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>> GOOD EVENING.
BUENOS TARDES, AND WELCOME TO THE SEVENTH ANNUAL
CESAR E. CHAVEZ HISPANIC EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP
AND COMMUNITY AWARDS GALA.
MY NAME IS EDWARD SOSA.
I’M ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE COMMITTEE TO HONOR CESAR E. CHAVEZ,
BUT I SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
OF NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION AND FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE
AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
AND IT’S MY PLEASURE
TO SERVE AS YOUR MASTER OF CEREMONIES THIS EVENING.
IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE WITH US THIS EVENING
THE KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SAFETY HONOR GUARD,
WHO WILL POST THE COLORS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE ALL RISE?
>> THANK YOU.
WEST MICHIGAN COMMUNITIES ARE MOURNING
THE PASSING OF TWO WEST MICHIGAN POLICE OFFICERS
WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
KALAMAZOO OFFICER ERIC ZAPATA, 35 YEARS OF AGE,
WHO GAVE HIS LIFE ON APRIL 18
WHILE RESPONDING TO A REPORT
OF GUNSHOT FIRED IN THE 14th BLOCK OF HAYES PARK AVENUE...
AND WALKER POLICE OFFICER TREVOR SLOT, 41 YEARS OF AGE,
WHO WAS KILLED ON OCTOBER 13th
WHEN HE WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY TWO BANK ROBBERY SUSPECTS.
PLEASE JOIN US, AND BOW YOUR HEADS IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE
TO HONOR THE SERVICE AND THE SACRIFICE
OF THESE TWO YOUNG OFFICERS.
THANK YOU.
UPON INTRODUCTION,
WE’LL CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRAM AS LISTED IN YOUR PROGRAM.
AT THIS TIME, YOU MAY ALL BE SEATED.
AND AT THIS TIME, WE ASK THAT ANY AND ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS
WHO ARE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING,
IF YOU COULD PLEASE RISE
AND BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY AN APPLAUSE.
(applause)
THANK YOU.
GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE-- A COLLEGE OF DISTINCTION--
INSPIRES STUDENTS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD.
IT IS MY PLEASURE, AT THIS TIME,
TO INTRODUCE TO YOU DR. STEVEN ENDER,
PRESIDENT OF GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
(applause)
>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME.
GOOD EVENING. >> (all) GOOD EVENING.
>> YES, YES, YES!
IT’S A RAINY, GLOOMY DAY, BUT FOLKS ARE HERE AND THEIR BLOOD IS FLOWING.
IT’S WONDERFUL TO SEE THIS GREAT CROWD HERE TONIGHT, IT’S, UH--
AND IN THE BEAUTIFUL ROOM.
IT’S ALWAYS A GREAT PROBLEM WHEN YOU OUTGROW YOUR FACILITY,
AND THAT’S WHERE WE HAVE BEEN AND WHERE WE’RE GOING.
SO, COMING HERE, REALLY SPEAKS TO THE SUCCESS OF THE CELEBRATION
AS WE ARE IN OUR SEVENTH YEAR.
WE ARE JUST DELIGHTED THAT WE CAN BE HERE TONIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY WELCOME YOU TO TONIGHT’S EVENT,
AS WE CONCLUDE A MONTH-LONG COMMEMORATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE
ACROSS OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND AROUND THIS NATION.
AS A SOCIETY, IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS
OF LATINO-AMERICANS TO THE UNITED STATES AND CELIBATE--
CELEBRATE THAT RICH HERITAGE AND CULTURE.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE
WITHOUT SPECIAL GATHERINGS LIKE THIS,
HONORING THE WORK OF CESAR CHAVEZ.
CHAVEZ ONCE SAID, “IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE A FRIEND,
"GO TO SOMEONE’S HOUSE AND EAT WITH HIM.
“THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE YOU THEIR FOOD, GIVE YOU THEIR HEART.”
TONIGHT, WE WILL BE BREAKING BREAD TOGETHER
AS WE CELEBRATE THE SEVENTH ANNUAL
CESAR CHAVEZ HISPANIC EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP
AND COMMUNITY AWARDS.
TONIGHT, WE GIVE OURSELVES AND OUR HEARTS
TO SUPPORT OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY, AND ULTIMATELY,
THIS ENTIRE GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY.
WE GIVE OF OURSELVES BY SUPPORTING THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
THAT, SINCE 2006, HAS AWARDED 33 SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS
ATTENDING GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
LET ME SAY, AND WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY PROUD OF,
BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE WORK TO DO...
IN 2002...
WE HAD 494 HISPANIC STUDENTS
ATTENDING GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
TODAY, WE HAVE 1,323 HISPANIC STUDENTS
ATTENDING GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
(applause)
AND THAT GROWTH IS NOT AN ACCIDENT.
THAT GROWTH IS THE RESULT OF THE HARD WORK
OF EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
I’M DELIGHTED TO SEE OUR GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
REPRESENTED HERE TONIGHT--
THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SOME BOARD MEMBERS--
BECAUSE THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP THAT ALL OF US--
OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR SCHOOLS--
UH, WE HAVE TO EMBRACE THIS CONCEPT OF EDUCATION
AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION,
IF THE YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY ARE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE WORLD
THAT WE NOW LIVE IN.
AND SO, THE GROWTH THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED,
I THINK, IS REMARKABLE, BUT CLEARLY, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE
THAT WE NEED TO DOUBLE THAT NUMBER.
WE CANNOT SIT BY AND SAY, “OH, WE’RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
“WE’VE INCREASED 270 PERCENT, YOU KNOW, LIFE IS GOOD.”
LIFE IS NOT GOOD.
FOR MANY OF US IN THIS COMMUNITY, LIFE IS NOT GOOD,
AND THE PATH TO THAT SUCCESSFUL LIFE, I TRULY KNOW,
IS THROUGH POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.
AND YOUNG PEOPLE GO TO COLLEGE WHEN THEY WATCH THEIR PARENTS
TAKE A COURSE AND GO TO COLLEGE.
YOUNG PEOPLE GO TO COLLEGE WHEN THEY SEE THEIR SIBLINGS GO TO COLLEGE.
WE LOOK TO THOSE THAT WE ADMIRE FOR GUIDANCE IN OUR LIFE,
AND THOSE OF YOU HERE TONIGHT ARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS
THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE LOOK TO.
SO, I WILL ENCOURAGE YOU THAT IN EVERY WAY THAT YOU CAN,
TO CONTINUE THIS MANTRA OF...
"EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION,"
AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
AND THE WORK OF THIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL DEEPLY INVESTED
IN THE WORK OF EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY,
AND WE DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND.
SO, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVENT.
LUPE, YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN.
I DON’T KNOW-- SHE’S PROBABLY OFF
WORKING A LIST SOMEWHERE, QUITE FRANKLY,
BUT HER AND THIS COMMITTEE-- HERE YOU GO--
HAVE DONE, AGAIN, ANOTHER OUTSTANDING JOB.
I’M SORRY-- AND KAREN WANTED TO SAY--
KAREN IS MY WIFE, AND SHE LOVES THESE EVENTS.
SHE’S ALSO A LITERACY TUTOR AND SHE’S IN SPECIAL TRAINING TONIGHT.
SO, THAT SEEMED TO TAKE PRECEDENT,
AND I SEEM-- AND I UNDERSTAND THAT COMPLETELY.
SO, WE BOTH WELCOME YOU,
AND PLEASE KNOW HOW MUCH WE ENJOY BEING IN THE COMMUNITY
AND WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> GOOD EVENING.
YOU ALL LOOK BEAUTIFUL FROM UP HERE!
YEAH, UP HERE.
TODAY, TONIGHT, THIS EVENING, I AM SO VERY PROUD
TO STAND BEFORE YOU
AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE TO HONOR CESAR E. CHAVEZ.
WE ARE HERE FOR A PURPOSE.
DR. ENDER GAVE US SOME STATISTICS
IN EDUCATION.
BUT EDUCATION...
IS MORE THAN FORMAL EDUCATION.
EDUCATION IS WHAT CESAR E. CHAVEZ WORKED FOR...
SOCIAL JUSTICE.
AND HE SAID-- AND YOU WILL SEE IT IN YOUR PROGRAM--
“THE END OF ALL EDUCATION
"SHOULD SURELY BE THE SERVICE TO OTHERS.”
“THE END OF ALL EDUCATION
"SHOULD SURELY BE THE SERVICE TO OTHERS.”
WE ARE A GIFT.
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A GIFT.
THE GIFT OF LIFE...
AND WHAT WE DO WITH THAT GIFT,
AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO SOCIAL JUSTICE,
IS WHAT WE’RE GOING TO LEAVE ON THIS WORLD.
THIS GIFT CAN BE SPREAD INTO SERVICE,
SACRIFICE, COURAGE, DETERMINATION...
HELPING OTHERS...
BEING A ROLE MODEL, AN EDUCATOR...
BEING A SERVANT TO COMMUNITY.
SO, TONIGHT, I AM HUMBLED.
