Promoting Diversity Award 2011

The city of Glendale and the Glendale Chamber Foundation strive to promote an environment that places a high value on individual dignity, respect and professional growth. Collectively, we recognize the contributions reflected in Cesar Chavez’s vision.

Cesar Chavez’s leadership helped shape the nation’s views and allow for the promotion of social justice for all individuals. Each year, the city of Glendale and the Glendale Chamber Foundation recognize the accomplishments of Maricopa County residents who contribute significantly to creating a diverse and inclusive community.

Award Nominations Instructions

Using 12-point font, attach a one-page cover sheet with the nominee(s) name, address and a daytime phone number. Provide two character references and their phone numbers on the cover sheet. Please answer the questions below using no more than two pages.

Question #1: What has the nominee(s) accomplished that helped to promote diversity
in Maricopa County?

Question #2: What personal beliefs or qualities of the nominee are consistent with those Cesar Chavez lived by and advocated?

• Click here to download a PDF nomination information form.
  

Two Ways to Submit Your Applications:

Submit your nomination by email to: dlogan@glendaleaz.com

Mail your nomination to:
City of Glendale,
Attn: Don Logan,
Diversity Administrator
5850 W. Glendale Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85301

Nominations must be received (or postmarked) by 5 p.m. March 11, 2011.

The recipient of the award will be honored at the Cesar Chavez Celebrating Diversity Breakfast.

Breakfast is March 31, 2011 at the Glendale Civic Center, 5750 W. Glenn Drive.

Individual tickets are $30 and a table of 10 can be reserved for $250. To purchase tickets, call the Glendale Chamber of Commerce at 623-937-4754.

The proceeds from the event are used and/or distributed by the Glendale Chamber Foundation to fund diversity and tolerance education in Glendale area schools and to promote diversity in businesses in keeping with the spirit of Chavez.  César Chávez was a valued leader and hero who worked tirelessly to secure  dignity, respect, fair wages, medical coverage, pension benefits, and humane living conditions, as well as countless other rights and protections for the nation’s farm workers.   

Keynote Speaker

Helios Education Foundation president and CEO Paul J. Luna will give the keynote address at the March 31 event. Like Chávez, the keynote speaker’s career has been devoted to serving others.

Luna formerly served as president of Valley of the Sun United Way where he led a community-wide fundraising effort approaching $50 million. Under his presidency, Valley of the Sun United Way was consistently recognized for its community initiatives on early childhood education, youth workforce development and domestic violence intervention.  Currently, Luna heads the Helios Education Foundation.  Its vision is to see that every individual in Arizona and Florida has the opportunity to attend and is prepared to succeed in postsecondary education.  Since its inception in 2004, the Helios Foundation has invested millions of dollars in education-related programs.  It is the largest Arizona and Florida philanthropic organization focused solely on education.

About Cesar Chavez

Cesar Estrada Chavez (March 31, 1927 - April 23, 1993) was a Mexican American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist. In 1991, Cesar Chavez received the Aguila Azteca (The Aztec Eagle), Mexico’s highest award presented to people of Mexican heritage who have made major contributions outside of Mexico. On August 8, 1994, Cesar Chavez became the second Mexican American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. This award was presented posthumously by President Bill Clinton. His birthday is now recognized as Cesar Chavez Day, a state holiday in eight US states. Parks, cultural centers, libraries, schools, and streets in cities across America have been named in his honor.