Cesar Chavez &

Service-Learning

"Real education should consist of drawing the goodness and the best out of our own students. What better books can there be than the book of humanity?" -Cesar E. Chavez

Cesar Chavez Bio

Cesar Estrada Chavez, Senator Robert F. Kennedy noted, was "one of the heroic figures of our time.."

A true American hero, Cesar was a civil rights, Latino, farm worker, and labor leader; a community servant and social entrepreneur; a crusader for nonviolent social change; and an environmentalist and consumer advocate.

For more than three decades Cesar led the first successful farm workers union in American history, achieving dignity, respect, fair wages, medical coverage, pension benefits, and humane living conditions, as well as countless other rights and protections for hundreds of thousands of farm workers. Against previously insurmountable odds, he led successful strikes and boycotts that resulted in the first industry-wide labor contracts in the history of American agriculture. His union's efforts brought about the passage of the groundbreaking 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act to protect farm workers. Today, it remains the only law in the nation that protects the farm workers' right to unionize.

The significance and impact of Cesar's life transcends any one cause or struggle. He was a unique and humble leader, in addition to being a great humanitarian and communicator who influenced and inspired millions of Americans to seek social justice and civil rights for the poor and disenfranchised in our society. Cesar forged a diverse and extraordinary national coalition of students, middle class consumers, trade unionists, religious groups, and minorities.

Cesar Chavez-a common man with an uncommon vision for humankind-stood for equality, justice, and dignity for all Americans.

In 1993, his family and friends established the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation to educate people about the life and work of this great American civil rights leader, and to engage all, particularly youth, to carry on his values and timeless vision for a better world.

-- The Cesar E. Chavez Foundation 2008.

The Cesar E. Chavez Foundation has embraced Service-Learning as a central community-based education methodology for achieving impact on the youths of today. Nationally many Service-Learning projects are focused on the Core Values of Cesar Chavez and use his life as an inspiration for the students to work towards real change in their communities. The Cesar Chavez Foundation provides many Service-Learning based education tools on their website including Community Needs Assessment and Project Planning guides and historical materials.

Cesar Chavez Foundation Website

Cesar Chavez Service-Learning Materials

Cesar Chavez Foundation - Service-Learning Resources Page - The Chavez Foundation provides in-depth service-learning tools for educators in the event that you want to build your service-learning project from the ground up. These links are inlcuded separately below with additional information and resources specific to Florida.

10 Core Values of Cesar Chavez

Cesar Chavez "Inspired" PowerPoint -Developed by Wendy Doromal, Timber Creek High School, Orange County, FL, lead teacher of the Service-Learning Academy.

Chavez History

Chavez Timeline

Chavez Service-Learning Process

Community Needs Assessment Guide

Education of the Heart (Inspirational Chavez Quotes)

Problem Posing Process

Project Planning Form

Service-Learning Survey

10-unit Chavez Classroom Curriculum with Youth Councils - Developed by Youth Service America - California.

Miami Student Identified S-L Projects - Students in the Miami-Dade School District indentified their S-L projects according to the 10 Core Cesar Chavez Values.

Miami Teacher Identified S-L Projects - Teachers also in the Miami-Dade School District identified their Service-Learning projects according to the Chavez Core Values.