Members of Locals 8599 and Local 675 in Southern California, along with the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), planted and cared for a community garden last weekend in honor of Cesar Chavez Day of Service.
The project was sponsored by Cultiva Los Angeles, LA County Supervisor from District 1 Hilda L. Solid, and the LA County Department of Parks and Recreation. The volunteers planted fruits, vegetables, and flowers in a five-acre community garden in South El Monte, Calif., and enjoyed a lunch together made with produce harvested from the garden.
The meal was prepared by formerly incarcerated people who are entering back into their communities through an organization called God’s Pantry.
Local 8599 Next Gen Coordinator Trisha Garcia said the day was made even more special because her mother joined in the volunteering. “We met so many awesome, welcoming people and we look forward to returning soon,” she said.
Cesar Chavez was an American labor leader and civil rights activist who, along with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union.