WE ARE HERE WITH FRIENDS FROM SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
HOW GOOD COULD IT GET?! (applause, cheering)
SOME OF 'EM EVEN DROVE!
YOU KNOW IT’S 1,000-- ABOUT 1,800 MILES,
AND THEY DROVE TO BE HERE WITH US,
CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND THE LEGACY
OF A GREAT AMERICAN HERO, CESAR E. CHAVEZ.
NOW, THERE IS SACRIFICE.
SO, TONIGHT, I WELCOME EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
I WANT TO PARTICULARLY RECOGNIZE CONNIE BERNAL
AND ALEXIS ZAPATA...
WILL YOU PLEASE STAND?
CONNIE IS THE MOTHER OF OFFICER ERIC ZAPATA,
AND ALEXIS IS THE DAUGHTER OF OFFICER ERIC ZAPATA.
(applause)
SO, AGAIN, I WELCOME ALL OF YOU.
WE HAVE RECIPIENTS THAT HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD
TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP,
AND WE HAVE ROLE MODELS THAT HAVE LIVED THE LIFE
OF A GREAT AMERICAN HERO
AND HAVE TAKEN SERIOUSLY WHAT CESAR SAID,
“THE END OF ALL EDUCATION
"WILL SURELY BE SERVICE TO OTHERS.”
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT!
(applause)
>> WELL, GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS ANDY BOWNE.
I’M ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF COLLEGE ADVANCEMENT
AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I LOOKED AT MY PROGRAM, AND I THOUGHT, “OH, MY.”
I DO FUND RAISING FOR THE COLLEGE, AND I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE MANY OF YOU
WHO HAVE GIVEN SO GREATLY TO SUPPORT THIS CAUSE,
THE COMMITTEE TO HONOR CESAR E. CHAVEZ.
SO, WHILE IT’S NOT IN MY SCRIPT, THANK YOU FOR OUR SPONSORS,
AND THOSE WHO HAVE BOUGHT TICKETS TO MAKE TONIGHT SUCH A GREAT EVENT.
YOU KNOW, FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS,
I’VE WORKED TO SUPPORT THE COMMITTEE TO HONOR CESAR E. CHAVEZ.
WHAT I’VE OBSERVED IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO COME TOGETHER
FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS.
SIGNIFICANT LEADERS WITHIN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY...
AND SIGNIFICANT LEADERS WITHIN THIS GREATER GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY.
THEY’VE BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR WORK.
THEIR WORK, THEIR IMPACT,
CERTAINLY REPRESENT THE VALUES OF CESAR CHAVEZ.
GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN RECOGNIZED
FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC SUCCESS,
WHILE REFLECTING THESE SAME VALUES.
CESAR WAS AN ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATION,
REALIZING THAT EDUCATION PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY.
WHEN I LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM TONIGHT--
AND YES, THEY DO LOOK GOOD FROM UP HERE--
I SEE THE BROADER COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER
TO RECOGNIZE AND TO ENCOURAGE.
FOR THESE PAST SIX YEARS, WORKING ALONGSIDE THE COMMITTEE
TO HONOR CESAR CHAVEZ,
I HAVE DEVELOPED GOOD FRIENDSHIPS WITH WONDERFUL PEOPLE.
CESAR PENNED A PRAYER
FOR THE FARM WORKERS AND THEIR STRUGGLES,
AND IN THAT PRAYER, HE SAID, “FREE ME TO PRAY FOR OTHERS,
"FOR YOU ARE PRESENT IN EVERY PERSON.
“HELP ME TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY OWN LIFE,
"SO THAT I CAN BE FREE AT LAST.
“GRANT ME COURAGE TO SERVE OTHERS,
"FOR IN SERVICE, THERE IS TRUE LIFE.
“GIVE ME HONESTY AND PATIENCE,
"SO THAT I CAN WORK WITH OTHERS.
“BRING FORTH SONG AND CELEBRATION,
"SO THAT THE SPIRIT WILL BE ALIVE AMONG US.”
MY FRIENDS, MIS AMIGOS, TONIGHT, WE SHARE SONG AND CELEBRATION.
NOW, BEFORE WE EAT, PLEASE, LET US GIVE THANKS.
GRACIOUS FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BLESS OUR GATHERING THIS EVENING.
AS WE COME TO CELEBRATE, WE REALIZE THAT THIS MEAL
AND OUR VERY LIVES ARE GIFTS FROM YOU.
AS PEOPLE ARE HONORED
AND STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS,
I PRAY THAT THEY WOULD NOT FORGET YOUR GOODNESS TO US.
WE’VE LEARNED THAT "SI, SE PEUDE."
"YES, WE CAN."
REMIND US THAT, THROUGH YOU, WE CAN DO ALL THINGS.
SO, HEAVENLY FATHERS, BLESS THIS FOOD TO OUR BODIES.
GIVE US STRENGTH FOR THE DAYS AHEAD.
WE PRAY THIS IN CHRIST’S NAME, AMEN.
BUEN PROVECHO.
(applause)
>> --BOULEVARD, AND, UM, SHE’S STUBBORN SOMETIMES
AND SHE WAS DETERMINED AND MOTIVATED ALL OF US TO HELP
AND WORK OUT AND, IN THE YEAR 2000,
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS,
WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN DESIGNATING GRANDVILLE AVENUE
AS, UM, "CESAR E. CHAVEZ BOULEVARD."
AND AFTER THAT TIME, UM, THERE WERE PARADES
AND THERE’S THE ANNUAL CESAR E. CHAVEZ SOCIAL JUSTICE MARCH
THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR ON CESAR CHAVEZ’S BIRTHDAY
ON MARCH 31st.
AND SO WE SAY TODAY, “YES, IT CAN BE DONE,”
SI, SE PEUEDE.
FROM THAT POINT, THE COMMITTEE SPRINGBOARDED
AND WE, UM, INITIATED THE ANNUAL CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION,
THAT TODAY, IT’S GROWN AND BECOME SO POPULAR
THAT THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC MUSEUM--
TOMORROW, LUPE AND I HAVE A MEETING WITH THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC MUSEUM
BECAUSE THEY’VE EXTENDED AN INVITATION TO THE COMMITTEE
TO HOST THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION AT THE MUSEUM,
BEGINNING IN MAY OF 2012.
(applause) SI, SE PUEDE.
IT CAN BE DONE.
THE COMMITTEE, ALSO IN COLLABORATION
WITH THE GRAND RAPIDS BOARD OF EDUCATION--
AND AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE GOING TO REBUILD HALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL--
SO IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,
THE COMMITTEE WORKED WITH THE BOARD,
AND, UM, HALL SCHOOL WAS RENAMED CESAR CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND TODAY, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS IN THE GRANDEVILLE AREA.
SI, SE PUEDE. (applause)
IN 2006, THE COMMITTEE,
IN COLLABORATION WITH DR. JUAN OLIVAREZ,
UM, THEN PRESIDENT OF GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE--
UM, WE PAID A VISIT, AND AT THAT TIME--
AND THEN, JENNIFER GRANHOLM PAID A VISIT
TO GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
AND THAT YEAR WAS THE YEAR THAT GRCC ESTABLISHED,
UM, THE NEW HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND--
THE NEW CESAR E. CHAVEZ HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND--
TO AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS AND ADVANCE THE EDUCATIONAL GOALS
OF GRCC HISPANIC STUDENTS.
AND THOSE AWARDS, OF COURSE, ARE GIVEN OUT THROUGH THE GRCC FOUNDATION.
SI, SE PUEDE, IT CAN BE DONE.
(applause) THE GOAL--
THE GOAL IS TO RAISE $200,000
IN ORDER TO GIVE OUT TEN $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY
TO GRCC HISPANIC STUDENTS.
AND AS WE WORK TOWARDS THIS GOAL,
WE WANT TO THANK THE MANY SPONSORS
AND THE MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND THE MANY PEOPLE WHO DONATE-- FACULTY AND STAFF, FROM GRCC,
WHO DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND.
BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, WE’RE VERY PROUD TO TELL YOU--
WE’RE NOT QUITE THERE YET--
BUT AT THIS POINT, THE FUND HAS A LITTLE OVER $100,000.
SI, SE PUEDE. (applause)
AND EVEN THOUGH WE’RE NOT AT THE POINT
OF GIVING OUT TEN $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS,
WE ARE TO THE POINT WHERE, THIS EVENING,
WE WILL BE GIVING OUT SIX $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS
TO GRCC STUDENTS.
AND THEN, IN 2006, THE COMMITTEE ALSO ESTABLISHED
THE FIVE HISPANIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS
THAT WE WILL BE GIVING OUT THIS EVENING.
AND, UM, ALL SAID AND DONE,
OVER ALL, SI, SE PUEDE,
THE DREAMS OF THE COMMITTEE HAS COME FORWARD.
WE’RE NOT DONE YET.
LUPE SAYS SHE’S TIRED, BUT YOU KNOW,
SHE’S SAID THAT BEFORE AND BEFORE AND BEFORE.
SO, UM, WE HOPE THAT SHE STAYS WITH US.
