Watsonville honors residents with Cesar Chavez awards

The annual event was hosted over a zoom call Tuesday evening

WATSONVILLE >> Watsonville residents and organizations on Tuesday were honored by The Friends of Watsonville Park and Community Services and the City of Watsonville for serving the community during the 19th annual Cesar Chavez Community Awards.

Assemblymember Robert Rivas, who chairs the state assembly’s agriculture committee, set the tone for the awards in an opening address.

“Chavez fought and was the voice for some of the most vulnerable workers and families, not only in California but across the country. The work he did to advance farmworker rights, was really a fight for human rights,” Rivas said. “It’s been inspiring to see the response from this community, from Watsonville, to the Pajaro Valley … From the onset of this pandemic, we have seen examples of people, of community organizations, stepping up to volunteer, donate anything and all that they can and could, to help out. I want to thank and certainly celebrate all those being recognized, who have done so much and who will continue to do so much to make this a better place for everyone, especially our most vulnerable.”

Frank Martinez, a 17-year-old Watsonville resident, was one of three honored with the Young Person award. Martinez volunteers with Digital NEST — a Watsonville based community organization — and has been dancing with Estrellas de Esperanza, a local Mexican folk dance group, for nine years.

“I kind of get this from my parents… since they always tell me to go in, do whatever is needed. They’ll support me in anything that motivates me, or I feel is something that is needed in the community,” Martinez said Tuesday night. “I just want to ask the community in the future, to look for a problem or something that they could solve, or help out within the community.”

Crystal Salazar was also chosen for a Young Person award. Salazar volunteers her time with Empower Watsonville, a youth-led organization aimed at reducing teen substance abuse in the Pajaro Valley.

“I am so glad we have so many young people, and so many wise people in Watsonville that we can learn from and I really hope I inspire many other children in the Watsonville community as I grow older,” Salazar said during her acceptance speech.

This year’s Cesar Chavez school award was given to The Alianza Charter School. The school was honored for its bilingual curriculum and emphasis on social justice.

“I’m truly honored to receive this award on the behalf of our students, teachers, staff and the whole Alianza community,” Veronica Aguilar, Alianza Charter School principal, said. “Nothing is possible without our amazing Alianza team, that works together for the success of our students who are working so hard to become bilingual and biliterate.”

The following residents and organizations were honored with the following Cesar Chavez Community awards:

• Young person: Yuliana Urrutia, Crystal Salazar and Frank Martinez.

• Adult role model: Kymberly Lacrosse, Emmanuel Navarro-Ortiz, Eduardo Marin and Miguel Orejel.

• School: Alianza Charter School.

• Youth-serving organization: Revolunas.

• Business: Santa Cruz Community Credit Union.