Tuesday, February 26, 2013

PUSD - Si, Se Puede Art and Essay Contest

In 2001 members of Latino Heritage, The Pasadena Latino Employees Association, and the Pasadena Latino Forum joined together to commemorate the life of César Chávez in Pasadena.  The first celebration took place at City Hall.  Henry Alfaro, then a reporter for KABC, was our emcee.  Other groups joined in and by 2006 there was a week long series of event commemorating Chavez and his work.  

In 2006, Sandra Macis, then principal of Madison Elementary School and a member of the Latino Heritage board, established a César E. Chávez Art and Essay Contest.  Over the years PUSD has become a strong partner  and the numbers of entries has increased.


This year we've changed the name and the focus of the Art and Essay Contest.  The Sí, Se Puede Contest now includes material that relates to Dolores Huerta.  They were co-founders UFW and the work was successful because of their different skills and presonalities.  

PUSD has passed resolutions recognizing the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Fred Korematsu, and Cesar E. Chavez.  It seemed a good opportunity to be more inclusive and include a woman to the list of those who have contributed to social justice. 



These are the quotes that we are using this year:

"In this world it is possible to achieve great material wealth, to live an opulent life. But a life built upon those things alone leaves a shallow legacy. In the end, we will be judged by other standards". 
        - César Chávez  

"I would like to be remembered as a woman who cares for fellow humans.  We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things". 
        - Dolores Huerta 

Here are the pertinent dates:
JANUARY 2013 
 1/29       
Essay and Art Contest begins; packets are distributed.

MARCH 2013 
 3/4         
Teachers select top essay and/or art entry for their classroom and turn it in to the LDRT/CRT. 

 3/8         
Schools submit top Essay/Art per classroom to the LADD Office by 4 p.m. 

 3/13       
Judging at the District 

 3/14            
Notice of winners sent to schools. 

 3/18-3/22 
Schools commemorate Sí, Se Puede Awards assembly for school winners.