California State University, Fresno will celebrate the legacy of César Chávez when his grandson, Anthony Chávez, delivers the keynote address at a campus and general community celebration March 24 in the Peace Garden.

The university’s annual César Chávez Day of Service Learning will be observed with a traditional garlanding and other activities at the Peace Garden sculpture of Chávez, who founded the United Farm Workers union in California.

Born March 31, 1927, Chavez organized farmworkers from the 1960s until his death in 1993.

The statewide observance is on his birthday, but Fresno State’s is early this year due to a combination of spring break and furloughs for employees mandated by state budget cuts that will leave the campus closed March 29-April 5.

Besides placing a flower garlands around the Chávez monument, the campus observance will include entertainment, art exhibits and reading the winning poem in a contest among Fresno State students about themes evocative of Chávez.

Ruben Castillo, director of the Fresno County Migrant Education Program, also will speak.

The celebration will begin at 9 a.m. when over 100 San Joaquin Valley elementary school students arrive to visit activity booths staffed by members of campus student organizations. Each booth will offer activities that celebrate Chávez and educate students about contributions of farmworkers and immigrants.

Festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. with presentation of colors by the Fresno State Air Force ROTC detachment, followed by playing of the United States and Mexco national anthems. There will be a reading of the “Farm Workers Prayer,” written by Chávez and the Rev. Chris Hartmire, a former director of the California Migrant Ministry who ministered to farmworkers during the union’s early organizing struggles in the Valley.

Fresno State’s Los Danzantes de Aztlán will perform and an Aztec Ceremony will be presented as part of the tribute.

Chávez, 24, will discuss “Honoring the Values of César Chávez and the Farm Workers Movement.”

The eldest son of Socorro and Paul Chávez (César Chávez’s middle son), Anthony Chávez grew up participating in UFW marches, picket lines and political campaigns. He graduated from California State University, Bakersfield with a bachelor’s degree in religious studies.

The past three years, Chávez has served as travel assistant to Benedictine Brother David Steindl-Rast, an author, lecturer and spiritual guru. He also travels broadly, speaking to student and community groups on behalf of the César E. Chávez Foundation, established by the Chávez family to further his grandfather’s life and work.

Other family members have spoken at the Fresno State celebration in the past.

In addition to the March 24 observance, the César Chávez Education Conference will be held April 30-May 1 at Fresno State. The conference brings parents, students, educators, policymakers, community leaders and researchers together on campus to discuss educational reform and social justice issues.

All events are free.

For more information about the March 24 Chávez celebration, contact Ambar Alvarez Soto at 559.278.6097 orambara@csufresno.edu.

For information about the education conference, contact Dr. Glenn DeVoogd at 559.278.0280 orgdevoogd@csufresno.edu.