Cesar Chavez's niece, Becky Chavez, and two men tied to the Disney film "McFarland USA" -- a former runner and a current actor -- were among special guests Friday at a gala "Celebration of the Arts in Honor of Cesar Chavez in Inderkum High School's theater. The event, a fundraiser for Inderkum's Safe and Sober Grad Night, featured an evening of music, dance, poetry, art, fashion and theatrical performance. The "McFarland USA" representatives were David Diaz, one of the original 1987 McFarland High School cross country runners depicted in the movie, and Ramiro Rodriguez, an actor who played runner Danny Diaz in the feel-good film about Mexican-American teenagers whose tenacity and heart led to a state cross country championship in 1987.
Performers at Friday's Cesar Chavez celebration included Mariachi Puente with special guest Dinorah, CoraSol, Calidanza, Teatro Espejo, the Zoot Suit dancers, Inderkum's High School Jazz Ensemble, and Natomas Charter School 4th and 5th graders. Maribel Lopez of Univision Channel 19 served as emcee. The event honors the legacy of Chavez, a farmworker, civil rights activist and labor leader who co-founded the United Farm Workers. A collage of photos from that celebration is posted below.