BUT AT THIS TIME, WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRAM
WITH THE PRESENTATION OF THE HISPANIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS.
AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU
EVA AGUIRRE COOPER,
THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FROM WOOD TV 8,
AS OUR PRESENTER.
(applause)
>> BUENOS NOCHES.
IT’S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
AS I LOOK OVER THE RECIPIENTS THIS YEAR,
UM, IT KIND OF MAKES YOU FEEL PROUD
THAT WE’VE GOT SOME AMAZING INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS
THAT WE’RE GOING TO HONOR THIS EVENING,
SO I’LL GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY.
THERE ARE FIVE AWARDS-- WE’LL START WITH THE YOUTH AWARD.
THIS GOES TO AN INSPIRING HISPANIC STUDENT,
WHO IS A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR OTHER YOUTH IN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY...
AND THIS AWARD WILL BE GOING TO INGRID GALLEGOS,
NOMINATED BY DANNY HA,
PROGRAM ADVISOR OF MULTICULTURAL COHORT PROGRAM COORDINATOR
FROM GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY.
INGRID IS A SECOND-YEAR STUDENT AT GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY.
IN HER FIRST YEAR AT GVSU,
INGRID JOINED THE MULTICULTURAL COHORT PROGRAM,
WHICH ALLOWED STUDENTS TO LEARN THROUGH CAREER EXPLORATION,
WHILE DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS
FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.
INGRID DEMONSTRATES AN OPEN ATTITUDE FOR LEARNING
AND A RESPECT FOR OTHERS WITH DIFFERING BACKGROUNDS AND OPINIONS.
AS A MEMBER OF GVSU’S CAMPUS MINISTRIES,
SHE STRIVES TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED EXTRA HELP
WHEN THEIR FAITH HAS BEEN TESTED.
SHE HAS DEVELOPED MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS
THAT REQUIRE PATIENCE, CONSISTENCY, AND TRUST.
INGRID IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE LATINO STUDENT UNION
AND DEVOTES HER TIME BY PLANNING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
TO EDUCATE OTHERS ON THE RICHNESS OF LATINO CULTURE.
INGRID POSSESSES A GENTLE CALM THAT IS AMAZING TO WATCH.
SUDDEN CHANGES OF PLANS OR CONFLICT BY OTHERS
DO NOT DETER HER FROM FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH HER GOALS.
EVEN WITH ALL OF INGRID’S ACHIEVEMENTS AND SUCCESSES,
SHE STILL MAKES IT A PRIORITY TO PUT OTHERS FIRST.
DESPITE HER INVOLVEMENT AT SUCH HIGH LEVELS,
SHE INSTANTLY MADE THE DEAN'S LIST AT GVSU
AND MAINTAINS A 3.6 CUMULATIVE G.P.A.
AWESOME!
GOOD JOB! (applause)
(laughing) IT’S NOT EASY TO DO.
WHILE A PARTICIPANT IN JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT,
SHE INITIATED AN EVENT CALLED, "THE PINK OUT,"
WHICH RAISED AWARENESS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT
FOR THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY.
SHE WAS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE MARCH OF DIMES,
SHE ALSO VOLUNTEERED FOR "BURGER BASH,"
AN EVENT TO HELP FEED THE HOMELESS IN THE HEARTSIDE PARK.
WOW.
SHE IS CONSTANTLY STRIVING TO BUILD BRIDGES, INCREASE UNDERSTANDING,
AND REMAINING A DEDICATED STUDENT AT GRAND VALLEY.
SHE’S A VERY POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR OTHER YOUTH IN SCHOOL,
AND IN HER COMMUNITY.
THE 2011 CESAR E. CHAVEZ YOUTH AWARD
GOES TO INGRID GALLEGOS!
(applause) COME FORWARD, INGRID.
SHE’S REALLY PRETTY. (audience laughing)
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> CONGRATULATIONS, INGRID. (applause)
NEXT, LA FAMILIA LEGACY AWARD...
A HISPANIC FAMILY THAT IS LIVING THE LIFE AND LEGACY
OF CESAR E. CHAVEZ.
THEY HAVE CHALLENGED US TO DARE TO DREAM AND HOPE
WITHOUT GIVING UP OUR IDENTITY, FAITH, AND CULTURE.
THE RECIPIENT GOES TO THE JUAN AND MARIA FRAGA FAMILY.
JUAN AND MARIA POSTHUMOUSLY NOMINATED BY (indistinct), A FAMILY FRIEND.
JUAN FRAGA WAS BORN IN COAHUILA, MEXICO, IN 1916,
AND MARIA IN NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS, IN 1918.
THEY MET WHILE WORKING IN THE MIGRANT STREAM IN THE SOUTH.
THEY HARVESTED PICKLES, TOMATOES, SUGAR BEETS, AND CHERRIES IN MICHIGAN.
IN 1942, THEY MARRIED, SETTLED IN THE VALLEY OF TEXAS.
THEY CONTINUED THE ARDUOUS LABOR OF WORKING THE FIELDS.
THEIR SACRIFICE AND DETERMINATION CARRIED THEM FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS.
DURING THIS TIME, THEY HAD FOUR CHILDREN--
MARIA-HENRIQUETA AND OLIVIA, BORN IN TEXAS,
AND JUANITA AND ROSA, BORN IN ALMA, MICHIGAN.
FIVE MORE CHILDREN FOLLOWED--
RITA, MARIA, ANGELINA, DOLORES, JOSE, AND ANDREA.
WOW! (audience laughing)
THEIR CHILDREN WERE EDUCATED AND THEIR CAREERS DEMONSTRATE
THAT WORKING TO ENHANCE THEIR OWN LIFE TOOK SECOND PLACE.
FIRST PLACE WAS ALWAYS OF SERVICE.
DETERMINATION AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM
TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
AMONGST THE FAMILY, YOU WILL FIND TEACHERS,
A COUNTY HEALTH AND SERVICE EMPLOYEE, GERBER FOODS EMPLOYEE, ENGINEERS,
AND THE FIRST LATINA TO ENTER MICHIGAN TECH UNIVERSITY’S ENGINEERING PROGRAM,
COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND PRINCIPALS.
DURING THEIR YEARS OF PICKING THE CROPS IN THE HOT, SUN-DRENCHED FIELDS,
THEY FELT THAT THE LITTLE THEY HAD SHOULD BE SHARED WITH OTHERS.
THEIR HOUSE WAS ALWAYS FULL OF OTHER MIGRANT CHILDREN,
WHO ENJOYED THE RESPECT THE FRAGAS SHOWED EACH OTHER
AND THOSE WHO WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE THEIR FRIENDS.
AT TIME, THEIR TORTILLAS WOULD HAVE TO BE BROKEN IN TWO,
IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO FEED ALL THOSE WHO CAME TO THEIR TABLE.
THE CHILDREN LEARNED THAT ONE CANNOT BE SELFISH,
AND WHAT LITTLE THEY HAD MUST BE SHARED.
THE FRAGA CHILDREN SERVE ON MANY BOARDS ACROSS THE STATE.
THEY HELP THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY WITH SETTING EDUCATIONAL GOALS,
IMPROVING SOCIAL STANDING, AND INCREASING POLITICAL AWARENESS.
IT IS THE HUMBLE BEGINNING OF JUAN AND MARIA--
THEIR GREAT SACRIFICE DURING THEIR EARLY YEARS--
THAT TAUGHT THEIR NINE CHILDREN TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE,
BE TOLERANT OF IGNORANCE, RESPECT ONE ANOTHER,
HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO PRESENT GREAT IDEAS,
AND BE INNOVATIVE IN THEIR METHODS CELEBRATING LIFE BY SERVING OTHERS.
AN EXTRAORDINARY FAMILY WHOSE SACRIFICE HAS LEFT A LEGACY OF SUCCESS.
THE 2011 CESAR E. CHAVEZ LA FAMILIA LEGACY AWARD
GOES TO THE JUAN AND MARIA FRAGA FAMILY.
TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD, WE WELCOME MARIA HERRERO,
OLIVIA ARIZOLA, JUANITA CASARES, ROSA FRAGA,
PETER RODRIQUEZ, Y DOLORES FRAGA.
CONGRATULATIONS.
(applause)
CAN YOU IMAGINE THOSE FAMILY REUNIONS?
(audience laughing)
(applause)
FELICIDADES.
OKAY.
NEXT, WE HAVE THE GOLDEN CITIZEN AWARD.
A HEROIC HISPANIC SENIOR CITIZEN OR COUPLE
WHO HAVE FOUGHT SEGREGATION AND DISCRIMINATION.
TO THEM, WE OWE THE RIGHTS WE HAVE TODAY.
THE RECIPIENT IS MARIA YSASI.
NOMINATED BY HER SON, DR. RAUL YSASI... (applause)
SECONDARY PLACEMENT COORDINATOR AT GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY.
MARIA EXEMPLIFIES THE LIFE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS
BY HER SERVICE AS A PARAPROFESSIONAL
IN THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS
FOR OVER 31 YEARS.
MARIA WORKED WITH THE CHILDREN WHO WERE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.
