The Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools is hosting the annual Cesar Chavez essay contest. Beginning in January, we welcome students to compose essays to honor the life and vision of Cesar Chavez. Our event culminates around the time of Cesar Chavez Day when the top student entries will be honored for their hard work.
For more information, please explore the resources below and reach out to Brandi Fleming at bfleming@fcoe.org.
2025 Theme & Resources
“Si se puede!”
Education as Empowerment
Upload Completed Permission Slips Here
THEME OVERVIEW
Cesar Chavez (1927-1993), one of America's most influential civil rights and labor leaders, demonstrated that education could be a powerful tool for social change despite his own limited formal schooling. As founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW) union, he developed innovative educational programs that went far beyond traditional classroom learning, including the Fred Ross Education Institute for organizer training and various workshops on workers' rights. Chavez's distinctly service-oriented approach to education centered on the belief that knowledge gained should be knowledge shared, creating a ripple effect as farm workers learned not only about their own rights but how to educate and empower others in their community.
Reference:
Cesar Chavez Foundation, chavezfoundation.org