FWISD Slates Day of Service Honoring Chávez, Huerta
A rally, keynote presentation by civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, service projects and break-out sessions are how Fort Worth ISD students are observing the District’s inaugural day of service honoring Ms. Huerta and César Chávez.
On Monday, March 25, Fort Worth ISD will become the first school district in Texas with a student holiday honoring the lives and legacy of the Latinx leaders who worked 30 years advocating for the civil rights of labor workers. District employees must still report to work.
The District expects 400 high school students to participate in a César Chávez and Dolores Huerta Day of Service event at 9 a.m. at Tarrant County College- Trinity River Campus where Ms. Huerta is slated to speak.
“We will be in the presence of greatness,” Sherry Breed, FWISD’s chief of equity of excellence, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in a recent article. “We want [students] know, not only how to advocate for themselves, we want them to know there are heroes and ‘sheroes’ who are still with us. We want them to hear from them directly.”
The event will also include performances and presentations from Young Women’s Leadership Academy Cheer, North Side High School’s Mariachi Espuelas de Plata, My Brother’s Keeper, Girls, Inc. and Con Mi Madre.
Following the keynote, students have the option to participate in community service and leadership break-out sessions or board buses for service projects at Cook Children’s Medical Center, Presbyterian Night Shelter, Eastside Blossoms, Community Food Bank, and the Fort Worth Safe House. About 100 students are expected to volunteer.
Transportation to and from the day’s events at TCC is provided to all participating students.
“It’s not so much a day off for students, but a day for them to be of service to their community, their neighborhood or just helping out at home,” said Jacinto Ramos Jr., FWISD Board of Education trustee.
Luella Merrett Elementary School is inviting the campus community and school partners to participate in a 165-foot community mural project from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The mural, depicting literacy from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade, will be painted on the wall belonging to the Frank Kent Cadillac Body Shop in the 7600 block of Kermit Avenue. Trustee Norm Robbins is slated to kick off the Luella Merrett Community Project with remarks at 8:30 a.m.
“We are excited for our school community, local businesses, local churches and FWISD families to come together on César Chávez and Dolores Huerta Day to paint a beautiful mural,” said Principal Karelyn Roberts. “This collaborative community mural project will be a colorful symbol in our community of unity, the importance of education and the power of working together for generations to come.”
More than 62 percent of students in the Fort Worth District are Hispanic.
The Board approved a resolution in April 2018 establishing the annual observance honoring Mr. Chávez and Ms. Huerta the Monday before Chávez's birth date on March 31.
FWISD’s Day of Service is one of several local events being held to honor Mr. Chávez and Ms. Huerta this month across Fort Worth. All Tarrant County offices are closed March 25 in observance of Chávez. The Cesar Chávez Committee of Tarrant County will host its 19th solidarity walk and rally, Saturday, March 30 to honor the civil rights leaders.
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