SHE SOUGHT THE CHILDREN LABELED “AT RISK,”
BECAUSE WE WAS DETERMINED TO SEE ALL CHILDREN SUCCEED.
MARIA AND HER HUSBAND VISITED MIGRANT CAMPS
TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THE FAMILIES.
MARIA ALWAYS SOUGHT TO BRING PEACE AND SOCIAL CHANGE WHEREVER SHE COULD.
SHE VOLUNTEERED TEACHING SUMMER BIBLE SCHOOL,
ASSISTING WITH FUNERAL LUNCHES, AND FEEDING THOSE WITHOUT.
MARIA FOUGHT SEGREGATION AS A YOUNG LATINA IN SOUTH TEXAS.
SHE PEACEFULLY DEFENDED STUDENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS
WHEN THEY WERE CALLED BY ENTHNIC SLURS
OR RIDICULED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.
WHILE MARIA WAS RAISING A FAMILY AND WORKING IN THE SCHOOL,
SHE SPENT EXTRA TIME BY COMPLETING HER G.E.D.
SHE EVENTUALLY ENROLLED AT GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY,
WHERE SHE COMPLETED SEVERAL COURSES IN TEACHING.
EVEN AS A YOUNG TEENAGER, MARIA VOLUNTEERED AT HER CHURCH,
OUR LADY OF SORROWS, BY OFFERING TO CLEAN WEEKLY.
SHE HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY,
WORKING AT FOOD BOOTHS TO RAISE MONEY TO CARE FOR THE NEEDIEST.
HER EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOLS, HER CHURCH,
AND HER COMMUNITY MAKE HER AN INSPIRATION
FOR THOSE HOPING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.
THE 2011 CESAR E. CHAVEZ GOLDEN CITIZEN AWARD
GOES TO MARIA YSASI.
(applause, cheering)
FELICIDADES, MARIA.
(applause)
THE HISPANIC ADVOCATE AWARD HONORS A NON-HISPANIC INDIVIDUAL
OR ORGANIZATION WHO ENHANCES UPWARD MOBILITY
OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
THE RECIPIENT IS FIFTH THIRD BANK OF WESTERN MICHIGAN,
NOMINATED BY MARTA-GONZALES CORTES,
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE HISPANIC CENTER OF WESTERN MICHIGAN.
THE BANK HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVING FAIR HOUSING,
AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO CREDIT AS WELL,
AS DEVELOPING IMPORTANT COMMUNITY NETWORKS.
THEY PROVIDE TIME AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS.
FIFTH THIRD’S BELIEF IN THE POWER OF EDUCATION
IS EVIDENT BY TUITION REIMBURSEMENTS,
NUMEROUS SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAMS, ESPECIA--
EXCUSE ME, ESPECIALLY THE GRCC FIFTH THIRD FIRST IN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP,
AND THE C.E.C. SCHOLARSHIP FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS.
THEY SUPPORT EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ACTIVELY--
WHO ARE ACTIVELY SERVING THE MOST VULNERABLE,
INCLUDING THE KIDS FOOD BASKET, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT,
AND CESAR CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY AND BANK--
BASIC BANKING AT (indistinct).
FIFTH THIRD CELEBRATES COMMUNITY BY SPONSORING COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE AREA,
INCLUDING THE BLOSSOMTIME FESTIVAL IN BERRIEN COUNTY,
THE COAST GUARD FESTIVAL IN GRAND HAVEN,
THE CHERRY FESTIVAL IN TRAVERSE CITY,
THE ALPINE FESTIVAL IN ***,
AND, OF COURSE, THE HISPANIC FESTIVAL IN GRAND RAPIDS.
FIFTH THIRD’S COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
DEMONSTRATES THEIR VALUE IN IMPROVING LIVES WITHOUT VIOLENCE.
FIFTH THIRD HAS MOVED BEYOND TOLERANCE TO INCLUSION
BY HAVING AN ACTIVE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COUNSEL
THAT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, INCLUDES A HISPANIC BUSINESS RESOURCE GROUP.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT PATRICK LONERGAN IS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE FAIR HOUSING CENTER OF WESTERN MICHIGAN,
GRAND RAPIDS URBAN LEAGUE,
THE SECRETARY OF THE HISPANIC CENTER OF WESTERN MICHIGAN.
MANY OTHER FIFTH THIRD EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING JENNIFER TAVERAS,
THOMAS KEANE, OMAR CUEVAS, AND LUIS RAMOS
WORK TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT THE WEST MICHIGAN HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
FIFTH THIRD BANK IS WELL-DESERVING OF THE AWARD,
BECAUSE OF ITS RECORD OF SUSTAINED INVOLVEMENT
AND SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS
THAT SEEK TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF HISPANICS
AND OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS IN WEST MICHIGAN.
THE WINNER OF THE 2011 CESAR CHAVEZ HISPANIC ADVOCATE AWARD
GOES TO FIFTH THIRD BANK.
WELCOME PATRICK LONERGAN,
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR FIFTH THIRD BANK,
RECEIVING THE AWARD. (applause)
CONGRATULATIONS.
AND NOW, OUR LAST BUT NOT LEAST...
THIS DISTINGUISHED "AGUILA" EAGLE AWARD.
A COURAGEOUS HISPANIC INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS
WHO LIVE AN EXEMPLARY LIFE
AND DEMONSTRATES EXTRAORDINARY MOTIVATION
TO FURTHER THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
THE RECIPIENT GOES TO LOS BANDITS-- GUILLERMO MARTINEZ AND RENE MEAVE--
NOMINATED BY MARSHALL CHAVEZ,
A FRIEND AND ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE COMMITTEE TO HONOR CESAR E. CHAVEZ,
AND OWNER OF EL SOMBRERO RESTAURANT.
LOS BANDITS IS A BAND COMPRISED OF RENE MEAVE AND GUILLERMO MARTINEZ,
WHOSE MUSIC REFLECTS THE RICHNESS OF TEX-MEX MUSIC
BY COMBINING RHYTHM AND BLUES, GOSPEL, COUNTRY, ROCK, AND TEJANO MUSIC.
THEIR MUSIC APPEALS TO A VERY DIVERSE AUDIENCE.
IT WAS CESAR WHO ENCOURAGED THEM TO USE THEIR MUSICAL TALENT
TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE.
GUILLERMO MARTINEZ LIVED THE LIFE OF A MIGRANT WORKER,
TRAVELING FROM TEXAS TO SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
UNTIL THE AGE OF 15,
WHEN HIS FAMILY SETTLED IN MICHIGAN.
THEY EXEMPLIFY THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CESAR E. CHAVEZ
IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS--
GUILLERMO MARTINEZ HAS DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO SERVING THE MICHIGAN MIGRANTS
AND SEASONAL FARM WORKERS,
WITH THE HOPE OF IMPROVING THEIR HEALTH, EDUCATION,
AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
THE WORDS OF CESAR CHAVEZ, “USE YOUR TALENTS
"TO CREATE THINGS THAT HELP PEOPLE,”
HAVE GIVEN THE BANDITS THE INSPIRATION
AND DEDICATION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES
OF MICHIGAN MIGRANT FARM WORKERS.
THEY HAVE ALSO GUIDED GUILLERMO TO BECOME A WELL-KNOWN MIGRANT ACTIVIST
AND TO SERVE ON THE NATIONAL MIGRANT HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
GUILLERMO IS THE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADVISOR
FOR THE UNITED MIGRANT OPPORTUNITY INC.,
A RECRUITER FOR VAN BUREN COUNTY MIGRANT EDUCATION,
AND HAS WORKED WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY PROGRAM
AT WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY.
HE’S THE COMMUNITY LIAISON
FOR THE HISPANIC AMERICAN COUNCIL IN KALAMAZOO.
HE HAS ALSO SERVED AS AN EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SPECIALIST
WITH M.E.S.E. AND OTHER RELATED AGENCIES IN KALAMAZOO,
ALLEGAN, AND VAN BUREN COUNTIES.
RENE MEAVE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN WESLACO, TEXAS.
HE CAME TO MICHIGAN, SAME AS LUPE-- WE KNOW, OKAY.
(audience laughing)
HE CAME TO MICHIGAN AS A MIGRANT FARM WORKER.
RENE MEAVE HAS DEVOTED HIS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE
TO BECOMING A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR MICHIGAN MIGRANTS AND FARM WORKERS.
HE HAS ALSO DEDICATED MOST OF HIS TIME AND ENERGY TO SERVE ON COMMITTEES
THAT HELP BETTER THE LIVES OF HISPANIC AMERICANS.
RENE’S EFFORT, DEDICATION, AND DEVOTION TO BRING AWARENESS
TO TEX-MEX MUSIC HELPED HIM GAIN RECOGNITION
IN THE AMERICAN SONG FESTIVAL AND B.M.I. SONG FESTIVAL.
LOS BANDITS PERFORM AT NEARLY EVERY HISPANIC CELEBRATION
IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN.
DESPITE THEIR MUSICAL SUCCESS,
THEY ARE STILL FOUND IN THE MIGRANT FARMS
DISTRIBUTING FOOD AND INFORMATION TO HELP THE FARM WORKERS.
