma, Arizona. Cesar was born on March 31, 1927. He was named after his grandfather, Cesario. Regrettably, the story of Cesar Estrada Chavez also ends near Yuma, Arizona. He passed away on April 23, 1993, in San Luis, a small village near Yuma, Arizona. In 1938 he and his family moved to California.In 1938 he and his family moved to California. He lived in La Colonia Barrio in Oxnard for a short period, returning to Arizona several months later. They returned to California in June 1939 and this time settled in San Jose. They lived in the barrio called Sal Si Puedes ˇ"Get Out If You Can." Cesar thought the only way to get out of the circle of poverty was to work his way up and send the kids to college. He and his family worked in the fields of California from Brawley to Oxnard, Atascadero, Gonzales, King City, Salinas, McFarland, Delano, Wasco, Selma, Kingsburg, and Mendota. In 1944 he joined the Navy at the age of seventeen.In 1948 Cesar married Helen Fabela.They honeymooned in California by visiting all the California Missions from Sonoma to San Diego (again the influence of education). They settled in Delano and started their family. First Fernando, then Sylvia, then Linda, and five more children were to follow. In 1962 Cesar founded the National Farm Workers Association, later to become the United Farm Workers ˇ the UFW. He was joined by Dolores Huerta and the union was born.

"A symbol is an important thing. That is why we chose an Aztec eagle. It gives pride . . . When people see it they know it means dignity." It was the beginning of La Causa a cause that was supported by organized labor, religious groups, minorities, and students. Cesar Chavez had the foresight to train his union workers and then to send many of them into the cities where they were to use the boycott and picket as their weapon. Cesar was willing to sacrifice his own life so that the union would continue and that violence was not used. Cesar fasted many times. In 1968 Cesar went on a water only, 25 day fast. He repeated the fast in 1972 for 24 days, and again in 1988, this time for 36 days. What motivated him to do this? He said, Farm workers everywhere are angry and worried that we cannot win without violence. We have proved it before through persistence, hard work, faith and willingness to sacrifice. We can win and keep our own selfˇrespect and build a great union that will secure the spirit of all people if we do it through a rededication and recommitment to the struggle for justice through nonviolence. Cesar Estrada Chavez died peacefully in his sleep on April 23, 1993 near Yuma, Arizona, a short distance from the small family farm in the Gila River Valley where he was born more than 66 years before.

He died standing up for their First Amendment right to speak out for themselves. He believed in his heart that the farm workers were right in boycotting Bruce Church Inc. lettuce during the l980's and he was determined to prove that in court." (When the second multimillion dollar judgement for Church was later thrown out by an appeal's court, the company signed a UFW contract in May 1996.

On April 29, 1993, Cesar Estrada Chavez was honored in death by those he led in life. More than 50,000 mourners came to honor the charismatic labor leader at the site of his first public fast in 1968 and his last in 1988, the United Farm Workers Delano Field Office at "Forty Acres."

The body of Cesar Chavez was taken to La Paz, the UFW's California headquarters, by his family and UFW leadership. He was laid to rest near a bed of roses, in front of his office.

Focus Questions: Who Was (insert name)?: (1 paragraph) 1. What makes this person special or interesting? 2. What kind of effect did he or she have on the world? other people?

What Has (insert name) Done?: (2-3 paragraphs) 1. What are the adjectives you would most use to describe the person? 2. What examples from their life illustrate those qualities? 3. What events shaped or changed this person's life? 4. Did he or she overcome obstacles? Take risks? Get lucky?

Why Should (insert name) Be Remembered?: (1 paragraph) 1. Would the world be better or worse if this person hadn't lived? How and why? 2. What can we learn from this person's example?

Focus Questions: Current Event (Ixqik Women's Association/Rape Victims in Guatemala) The (give a title to your event): (1 paragraph) 1. Summarize your event. 2. Who does it affect? 3. Where is it occurring? 4. When did it begin?

The Problem: (1 paragraph explaining how this event is an example of intolerance, prejudice, or socail injustice) Solutions: (1 paragraph explaining how we can help)