César E. Chávez Memorial Plaza

The César E. Chávez Memorial Plaza transformed a small vacant piece of land between a rail road track and major streets in to a national showcase and center for community pride of the working-class residents of the City of San Fernando.  The creation of this plaza was an effort lead by community members that worked with local government to find funding for this project.  The City was awarded a grant of $155,000 through the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for the construction of the memorial. The Friends of the César E. Chavez memorial, an impromptu formed group of community members led a fundraising that raised $120,000 dollars to meet the additional costs for the project.  After three years of work, from concept to completion, the César Chavez Memorial was unveiled on October 22, 2004, before a crowd of 500 community members. The Memorial consists of a fountain, a bronze sculpture of Chávez, a sculpture of ten farm workers, and a 100 foot mural, placed in a 23,000 square foot park-like setting that together educates and provides an opportunity for reflection on the significance of Chávez's life. The Memorial is the largest and most intricate monument in the Nation that honors the great civil rights and labor leader, César E. Chávez.  The entire effort serves as an example of the abilities by both the community and local government, to create public space devoted to the interests of community members.