RENE IS A MEMBER OF THE SOUTHWEST MIGRANT RESOURCE COUNCIL, M.R.C.,
AND THE 2011 PRE-CONFERENCE M.R.C.
HIS OTHER POSITIONS INCLUDE PAST PRESIDENT
OF THE HISPANIC-AMERICAN COUNCIL OF KALAMAZOO,
PAST PRESIDENT OF THE HISPANICS AGAINST AIDS IN GRAND RAPIDS,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD FOR THE CITY OF KALAMAZOO,
MEMBER OF THE MIDWEST HISPANIC AIDS COALITION IN CHICAGO,
CHAIRPERSON OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRANT ISSUES,
VOLUNTEER FOR THE CHRISTMAS BASKETS COMMITTEE,
AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR FOR INTERCARE COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK IN SPARTA.
WOW!
RENE IS ALSO A MEMBER IN THE FARM WORKER APPRECIATION COMMITTEE,
AND THE GRANT-WRITING COMMITTEE.
LOS BANDITS CELEBRATE THE COMMUNITY BY HOSTING COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS
AND CONCERTS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
THEY HAVE PRESENTED A SHOW TITLED "CULTURAL SENSITIVITY IN HUMOR AND MUSIC"
TO HONOR THEIR HERO, CESAR CHAVEZ, AND HIS ADVICE,
“USE YOUR TALENTS TO CREATE THINGS THAT HELP PEOPLE.”
RENE AND GUILLERMO’S DEDICATION AND DETERMINATION
TO BETTER THE MICHIGAN MIGRANT HEALTH EDUCATION
AND EMPLOYMENT HAS DEMONSTRATED THEIR COMMITMENT
TO KEEPING VIOLENCE OUT OF THE LIVES OF MICHIGAN MIGRANTS
AND THE SEASONAL FARM WORKERS.
PLEASE WELCOME RENE AND GUILLERMO, THE 2011 AGUILA AWARD RECIPIENTS!
(applause)
>> (inaudible speaking)...
...BE ON YOUR COMMITTEE TO HONOR CESAR E. CHAVEZ,
2011 EVENTS CO-CHAIR.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AWARD WINNERS TONIGHT-- GREAT JOB.
TONIGHT, I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR
AND PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER,
MR. JAIME MARTINEZ.
FOUNDER, C.E.O. OF THE CESAR E. CHAVEZ LEGACY
AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
AS WE GATHER TONIGHT,
HONORING OUR COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS
AND OUR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, I COULDN’T HELP BUT RECOGNIZE,
WHILE I WAS READING THROUGH MR. MATINEZ’S BIO,
AND GETTING TO KNOW HIM A LITTLE BIT BETTER THIS WEEK,
THREE REOCCURRING THEMES.
ACHIEVEMENTS...
CHALLENGES...
AND A HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
JAIME MARTINEZ WAS BORN IN 1946, IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS,
AND WAS REARED BY HIS MEXICAN MIGRANT WORKER GRANDPARENTS
IN WEST SIDE BARRIO...
UH, I'VE COME TO KNOWN AS, I THINK, "LAS TRIPAS" IN SAN ANTONIO,
A SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY.
HIS INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVISM BEGAN IN 1966
AS A MEMBER OF HIS LOCAL UNION IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
HE HAS MARCHED AND FASTED FOR JUSTICE FOR FARM WORKERS
ALONGSIDE CESAR E. CHAVEZ, FIRSTHAND.
JAIME IS ALSO THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE CESAR E. CHAVEZ L.U.L.A.C. COUNCIL,
NUMBER 4626, IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS,
AND HE HAS RAISED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
FOR POOR MIGRANT CHILDREN TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION IN COLLEGE.
HE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS THE TOP FUNDRAISER FOR EVERY YEAR
FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
JAIME HAS DEFENDED THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS
AND MARCHED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS THROUGHOUT AMERICA...
HAS WORKED WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, SUCH AS REVEREND ABERNATHY--
OF COURSE, THE RIGHT HAND MAN OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND ROSA PARKS.
AT THIS TIME, BEFORE WE WELCOME MR. MARTINEZ TO THE STAGE,
I’D LIKE YOU TO PLEASE TURN YOUR FOCUS TO THE PO--
TO THE, UH, SLIDESHOW.
PLEASE HELP-- PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER AND HELP ME WELCOME A MAN
WHO HAS GIVEN A LIFETIME OF ACTIVISM FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS,
MR. JAIME MARTINEZ!
(applause)
>> TONIGHT, I AM FLYING WITH EAGLES!
(applause)
AND AT THE END OF THIS BANQUET, WE HAVE, IN THE BACK--
LUIS’ FAMILY-- WE HAVE SOME CDs
THAT ARE BEING SOLD FOR $10
TO RAISE MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED STUDENTS,
MIGRANT WORKERS, AND PEOPLE OF ALL RACES IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND THEY BROUGHT SOME VIDEOS--
THEY’LL BE IN THE BACK, AND THERE’S SOME CONJUNTOS, BALLADS, AND EVERYTHING,
AND THEY’LL BE IN THE BACK.
I’D LIKE TO THANK LUPE RAMOS FOR MONTHS OF DIALOGUE,
ASKING ME TO COME HERE TODAY.
TODAY’S A DAY THAT I ALWAYS SAY, “WE HAVE A DATE WITH DESTINY!”
IT’S BEEN A LONG LIFE...
AND "REAL EDUCATION SHOULD CONSIST OF GROWING THE GOODNESS
"AND THE BEST OF OUR OWN STUDENTS.
"WHAT BETTER BOOKS CAN THERE BE THAN THE BOOK OF HUMANITY?"
CESAR CHAVEZ.
I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE MET HIM AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
I WAS COMING UP IN THE RANKS IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT,
AND I KNOW THAT THERE’S A LOT OF LABOR PEOPLE HERE TODAY.
THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT, IN THE TRENCHES,
FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE, FOR EQUALITY,
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
POOR PEOPLE ARE NEVER GOING TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING,
OR IMPROVE THEIR LIVES IF THEY DO NOT ORGANIZE.
WE MUST STAND FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS
ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY,
AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO TAKE A STEP BACK,
AND WE’RE GOING TO PROTECT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS,
BUT WE HAVE TO GET INVOLVED!
WE HAVE TO EMPOWER OURSELVES, REGISTER TO VOTE,
AND MAKE A STATEMENT.
(applause)
CESAR CHAVEZ...
AN ICON.
I MARCHED WITH HIM, I FASTED WITH HIM,
AND I FOUGHT THE NEVER-ENDING STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE.
I AM VERY HUMBLED, HERE.
HE WAS A SERVANT.
HE CAME TO SERVE...
LIKE OUR LORD JESUS CAME TO SERVE.
NOT TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE HUMANITY.
AND...
IN THE YEARS THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN THE MOVEMENT,
THE STORY OF CESAR CHAVEZ AND THE FIGHT IN THE FIELDS...
AND THE FARM WORKERS' STRUGGLE, TELLS A STORY
OF THIS GREAT, CHARISMATIC FOUNDER OF THE UNITED FARM WORKERS UNION,
AND THE MOVEMENT THAT HE HAS FOUNDED
ALONGSIDE A WOMAN, DOLORES HUERTA...
AND INSPIRED US TO LEAD.
AND INSPIRED US TO PLANT A SEED
THAT SOMEBODY ELSE WILL COME AND WATER THAT SEED.
TODAY, AND THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WE’VE BEEN PLANTING SEEDS.
WITH LUPE RAMOS.
I ATTENDED FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY.
I ATTENDED BUCHANAN ELEMENTARY, 3rd GRADERS,
AND THE FIRST QUESTION I ASKED, "HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW CESAR CHAVEZ?"
EVERYBODY ROSE THEIR HAND!
SO, I THINK THAT OUR FUTURE IS IN GOOD HANDS,
AS LONG AS WE HAVE LEADERS, LIKE YOURSELVES, HERE
THAT CARE ABOUT HUMANITY, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
I ATTENDED DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY...
AND SPOKE TO THE STUDENTS.
REALLY, REALLY EAGER TO BE FED,
TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT OUR HEROES.
PLANTING THE SEEDS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
AT GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY,
AND THE HISPANIC CENTER IN WESTERN MICHIGAN.
HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IN GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
AND NOW, HERE I AM, CELEBRATING THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE,
THE COMMITTEE TO HONOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CESAR CHAVEZ
AND HISPANIC EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP AND AWARDS GALA.
THERE’S NO QUESTION IN MY HEART
AND IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE TRENCHES, IN LABOR.
THROUGH THE YEARS, 45 YEARS OF MY LIFE,
I MARCHED, I FASTED.
SOMETIMES, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID,
“WE DON’T WEIGH THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN
"ON HOW HE STANDS IN TIMES OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE,
"BUT HOW HE STANDS IN TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY.”
I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO MARCH
OR TO HAVE MEETINGS AND FEW PEOPLE COME.
