The Cesar Chavez celebration returns to Grand Junction, honoring Latino culture

For the Cesar Chavez Celebration Committee, which organizes the event, it is not just about celebrating culture. Helping and supporting people of all races, backgrounds, gender and sexual identities is the main goal. 

“We believe in relationship building,” said Jose Luis Chavez, chairman of the committee. “Our country is divided. If people come in and see what our culture is, how beautiful it is and a lot of commonalities that we have, then maybe that divide will end up closing a bit.”

To honor the work of Cesar Chavez—a civil rights leader and labor activist who fought to improve the working conditions, predominantly for farmworkers—Jose wanted to cultivate an event that would support the community and offer help to anyone who needs support. The event welcomed vendors in Migrant Education, human trafficking services, mental health services and even a diabetic-friendly food truck.

When Cesar Chavez was young, he lived in a barrio called Sal Si Puedes: "get out if you can." 

“Can you imagine living in a place like that and thinking, am I ever going to get out instead of just being a prisoner?” said Jose Chavez. “Part of what we do when we bring people here is say if you’re stuck, we have people you can talk to.”

Jose Chavez, who is unrelated to Cesar Chavez, experienced his own hardship as a boy. In grade school, Jose was not allowed to use his first name and was punished for speaking Spanish. “I couldn’t go by Jose, so I was Joe from first grade through 12th,” he said. Jose didn't use his real name until college.

Later, Jose became a probation officer and worked directly with underserved children in the juvenile justice system. Being a man of color who had a difficult childhood of his own, Jose's mission was to build a more equitable system from the inside—and for the community he grew up in.

At Saturday’s event, Jose’s own committee honored him with the Cesar Chavez person of the year award, noting his work as a probation officer and ongoing efforts to build community-based relationships.

“My heart is the work that Cesar Chavez does,” said Jose. “I really want my community in Mesa County to follow that philosophy where everybody is trying to help each other.”

With a drive to empower others, activists with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition and former Colorado State Representative Joseph Salazar joined the celebration, bringing a message of unity.

“I see my gente as my gente, and when you’re my people. I love you,” said Salazar.

Honoring the work of Cesar Chavez and continuing his mission of giving to the community is important for the event’s organizers, who collected non-perishable food as a car show entry fee. The food will be donated to Child and Migrant Services in Palisade. 

Funds collected from selling Cesar Chavez event t-shirts are donated back into the community as well.