OXNARD : Cesar Chavez School Dedication Planned

The family of Cesar Chavez will come to Oxnard Sunday to join city leaders for the dedication of the recently renamed Cesar Chavez School.

More than 1,000 farm workers, elected officials and city residents are expected to jam the grounds of the school in La Colonia for the ceremony. The event is scheduled to include political speakers, music and the dedication of a commemorative mural.

The event is one of several recent efforts statewide to pay tribute to Chavez, who founded the United Farm Workers union, organized the grape boycott of the 1960s and led the Chicano power movement across California.

School officials voted to rename Juanita Elementary School in June, after community residents suggested it would be an appropriate tribute to the labor leader, who at one time lived in La Colonia.

Chavez’s son Paul Chavez, who was born in Oxnard, will present a tribute to his father at Sunday’s event. Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers, and actor Martin Sheen will also speak about the labor leader.

The celebration will end with the unveiling of a mural by New Jersey artist Mike Alewitz. The mural, which was donated by a group of actors in Los Angeles, will act as the new entry sign for the school.

Since June, community members have raised about $7,000 to pay for a library in the school devoted to Chavez and other civil rights leaders.

“The fact that they plan to grapple with the issue of social justice on the elementary school level will be the true legacy of Chavez,” said Karl Lawson, an Oxnard housing official and former UFW employee.

“The school has done an admirable job of teaching kids the importance of this individual.”

Sunday’s event is free and is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. with music by El Mariachi Los Galleros de Pedro Rey. Parking will be provided at the new Frank School, located at Juanita Avenue just north of Colonia Road, and at the Ramona School, located at Bonita Avenue at Cooper Road.