BUT I KNOW THAT THE STORY AND THE STRUGGLE OF CESAR CHAVEZ
TOUCHED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
CHAVEZ COMBINED TRADITIONAL MEXICAN-AMERICAN VALUES
AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING
WITH THE NONVIOLENT TACTICS OF MAHATMA GANDHI,
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, ROSA PARKS.
A STRUGGLE FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE...
AND JUSTICE... FOR THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE,
THE FARM WORKERS IN THE FIELDS.
OUR APOSTLES OF NONVIOLENCE...
SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN...
RECOGNIZED,
BUT I DON’T THINK THAT CESAR OR DR. KING WANTED TO BE RECOGNIZED,
THAT THEY WANT THOUSANDS OF AWARDS.
I DON’T THINK THAT, AT THEIR FUNERAL, THEY WANTED TO BE RECOGNIZED
WITH A LONG-WINDED EULOGY.
I DON’T THINK THAT THEY WANTED TO BE RECOGNIZED
THAT THEY WERE, UP HERE, HEROES.
I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE SAID,
“WHEN I DIE, WITH MY DATE WITH DESTINY,
"I WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED THAT I WENT TO JAIL.
“THAT IS VISITED THE JAILS.
“THAT I CLOTHED THE NAKED.
“THAT I FED THE HUNGRY,
"AND THAT I WORKED TO UPLIFT THE POOR IN SOCIETY.”
THEY WERE PEOPLE OF COMMUNITY.
WE CAN NOT SEEK ACHIEVEMENT FOR OURSELVES
AND FORGET ABOUT PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR AMBITIONS MUST BE BROAD ENOUGH TO INCLUDE
THE ASPIRATIONS AND THE NEEDS OF OTHERS
FOR THEIR SAKE AND FOR OUR OWN.
WHO WAS CESAR CHAVEZ?
HE WAS OUR MOSES.
WHO WAS DR. KING?
OUR MOSES.
THE DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE.
THE DRUM MAJOR INSTINCT...
WHO MARCHED AGAINST TREMENDOUS ODDS.
PEOPLE THAT WERE VERY CONTROVERSIAL, BUT THEY WERE RIGHT.
WE’RE LIVING IN TRYING TIMES, IN TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, RIGHT NOW.
IT’S NOT BAD TO PROTEST, BUT WE HAVE TO BE UNIFIED.
WE HAVE TO BE ORGANIZED.
WE HAVE TO BE ON A MISSION.
WE HAVE TO BE DIRECTED IN A SENSE THAT WE CAN MAKE CHANGE IN THIS WORLD.
AND THAT IF WE’RE GOING TO WIN FOR JUSTICE--
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE--
WE HAVE TO BE NONVIOLENT.
CESAR INSPIRED MILLIONS TO GET INVOLVED IN LA CAUSA...
AND WE-- MYSELF--
WHEN I MET HIM, I WAS INSPIRED.
I WAS IN MY UNION HALL, COMING UP IN THE RANKS IN LABOR.
I BECAME THE FIRST MEXICAN-AMERICAN ELECTED
TO MY UNION’S INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD AT 1126 16th STREET
IN WASHINGTON D.C.
SINCE THE FOUNDING OF MY UNION IN 1949.
AND WHEN I SAW IN THE PICTURE OF CESAR CHAVEZ
ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE TIME MAGAZINE...
“MEXICAN-AMERICANS ON THE MARCH.”
MARCHING.
AT THAT TIME, WE WERE INVISIBLE.
BUT CESAR WAS ALREADY MARCHING.
HE WAS FIGHTING FOR THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE IN THE FIELDS.
THEY WERE BEATEN, THEY WERE JAILED.
FIVE PEOPLE DIED.
THEY WERE KILLED.
NOBODY... WENT BEFORE THE COURTS.
NOBODY FOUND OUT WHO DID IT.
CESAR CHAVEZ’S RELENTLESS CAMPAIGN FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
FOR THE POOREST OF THE POOR AND FOR UNIONS.
HE WAS A UNION MAN WHO FOUNDED THE UNITED FARM WORKERS,
AN NATIONAL FARM WORKERS ASSOCIATION.
IN 1962, IN AN ABANDONED THEATER,
PEOPLE DIDN’T BELIEVE THAT HE WAS GOING TO MAKE IT...
BUT HE DID!
HE NEVER STOPPED FIGHTING.
HE WAS ALWAYS A PERSON THAT DIDN’T TAKE “NO” FOR AN ANSWER.
MANY TIMES, I'VE TRAVELED WITH HIM.
MANY TIMES, WE’VE DISCUSSED ABOUT THE ISSUES IN THIS WORLD.
HOW THE POISONOUS CHEMICALS
ARE AFFECTING THE FARM WORKERS IN THE FIELDS.
PLANES FLYING OVER, DUMPING POISONOUS CHEMICALS, PESTICIDES,
AND THE CHILDREN STARTED BEING-- CHILDREN, FARM WORKER'S CHILDREN,
WERE BEING BORN WITHOUT HANDS, WITHOUT LEGS, AND DEFORMED.
WHY?
BECAUSE THOSE POISONOUS CHEMICALS THAT THEY-- THE MOTHERS--
TOILING IN THE FIELDS, WERE BREATHING.
IT AFFECTED FARM WORKERS.
HE STOPPED EATING FOR 25 DAYS!
TO BRING FORTH THAT ISSUE OUT TO THE WORLD.
ROBERT KENNEDY, MARCH 10, 1968--
HE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
HEARD ABOUT THIS BROWN MAN, FLEW TO DELANO, CALIFORNIA,
AND BROKE BREAD WITH HIM.
AND CESAR CHAVEZ HAVE WRITTEN SOME WORDS THAT HAVE INSPIRED ALL OF US.
THOSE WORDS ARE VERY TRUE,
BUT HE WAS TOO WEAK TO RECITE THOSE WORDS.
HE SAID, “WHEN WE ARE TRULY HONEST WITH OURSELVES,
"WE MUST ADMIT THAT OUR LIFE IS ALL THE REALLY BELONG TO US.”
SO, IT IS HOW WE USE OUR LIVES
THAT DETERMINES WHAT KIND OF MEN WE ARE.
IT IS MY DEEPEST BELIEF THAT BY GIVING UP OUR LIFE,
THAT WE FIND LIFE.
SERVICE.
AND THE TRUEST ACT OF COURAGE AND THE STRONGEST ACT OF MANLINESS
IS TO SACRIFICE OURSELVES, TOTALLY,
IN THE NONVIOLENT STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE.
SO, THE STORY OF CESAR CHAVEZ BEGAN WHEN HE WAS BORN.
HE WAS BORN MARCH 31st, 1927.
NOBODY...
IN THIS WORLD IS BORN AND SAYS, "I’M GOING TO BE A LEADER."
THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE IN LIFE,
THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEFORE US--
SOMETIMES, YOU HAVE TO SWEAT BLOOD AND MAKE THOSE DECISIONS
WHERE YOU’RE BY YOURSELF, OR WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.
HE LEARNED ABOUT JUSTICE--
RATHER, INJUSTICE-- AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
HE BELIEVED IN EDUCATION.
BE BELIEVED THAT WE NEED TO GO PLANT THE SEEDS
WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE STUDENTS.
HE FASTED MANY TIMES...
TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
I REMEMBER, ONE DAY, I GOT A CALL THAT HE WANTED ME
TO ORGANIZE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
WANTED ME TO ORGANIZE A RALLY.
THEY HAD KILLED RUFINO CONTRERAS IN THE (indistinct) LETTUCE STRIKE.
SHOT HIM IN THE HEAD.
NO JUSTICE.
AND THE F.B.I. HAD NOTIFIED HIM THAT THERE A CONTRACT ON HIS LIFE.
AND I RECEIVED HIM IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
I TOOK A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM MY UNION.
GOT THREE OF MY UNION BROTHERS,
AND WE TRAVELED THROUGHOUT TEXAS WITH HIM, AS SECURITY.
THOSE WERE DIFFICULT AND TRYING TIMES FOR THE FARM WORKERS,
BUT HE NEVER GAVE UP.
"(speaking Spanish)," HE USED TO SAY.
MORE GENERALLY, WE LEARNED THAT TO EFFECTIVELY CHALLENGE
PREVAILING ECONOMIC FORCES,
YOU HAVE TO BOTH SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE INJUSTICE
AND COUNTER WITH YOUR OWN EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PRESSURE.
HE WAS A MASTER STRATEGIST.
ORGANIZING THE UNORGANIZED, AS WAS ALWAYS--
AND HAD ALWAYS BEEN HIS DIVINE SPIRIT
BEHIND JUSTICE FOR FARM WORKERS.
THERE’S NO QUESTION THAT CESAR CHAVEZ IS ALIVE AND WELL
HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT-- WHAT HE SAID,
WHEN WAS BUILDING THE UNION, “WE ARE NOT AFRAID.
“IF THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO BUILD A UNION,
"A FREE AND DEMOCRATIC UNION,
"AND A GOOD UNION FOR GOOD PEOPLE, THEN WE ARE WILLING TO DO IT.
