The  grandson of the late Cesar Chavez  is currently striving toward his grandfather’s  success. Cesar L. Chavez spoke to students about his grandfather’s legacy at a recent luncheon in Santa Fe Springs.

Cerritos College students who made the president’s list attended the event.

The younger Chavez said that even though they are of a different generation,  he shares the same vision as his grandfather. He also said that this generation cannot stop there but must increase the peace and stop the violence in neighborhoods and communities as well.

“My grandmother Helen Chavez always encourages me by saying our family theme: Si se Puede!, meaning ‘Yes we can,’ ” he said. “Yes we can do anything that we can put our minds to. If we only believe in ourselves that we can.”

Cerritos social work major Corrina Salazar said she learned persistence is the key from the event.

 “On going encouraging to proceed through whatever obstacles that may try to discourage, only makes and brings a better feeling of success,” she said. “Push forward no matter what.”

Chavez was a civil rights leader who organized migrant agricultural workers and led a famous grape boycott in the second half of the 20th century.

Chavez founded and led the first successful farm workers union in U.S. history. When he passed away on April 23, 1993, he was president of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO.

The annual luncheon to honor Chavez has taken place each of the past five years.

Chavez’s grandson said that despite his grandfather’s legacy, he didn’t look at him as a cultural leader but simply as a grandfather.

“I do not look at my grandfather as if he was a hero or a leader that changed history, but I looked at him as just simply my grandfather,” he said. “I was young while he was giving speeches and going to different communities to let his voice be heard for his people.”