Local photographer donates Cesar Chavez portrait to school
Cesar Chavez Elementary School located in the East L.A. neighborhood of El Sereno, celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a special ceremony followed by a party on April 1.
To help them celebrate, Gardena-based photographer Gary Miyatake o f Toyo Photography, along with former California State Assemblyman Paul Bannai, presented a photographic portrait of labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez to the school.
Local photographer donates Cesar Chavez portrait to school
Cesar Chavez Elementary School located in the East L.A. neighborhood of El Sereno, celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a special ceremony followed by a party on April 1.
To help them celebrate, Gardena-based photographer Gary Miyatake o f Toyo Photography, along with former California State Assemblyman Paul Bannai, presented a photographic portrait of labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez to the school.
The photo portrait taken one month before his death in 1993, depicts a smiling Chavez standing with his hands in the pockets of his black United Farm workers Union jacket, a pose that contradicted every image that most people had of the labor leader who was famous for his passionate advocacy for farm workers.
Miyatake said he was there to present a great gift to the school from which the students could draw inspiration and that they could enjoy forever.
“It’s really nice to be able to help people and help build morale, self-esteem, confidence, in young children,” Miyatake said.
Following the ceremony, which also honored parent volunteers and school staff who were part of the school when it opened 10 years ago, was a fiesta on the playground blacktop featuring games, food, and a student-created art gallery honoring Cesar Chavez.
Heidi Acosta, principal of Cesar Chavez Elementary, said the entire event was a huge success that not only paid tribute to one of America’s great leaders, but also embodied the spirit that made Chavez such a household name.
“I thought it was fantastic,” Acosta said. “It was a demonstration of how a community working together with the school can really make something special. That was what Cesar Chavez was about: bringing the community together and this is what we have to be about in education: bringing the community together. That’s the only way were going to effect any change.”