"AS LONG AS THERE IS ONE OUNCE OF STRENGTH IN OUR OWN BODIES,
"THAT OUNCE OF STRENGTH WILL BE USED TO FIGHT FOR THIS GOOD CAUSE."
AND IN THE END, NO MATTER HOW MANY YEARS IT TAKES, WE WILL WIN.
WE FOUGHT IN SAN ANTONIO FOR 15 YEARS TO GET A STREET NAME
FOR CESAR CHAVEZ.
MAY 19th, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED...
SEVEN TO FOUR...
AND NOW, WE HAVE A STREET NAMED “CESAR E. CHAVEZ BOULEVARD.”
TWO INTERNATIONAL FREEWAYS!
I-35, I-37, EAST TO WEST!
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO DOWNTOWN,
ALL THE WAY THE WESTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, EL BARRIO--
WHERE I GREW UP-- TO 36th STREET.
IT TOOK US 15 YEARS.
PERSEVERANCE.
CESAR CHAVEZ BELIEVED IN PERSEVERANCE.
SI, SE PUEDE!
VIVA LA CAUSA!
VIVA CESAR CHAVEZ! (applause)
VIVA DOLORES HUELTA! (applause)
VIVA DR. KING! (applause)
VIVA ROSA PARKS! (applause)
SE PUEDE! >> (all) SI, SE PUEDE!
>> SE PUEDE! >> (all) SI, SE PUEDE!
>> THANK YOU. (applause)
>> THANK YOU.
I THANK YOU, JAIME, FOR THE ENCOURAGING WORDS.
EVERY TIME I HEAR JAIME--
AND I’VE HEARD HIM SEVERAL TIMES THIS WEEK--
HE MOVES ME.
WHEN YOU LIVED WHAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT, IT MOVES YOU.
IT STIRS YOU.
AND YOUR COMMITMENT GETS STRONGER.
SO, FROM TODAY ON,
REMEMBER THE GIFT I SHOWED AT THE BEGINNING.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO MAKE OUT OF THAT GIFT?
NOW, JAIME, UH...
HE DIDN’T TELL YOU, BUT JAIME WAS--
OR WELL, WAS-- BUT HE STILL PLAYS THE TRUMPET.
HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL TRUMPET PLAYER AND--
WHAT’S THE NAME OF THE GROUP?
FABULOUS-- >> SUNGLOWS.
>> THE FABULOUS SUNGLOWS!
SO, I WANT YOU TO GO GOOGLE "THE FABULOUS SUNGLOWS"!
HE WAS 17 YEARS OLD-- THERE'S-- OH, HE TOLD US SO MANY STORIES.
HE IS A FANTASTIC, PROFOUND PERSON.
AND JAIME ALSO LIKES ART.
WHERE IS ERIC PICARDO?
ARTIST ERIC PICARDO BROUGHT ME SOME ART,
AND I TOOK JAIME AND THE DELEGATION TO MY HOUSE LAST NIGHT,
SO HE COULD SEE THE ARTWORK THAT I HAD,
AND HE CHOSE THIS PIECE.
(softly speaking Spanish)
JAIME’S ALSO VERY SPIRITUAL.
CESAR WAS VERY SPIRITUAL.
AND THIS IS WHAT JAIME’S GOING TO TAKE BACK TO SAN ANTONIO
TO PUT IN HIS OFFICE.
SO IT’S WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I GIVE YOU THIS PIECE OF ART,
AND I KNOW THAT ERIC IS GOING TO BE THRILLED THAT HIS PIECE OF ART
IS GOING TO BE GOING TO SAN ANTONIO.
NOW, ONE THING THAT LEADERS DO--
WE PULL THE NEXT ONE UP!
AND ERIC, WE’RE PULLING YOU UP TONIGHT
BY GIVING JAIME THIS PIECE OF WORK, THAT YOU SO CREATIVELY PUT TOGETHER.
THANK YOU. (applause)
>> I, UH...
THE FIRST TIME I CAME TO MICHIGAN,
I WAS ABOUT EIGHT YEARS OLD, MY GRANDFATHER SAID--
MY MOTHER DIED WHEN I WAS THREE.
I WAS REARED BY MY GRANDPARENTS--
"(speaking Spanish)."
“WE’RE TAKING YOU, SON, WHERE MONEY GROWS ON TREES!”
WELL, SURE ENOUGH, I WENT TO TRAVERSE CITY, THE PENINSULA,
AND PICKED CHERRIES. (audience laughing)
MONEY ON TREES!
I HAVE-- I SPENT THREE BEAUTIFUL DAYS WITH THE FAMILY OF CESAR CHAVEZ,
AND I WANT TO GIVE A GIFT TO MY SISTER FROM THE HEART,
FROM THE HEART OF THE STRUGGLES--
THE FLAG-- THE RED FOR THESE STRUGGLES OF THE FARM WORKERS,
AND THE WHITE FOR HOPE AND THE EAGLE,
THE EAGLE FOR-- THAT REPRESENTS, UH, DIGNITY,
IN THE DARK DAYS, AND HOPE AND JUSTICE,
EVERY TIME YOU SEE THIS FLAG.
BUT IT’S NOT JUST A FLAG THAT I’M GIVING HER.
I’M GIVING HER A FLAG THAT WE ALL HERE TONIGHT--
LABOR, THE UNIONS, COMMUNITY, FAITH-BASED, STUDENTS--
WE ALL FLY WITH EAGLES!
WE’RE NOT PRAIRIE CHICKENS-- WE FLY WITH EAGLES!
(audience laughing) AND I WANT TO GIVE A FLAG.
I JUST LEFT TEHACHAPI WHERE BY BROTHER, CESAR CHAVEZ, IS BURIED.
I ATTENDED HIS FUNERAL-- 50,000 PEOPLE SHOWED UP.
PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
EVEN POPE JOHN PAUL II SENT CONDOLENCES--
PRESIDENTS, AND SO FORTH.
FIFTY THOUSAND!
WHEN HE DIED APRIL 23, 1993, IN HIS SLEEP...
BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU A FLAG SIGNED BY...
HELEN FABELA CHAVEZ, THE WIFE OF CESAR CHAVEZ.
(applause)
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH...
THAT, UH...
THIS IS THE NOT THE LAST TIME I’M COMING TO MICHIGAN.
THERE’S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN GOOD HANDS WHEN YOU HAVE A GREAT LEADER,
AN EAGLE, LIKE LUPE RAMOS.
SI, SE PUEDE. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
(indistinct speaking)
>> OKAY, ONE THING THAT I, PERSONALLY,
WANT TO DO IS RECOGNIZE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS
AND PAST ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WE HAVE IN THE HOUSE.
I TELL THE SAN ANTONIONS THEY HAVE TO MOVE TO GRAND RAPIDS,
BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE IT’S HAPPENING.
EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER.
EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER, AND I’M VERY PROUD OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
I KNOW GREG SUNDSTROM WAS HERE, AND HIS ASSISTANT, TOM ALMONTE,
AND I ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE OUR TWO STATE REPRESENTATIVES,
ROY SCHMIDT AND BRANDON DILLON-- WILL YOU STAND PLEASE?
AND THEN, WE HAVE A COUNTY COMMISSIONER,
(applause) CAROL HENNESSY,
AND WE HAVE FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER, MICHAEL SAK.
(applause)
DID I FORGET ANYONE?
OH, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND?
ELLEN. (applause)
WE WORK TOGETHER IN GRAND RAPIDS!
AND MISS RUTH KELLY, COMMISSIONER-- CITY COMMISSIONER.
(applause)
AND ALL OF YOU-- ALL OF YOU!
ARE SPECIAL, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
NOW, THE RECIPIENTS, PLEASE MEET US OVER HERE,
TOGETHER WITH THE, UH, SPONSORS--
THREE TOP SPONSORS-- THAT ARE GOING TO PRESENT THE SCHOLARSHIPS NOW.
PLEASE WALK OVER HERE.
RECIPIENTS?
COME ON, YOU’RE THE FUTURE LEADERS OF AMERICA!
YOU HAVE TO MARCH RIGHT NOW!
(applause)
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR AWARD-WINNERS.
AT THIS TIME, WHAT I’D LIKE TO DO IS RECOGNIZE, UM, OUR SPONSORS.
YOU KNOW, THE GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY--
WE ALL KNOW THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER
AND THAT WE CAN’T MAKE EVENTS LIKE THIS HAPPEN--
SCHOLARSHIPS, EVENTS THAT SUPPORT GRAND RAPIDS,
THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS AREA-- WITHOUT INDIVIDUALS,
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THE MANY BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS
THAT SUPPORT ALL OF OUR EVENTS.
SO, AT THIS TIME, I’D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR SPONSORS,
AND WHEN I CALL YOUR ORGANIZATION,
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED?
UM, FIRST ONE IS THE "AGUILA" AWARD.
THE AGUILA SPONSORSHIP LEVEL, WHICH IS AT&T.
