Monica Cortez, freshman government major, is honored to help promote Cesar Chavez’s legacy and students letting people know the importance of staying in school, fighting for equality, and immigration rights like Chavez did through out his life.

When she started her college career, Cortez dreamed of being a doctor and volunteered at the Red Cross. But after exploring other majors, she switched to government and felt this major was a better fit to her goal of helping people.

“I thought to myself, I have good speaking skills and I would like to help people. Why don’t I speak for peoples’ rights?” Cortez said.

Two years ago Cortez went through a difficult time in her life when she found out her oldest sister, who was one semester away from graduating from Sac State, was sent back to Mexico because she was undocumented. Cortez then realized it was unfair to do treat someone like that who was only in the United States to have a better life and education.

Cortez said she relates to Chavez in many ways, especially when it comes to immigration rights. Cortez would like to make a difference for farm workers and migrant workers because sometimes they don’t know about their rights unless someone fights for or informs them.

Cortez currently interns at the Associated Students, Inc.’s Office of Governmental Affairs because she appreciates how it helps local community schools.

“My family and Chavez are my inspiration to major in government and maybe make a difference in immigrants’ lives like Chavez did,” Cortez said.

ASI Chief of Staff Maribel Rosendo-Servin and President Miguel Cervantes hosted the annual Cesar Chavez event on Saturday to continue to let people know about Chavez’s legacy and how he worked with migrant workers.

“One of the biggest things Cesar Chavez left was to use education in his legacy incorporating it for the benefit of our country,” Rosendo-Servin said.

Woodland resident Lourdes Ochoa worked in the fields and remembers seeing Chavez when he would come to the fields to talk to the workers.

“I remember him being really nice and fighting strongly to get better rights for us field workers,” Ochoa said.

Ochoa said because of Chavez’s activism, workers received 10-minute breaks every two hours, which made a huge difference on hot, humid days.

Teresa Martinez, sophomore microbiology major from Sacramento City College, belongs to the MEChA club that discusses Chavez’s life and accomplishments.

Martinez and the MEChA club members went to the Mustard Seed School, which is a private school for orphanage kids between 3 to 15 years old. They told the children that education is the number one tool to succeed.

Blanca De SanPedro, sophomore dental major from City College and MEChA member, said the Chavez legacy shows it doesn’t matter how poor anyone is; anyone can become who they want to be. Chavez grew up poor and suffered much in his life, but the experiences made him stronger to continue to fight for his goals.

SanPedro said money is not the most important issue for helping a community; staying together to fight for each other’s dreams is key.

Viridiana Canada, sophomore criminal justice major, said there are 130 volunteers divided into 13 groups. Each group is assigned a leader who guides them on what community events they can hold in the city. Canada said the groups help the Salvation Army and the Sacramento Food Bank.

Canada is really proud to have helped recruiting volunteers for the Chavez event.

“I like helping the raza; plus, it really inspires me on all the things I do,” Canada said.

Eric Santana, freshman government major and ASI intern, contacts schools to have college students work with high school students in a project where both groups can work together and talk about Chavez.

“I feel really good about what I’m doing helping his legacy. A lot of people don’t know what he did and he was up there high with Martin Luther King,” Santana said.

Karina Yepez can be reached at [email protected].