Activist David Arizmendi headlines Cesar Chavez Day event

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
March 25, 2008

The Latino Student Association at Texas State University-San Marcos will host an event in observance of Cesar Chavez Day to honor the legacy of the founder of the United Farm Worker union, Thursday, March 27 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center room 3-15.1.

This event will highlight triumphs of Chavez during his work with the UFW and his advocacy for the civil liberties of one of the most marginalized populations in our nation--farm workers.

“It’s a great way to acknowledge the potential one person can have when is comes to fighting for what you believe in,” said Abigail Moreno an LSA member who is working to organize the event. “Cesar Chavez is a great example.”

A catered dinner will be served followed by a keynote speaker, community activist David Arizmendi, who worked alongside Chavez in the late 70s and 80s.

Like Chavez, Arizmendi has a distinguished history of working to serve under-represented and marginalized communities. He is the current president and CEO of the Azteca Community Loan Fund, a community development institution that helps serve the financial needs of low-income families living along the Texas-Mexico border and also helped develop the Education Legal Defense Fund, a division of the National Farm Workers Service Center.

Arizmendi will speak from his experiences working as an activist and organizer to tell the story of the life of Chavez and why he considered one of the twentieth century’s greatest Latino leaders.

This event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP to LSA_txstate@yahoo.com. For additional information, contact Christina Zambrano at (210) 455-1403 or Paul Vega at (210) 618-4924.