JUST WAVE FOR AT&T. (applause)
TONIGHT, WE’RE SOARING WITH EAGLES,
SO ALL THE OTHER SPONSORS THAT ARE ON THE OTHER LEVELS,
WE’RE CHALLENGING YOU TO FLY TO THE TOP
AND YOU CAN BE AN AUGUILA-LEVEL SPONSOR IN THE FUTURE.
UM, OUR DIAMOND LEVEL.
FIFTH-THIRD BANK, WOULD YOU PLEASE WAVE?
(applause)
STATE FARM INSURANCE. (applause)
THE EMERALD LEVEL...
GRAND RAPIDS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION,
IN THE BACK BACK THERE. (applause)
McDONALD’S U.S.A. LTD. (applause)
McDONALD’S HERE.
TEAMSTERS LOCAL 406. (applause)
U.A.W. REGION 1D. (applause)
OUR SAPPHIRE LEVEL...
AQUINAS COLLEGE. (applause)
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN.
DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY. (applause)
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY. (applause)
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
KENT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
SANCHEZ INCOME TAX AND TRANSLATION SERVICES.
SARITA SANCHEZ.
(applause, cheering)
OUR AMIGO LEVEL... CHEMICAL BANK.
HUNTINGTON BANK. (applause)
MILLER-JOHNSON.
WEST MICHIGAN AVIATION ACADEMY.
WOOD TV 8.
OUR CONTRIBUTORS... GOODRICH THEATERS.
KENT COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.
SMITH HAUGHEY RICE & ROEGGE,
AND SPECIAL THANKS TO S.M.G.
AND ALSO SPECIAL THANKS TO THE DIVERSITY LEARNING CENTER
AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
AND ALL THE WORK THAT EVERYBODY DID THERE.
SO, AT THIS TIME, LUPE, ARE YOU DOING THE PICTURES?
‘CAUSE WE WANTED TO BRING UP THE RECIPIENTS.
THE, UM, SPONSORS TO GIVE OUT THE AWARDS?
OKAY.
SO, AT THIS TIME, WOULD THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM AT&T,
FIFTH THIRD BANK, AND STATE FARM INSURANCE--
AT&T FIRST.
>> GOOD EVENING, I’M RUTH GODDARD,
AND I’M VERY PROUD TONIGHT TO BE HERE REPRESENTING AT&T
AND THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE COMMITTEE
AND ALL THE WORK THAT IS DONE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
AND TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE ACHIEVED SO MUCH.
OUR FIRST SCHOLARSHIP WINNER TONIGHT IS SUJEY GARCIA.
SUJEY’S PARENTS ARE FROM MORELOS, MEXICO.
HER FATHER CAME TO WORKING IN THE FARMS OF CALIFORNIA IN THE 1980s.
THEY MOVED THE MICHIGAN IN 1995,
AND SHE ATTENDED UNION HIGH SCHOOL,
WHERE SHE GRADUATED WITH HONORS.
SHE IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
AND MAJORING IN BUSINESS,
AND HER G.P.A. IS A WONDERFUL 3.7.
(applause)
OUR SECOND WINNER TONIGHT IS LEIDY MARTINEZ RODRIGUEZ.
LEIDY WAS BORN IN CUBA,
AND LITERALLY ESCAPED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 2008.
THREE YEARS AGO, SHE SPOKE NO ENGLISH,
STARTED TAKING CLASSES AT GRCC’S WEST SIDE LEARNING CORNER,
AND IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
WITH PLANS TO MAJOR IN DENTAL HYGIENE.
HER G.P.A. IS AN OUTSTANDING 3.9.
(applause)
>> HELLO, I’M PATRICK LONERGAN, FIFTH THIRD BANK.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THE NEXT TWO SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS.
THE FIRST OF MINE IS MARICELA PIZANO.
MARICELA WAS BORN IN GUANAJUATO, MEXICO.
HER FATHER CAME OFF INTO WORK IN THE FARMS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
SHE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES WHEN SHE WAS 15 YEARS OLD,
AND SHE COULD NOT SPEAK ANY ENGLISH.
MARICELA GRADUATED WITH HONORS FROM GODWIN HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE LIVES WITH HER FOUR BROTHERS.
SHE IS CURRENTLY STUDYING BUSINESS AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
WHERE SHE HAS A G.P.A. OF 3.8.
CONGRATULATIONS, MARICELA.
(applause)
THE NEXT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT IS RIXY RUDRIGUEZ.
RIXY WAS BORN IN, UH, MARACAIBO, VENEZUELA.
SHE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES TEN YEARS AGO.
AT THAT TIME, SHE ALSO SPOKE NO ENGLISH.
SHE IS CURRENTLY STUDYING INTERIOR DESIGN AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
SHE IS MARRIED, HAS TWO CHILDREN, AND SHE’S EARNED A G.P.A. OF 3.9.
CONGRATULATIONS, RIXY. (applause)
>> HELLO, GOOD EVENING.
I AM MARISOL CRUZ, AND I’M WITH STATE FARM,
AND I AM VERY PROUD TO PRESENT CASSANDRA RUSSO.
AND...
CASSANDRA’S GRANDFATHER IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES FROM CUBA.
SHE ATTENDED UNITY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL,
WHERE SHE WAS A VERY ACTIVE VOLUNTEER.
SHE IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE FULL TIME,
WORKS TWO JOBS, AND MANAGES TO KEEP A 3.9.
(applause)
MY SECOND SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNER
IS GIANCARLO SOTO.
GIANCARLO WAS BORN IN CALI, COLUMBIA.
HE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES FIVE YEARS AGO, SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM.
HE ATTENDED GODWIN HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL,
AND GRADUATED WITH HONORS ON 2009.
THIS IS HIS SECOND YEAR AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
AND HE WOULD LIKE TO TRANSFER TO MICHIGAN STATE
TO STUDY BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING.
HE HAS A CURRENT G.P.A. OF 3.9.
(applause)
>> CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR RECIPIENTS.
WE’RE NEAR TO THE END HERE, AND I THINK THOSE OF YOU
WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US IN THE PAST
KNOW THAT WE SING THE TRADITIONAL "DE COLORES” SONG.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON’T KNOW,
“DE COLORES” IS A TRADITIONAL FOLK SONG
THAT IS WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE SPANISH-SPEAKING WORLD.
THE SONG WAS BROUGHT TO THE AMERICAS FROM SPAIN DURING THE 16th CENTURY,
AND IS ALSO USED AS THE ANTHEM FOR THE UNITED FARM WORKERS UNION.
SO, AT THIS TIME, WE WILL INVITE LOS BANDITS TO COME FORWARD.
AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND,
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TOUCH IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING.
WHEN AN EDUCATOR TOUCHES A STUDENT ON THE ELBOW
OR TOUCHES THEM ON THE BACK TO GIVE THEM ACKNOWLEDGMENT--
SO WHAT WE WANNA DO IS WE WANT TO CONNECT,
BE IN A CIRCLE AROUND YOUR TABLE,
BUT EVERYBODY TOUCHING TOGETHER AS WE SING THE SONG
AND JOIN THE BANDITS IN THE SONG OF “DE COLORES.”
YOU DON’T KNOW THE WORDS?
THEY’RE ON THE SCREEN.
(accordian and guitar playing "De Colores")
(singing "De Colores")
>> EVERYBODY!
(continuing to sing "De Colores")
>> VIVA CHAVEZ!
(cheering) (music)
(continuing to sing "De Colores")
(continuing to sing "De Colores")
VIVA CHAVEZ! (cheering, applause)
VIVA CHAVEZ!
VIVA CHAVEZ! (cheering, applause)
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR COMING,
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
QUE VIVA CESAR CHAVEZ,
QUE VIVA GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
QUE VIVA EL COMMITTEE TO HONOR CESAR E. CHAVEZ.
ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT--
>> CAN WE GET THE RECIPIENTS UP HERE FOR A PICTURE?
>> PLEASE SUPPORT OUR FUTURE STUDENTS WHOSE SCHOLARSHIPS,
AH, WILL BE GIVEN OUT EARLIER NEXT YEAR.
SO, WE’RE SELLING THE CDs FOR ONLY $10.
IT COMES WITH TEN SONGS.
NOBODY ELSE HAS HEARD ‘EM.
YOU’LL BE THE FIRST CUT-- IT’S WORTH EVERY PENNY.
IT HAS TO DO WITH JUSTICE-- IT’S A DANCEABLE KIND OF MUSIC.
IT’S DANCEABLE, AND IT’S REALLY ENJOYING,
‘CAUSE THERE’S HUAPANGOS, POLKAS, CUMBIAS, UH, RAP.
SO, WE URGE YOU TO PLEASE HELP US RAISE OUR FUNDS
AND PURCHASE ONE OF THESE CDs.
THEY'RE RIGHT OUT HERE, AS YOU GO OUT TOWARDS THE BACK OF US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> UH, THE TV CREW WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE STUDENTS WHO WON THE SCHOLARSHIPS--
IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME UP TO THE FRONT UP HERE,
WE'D LIKE TO GET SOME PICTURES OF YOU.
WE WANT TO MAKE YOU FAMOUS
AND GET YOU IN SOME PICTURES FOR SOME PUBLICITY SHOTS.