¡Viva la Causa! ¡Huelga! ¡Lucha! Learn about the fight for farm labor rights through a celebration of activist and labor leader, César Chávez. Enjoy music and dance, along with art and garden workshops. Guest performers include the Tierra Blanca presenting a theatrical presentation of the life of César Chávez, the Santa Monica Youth Orchestra, Y Arriba Mexico and DJ Ani and DJ Sol. Workshops include the ¡Si Se Puede! Collage, ¡Huelga! UFW Flag, and Semillitas: Urban Gardening. Visitors can view the César Chávez display of our LA Starts Here! Exhibition. Chicana art icon Margaret Garcia will be signing copies of her catalog “Margaret Garcia: Arte para la gente” at LA Tienda. Local children’s book publisher Lil’ Libros will offer story time and an art Station. Participating community organizations include EmpowerLA and Pacoima Beautiful. Food and beverages by Tamales Veracruz y Más will be available for sale.
Schedule:
12:00pm – DJ Ani and DJ Sol
1:00pm – Ballet Folklorico Y Arriba Mexico, Storytime with illustrator Jose Ramirez, Margaret Garcia signing copies of her catalog “Margaret Garcia: Arte para la gente” at LA Tienda.
2:00pm – Tierra Blanca Dance Company (Cesar Chavez Theatre), and Storytime with illustrator Jose Ramirez
2:30 pm – Storytime with illustrator Jose Ramirez
3:00pm – Santa Monica Youth Mariachi
Activities:
Join LA Plaza’s Education Team for hands-on workshops throughout the day. Students (Grades K-12) can pick up an activity guide at the welcome table and collect a stamp at each workshop area. Collect all 4 stamps and receive a special giveaway!
¡Sí, Se Puede! Collage | Lawn
Civil rights activist, Dolores Huerta, is known for her dedication to fighting for the justice of our communities. “¡Sí, Se Puede! (Yes, We Can!)” is one of the many phrases she used to rally people together to boycott, protest, and march for farmworkers’ rights. Make a collage dedicated to her activist work using seeds, soil, and watercolors.
¡Huelga! UFW Flag | Patio
Signs, posters, and flags carried in marches, protests, and boycotts communicate important messages through the use of words and symbols. Explore the meaning of the United Farm Worker’s logo as a symbol of unity to la causa and a symbol of resistance to unfair labor conditions. Create your own UFW flag using symbols and slogans.
Semillas y Tierra Urban Gardening | Garden
Farmworkers care for and harvest the foods we eat. Learn how to care for your own semillas (seeds) by planting a bush bean seed and learning how to care for it at home. This workshop is facilitated by Urban Gardener and Cocinera, Marlene Aguilar.
Children’s Giveaway
Mi papá es un agrícola (2023). Author: J. Roman Pérez Varela. Illustrator: Jose Ramirez. Publisher: Lil’ Libros
Where the fields meet the horizon, our harvesters gather the crops that fill our bellies, from sunrise to sunset. Told from the perspective of a proud son, this heartfelt and beautifully illustrated story illuminates the sacrifice and hardship that one father endures for his family.
The first 150 students (grades K-12) who collect a stamp at each of LA Plaza’s activity areas will receive a free copy of Mi papá es un agrícola (2023) by J. Roman Pérez Varela, illustrated by Jose Ramirez.
Lil Libros Arts & Crafts Station | Patio
Lil Libros Storytime | LA Starts Here!
Community Partners:
- Pacoima Beautiful, EmpowerLA and Metro Bike Share Program