César E. Chávez Breakfast: Voices, Advocacy, Legacy
On Saturday, March 29, 2025, I had the privilege of attending the César E. Chávez Memorial Breakfast at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). This inspiring event was hosted by LEAD CSUSB, The Hispanic Coalition of Small Businesses (HCSB), and Jesse Valenzuela.
The breakfast honored the legacy of César E. Chávez, the civil rights and labor movement icon, who dedicated his life to championing farmworker rights and advocating for social justice reform.
The theme of this year’s event, “Telling Our Stories – Our Way, Our Voice: Latino Representation in the Arts, Media, and Education,” resonated deeply with everyone present.
The event featured a powerful panel of distinguished speakers who shared stories of perseverance, passion, and pride in Latino culture.
This year’s breakfast also saw a historic moment with the presentation of the inaugural HCSB Lifetime Achievement Award to Pepe Serna.
Serna’s illustrious career and unwavering dedication to promoting Latino voices in entertainment made him the perfect recipient of this prestigious honor.
One of the most heartening aspects of the event was the return of the Jesse Valenzuela Scholarship.
This scholarship aims to support young leaders who are committed to continuing César Chávez’s mission for equality and social change
. The stories of past scholarship recipients were a testament to the transformative power of education and community support.
As I listened to the speakers, I was reminded of the progress we have made in advancing farmworker rights, and yet, there is still so much work to be done.
The breakfast served as a platform for advocacy, bringing together community members, leaders, and allies to discuss contemporary issues affecting the Latino community.
From education to media representation, the conversations were passionate and insightful, reminding us all of the importance of raising our voices and telling our own stories.
It’s hard to overstate the impact that César E. Chávez’s legacy continues to have.
Former California Gov. Gray Davis declared March 31st a state holiday in 2002 to honor his life and promote service to the community in his name.
This breakfast is a reminder that Chávez’s work was never just about labor laws—it was about human dignity, equality, and the power of collective action.
Attending this breakfast reinforced my commitment to community advocacy and inspired me to continue fighting for justice and equality.
Together, we can carry forward César E. Chávez’s legacy and ensure that every voice is heard, every story is told, and every life is valued.