Cesar Chavez Youth Leadership Conference - Sierra College

HEAR to host Annual Cesar Chavez Youth Leadership Conference and Education Fair on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at Sierra College in Rocklin, CA.

Roseville, CA - The Hispanic Empowerment Association of Roseville (HEAR) will sponsor the 7th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Youth Leadership Conference and Education Fair for any 6th to 12 graders and their parents. The educational fair with have college recruiters and information designed to empower families to become stronger advocates for their children's education.

The Conference will take place on Saturday, March 31, 2007 from 9:00 AM to 3:45 PM at Sierra College located at 5000 Rocklin Rd. in Rocklin, CA., about 18 miles east of Sacramento – the State Capitol. 1,000 sixth to twelve graders attended last year and 500 parents. The event is free and pre-registration is not required but suggested. Pre-registration is available by downloading conference information at http://www.hear2000.org

The Conference began seven years ago in the Roseville City School District by Board Trustee, Rene Aguilera, and kicks off one of many upcoming Cesar Chavez State Holiday Events. Chavez was co-founder and president of the United Farm Workers, leading the union from the 1960s to his death at age 66 in 1993 and organized farm workers in several states. In 2000, Governor Gray Davis signed SB 984, asking that school districts give an hour of instruction in all schools around Chavez's March 31 birthday about the UFW founder's lessons on non-violence, self-sacrifice and social justice. Then, in the afternoon, students are to engage in some form of public service appropriate for their age and grade called the Cesar Chavez Day of Service of Learning.

“The Cesar E. Chavez Youth Leadership Conference supplements what most school districts do on or a round March 31 – his birthday and acts as a primer for learning”, said, Aguilera, also the conference coordinator, “We ask parents, students, educators and business and community leaders to come out and volunteer their time to teach and learn from each other on both days.”

Workshops for parents, students, educators and business and community leaders will include a seminar on student financial aid and scholarships and career information workshops including law, journalism, military, teaching, social welfare, art, music and dance, medicine, law enforcement and pro athletes.

The Conference will feature several notable speakers and presenters from the Sacramento area education community and national organizations such as the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Mexican American Legal Defense Education Fund, American G.I. Forum, La Raza Lawyers Association, League of United Latin American Citizens, Latino Issues Forum, California Latino School Board Members Association, United Farm Workers of America, Latina Leadership Network, Labor Council of Latin American Advancement, Hispanic Contractors Association, Society of Hispanic Engineer Professionals and the National Council of La Raza.

Media interested in attending should contact Cindy Lopes, BlueMarble Communications, 916-772-5365 or, on the day of event Rene Aguilera, 916-532-5998. For more general information on the Cesar Chavez Youth Leadership Conference and Education Fair, please contact HEAR at 916-782-2040 or go to http://www.hear2000.org

http://www.hear2000.org