Feel Good Friday - Cesar Chavez Foundation

Today we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month and the work of Cesar Chavez by highlighting the Cesar Chavez Foundation.

Created by Cesar Chavez in 1966 and headquartered in Keene, California, the mission of the Cesar Chavez Foundation (CCF) is “to carry on Cesar’s life’s work of uplifting the lives of Latinos and working families by inspiring and transforming communities through social enterprises that address essential human, cultural and community needs.”

Cesar Chavez was a labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farmworkers Association which later became the United Farm Workers labor union. His motto, “¡Si se puede!” (“Yes, it can be done!”), guided him through his work as a community organizer and champion of social change, the environment and consumer rights. 

CCF is a self-sustainable fund. They raise money through various social enterprises that are then used to provide services to target underserved communities. Their current areas of focus include housing and economic development, education, multimedia communications, and preserving Cesar’s legacy. 

The Housing and Economic Development Fund builds and manages high-quality, service-enhanced, affordable housing for working families and seniors across California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. That includes over 5,000 multifamily units and more than 300 single family homes. The Education Fund supports after school and summer school programs as well as develops culturally relevant curricula for teachers to use. More than 110,000 students have been served through these programs.

Radio Campesina is the flagship program of Chavez Media. It’s one of 14 digital radio stations CCF operates across California, Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia and it reaches over 1.5 million listeners! Most of the programs are broadcast in both Spanish and English. 

Since they began, CCF has invested more than $860 million in underserved communities. What a wonderful way to continue the legacy of Cesar Chavez. His life and work is also being preserved at the National Chavez Center in La Paz estate in Keene, California, which you can visit seven days a week.

If you’d like to support CCF and the work they do, there are some unique ways to get involved. You can request a speaker to come speak at your next event or shop for merch to show your support. You can also raise awareness of this organization on social media. Follow the Cesar Chavez Foundation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel. ¡Si se puede!