Article and photos by Mary Alice Murphy

Lynn Godoy Baca, LULAC Council 8003 president, moderated the evening's events on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, at the Western New Mexico University Mustang cafeteria.

Members of the Gaffney-Oglesby Marine Corps League Detachment 1328 posted the colors. Rev. Paul Moore of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and Council chaplain opened the evening with prayer.

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Jack Crocker welcomed those gathered. "It's my pleasure to present this welcome on behalf of Dr. (Joseph) Shepard and the leadership team at Western New Mexico University."

He said it was especially appropriate to have the event at the university, because "it's for education. Fifty-one percent of our students identify as Hispanic. We have educated and helped launch careers and leaders in the community. I have two children at Stout Elementary, where they have a chance to experience diversity." He read a quote from Cesar Chavez, who provided the running theme of the evening.

"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?" by Cesar Chavez.

Moore introduced the keynote speaker, Silver City Town Councilor Guadalupe Cano, who chose as her theme, "Remembering Cesar Chavez."

"She learned to use her voice to support those who were underrepresented," Moore said. "She is serving her second term as town councilor. Last year, she became a certified municipal official. She is also an outstanding member of the Western Alumni Foundation."

"It's an honor for me to celebrate the next generation of leaders," Cano said. "I am remembering Cesar Chavez and his legacy. He was born in Yuma, Arizona. His family had a farm and two grocery stores, which they lost in the Great Depression. He and his family moved to California and worked as migrant workers. He served in the Navy. When he returned to civilian life, he was hired by a community service organization to travel to support workers' rights."

Cano said when Chavez joined forces with Dolores Huerta they began a movement. Five years of strikes drew the interest of the U.S. Senate and Sen. Robert Kennedy.

Chavez used spiritual fasts to gain support. His first was 25 days long. He worked through non-violent activities to repeal or get passed government laws to support migrant workers. He died April 23, 1993, when he was in Arizona fighting for the Union of Farm Workers.

"He is the most well known Latino activist," Cano said.

"I was raised by a mother who was a professor at WNMU and a father, who was a drug abuse counselor," Cano said. "We children were expected to be activists. I wondered why we didn't eat grapes. I had tasted them elsewhere and liked them. When I asked my mother, she said: 'We don't buy grapes.'"

Cano said her mother sat her down and showed her a documentary about farm workers. "Chavez said it wasn't about grapes, it's about people. I still don't eat grapes."

She said she comes from a union family. "My grandfather was a union leader. He was very influential in my life. He told me to speak to support those that needed it."

Cano said when she was a student at Silver High School, they wouldn't sanction her going to a leadership conference for Latinos, but "Mr. Qui+