March 30, 2015
GALEO Announces Essay Contest Winners and Will Hold a Celebration At Capitol for Cesar Chavez Day
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director, GALEO, jerry@2014old.galeo.org, 404.745.2580
Monday, March 30, 2015 (Atlanta, GA) GALEO is proud to announce the winners of the 8th Annual Cesar Chavez Day celebration at the Georgia State Capitol.
Since 2007, the GALEO Leadership Council has held an essay contest, and an award ceremony to increase awareness of the continual plight of farm workers and their contributions to America, while honoring civil rights legend Cesar Chavez.
Chavez’s leadership was critical to organizing farm workers and the founding what is today known as the United Farm Workers union. He remains one of the foremost Latino leaders in American history. His birthday, March 31st, is officially recognized as a state holiday in California, Colorado and Texas, and GALEO supports the movement to create a national holiday in honor of Chavez.
This year the essay contest received nearly 100 entries in English and Spanish. Entries were considered from as closeby to GALEO’s headquarters as Grady High School and as far away as Savannah and Valdosta. We are thrilled to announce the following winners (1st place winning essays are linked to the text of the essays posted on the GALEO website):
Adult Winners
First Place: Leri Argueta, Rockdale County
Second Place: Irene Diaz-Bazan, Gwinnett County
Third Place: Yasmin Julio, Clayton County
ESOL Winners
First Place: Bao Bui, Lowndes High School (Bao Bui happens to be an exchange student living in Valdosta)
Second Place: Karla Lorenzo-Benitez, Lowndes High School
Third Place: Mariacarmen Perez Ramirez, Lowndes High School
High School Winners
First Place: Josh Doman, Westminster Schools
Second Place: Jissel Beccerra Reyes, Johnson High School
Third Place: Virginia Kuester, Westminster Schools
GALEO will honor these winners, civil rights legend Cesar Chavez and the contributions of farm workers through a celebration at the Georgia State Capitol. Light appetizers will be provided.
WHAT: 8th Annual Cesar Chavez Celebration at the Capitol
WHERE: Room 605, Coverdell Legislative Office Building, 18 Capitol Square SW Atlanta, GA 30334
WHEN: Cesar Chavez Day, Tuesday, March 31, 2015 from 11:00am-12:00pm
Genny Castillo, Director of Caucus Services for the Minority Office at the Georgia General Assembly, will facilitate the event. Community speakers will include Ted Terry and Alejandro Lopez.
Ted Terry, Mayor of Clarkston, brings with him the perspective of the Georgia AFL-CIO, a voice for Georgia workers. Ted is the Georgia AFL-CIO State Campaign Director.
Alejandro Lopez, community leader and Certified Navigator of the Health Initiative, will share his life experience as a farm worker. Essay contest winners will read their winning pieces for the live audience. You are invited to join us for this humbling event!
THANK YOU CESAR CHAVEZ ESSAY CONTEST PRIZE SPONSORS! Telemundo Atlanta has generously provided an iPad mini and Atlanta Hawks tickets. BB&T and Taylor, Lee, & Associated have donated beats headphones for first place high school winners. First place high school winners will also receive tickets to Six Flags over Georgia donated by Six Flags Over Georgia. Alliance@Work is providing all winners a personalized coaching session on public speaking.
About Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO)
GALEO’s mission is to increase civic engagement and leadership of the Latino/Hispanic community across Georgia.
CORE BELIEFS: Inclusive, Non-Partisan, Diversity, Responsive
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