March 28, 2016

The National Hispanic Council of School Board Members convened its Annual Nominating Committee via conference call on Thursday, March 17, 2016.  The Committee consisted of myself and two representatives from NHC Membership, Mr. Ruben Campos (IL) and Mr. Sylvester Vasquez (TX), both members of the Council.

Charged under the NHC Constitution and Bylaws the Committee affirmed unanimously that it would endorse only those candidates who were judged to be the most outstanding leaders to represent public education and the interest of Hispanic Students. 

The following slate of candidates represents those persons whom the Committee believes has the potential to do a truly outstanding job on behalf of public education, and would serve as excellent representatives of the National Hispanic Council:

• Chair-Elect                                                      Steve Corona (IN)
• Vice-Chair                                                       Lydia Hernandez (AZ)
• Secretary                                                          Jesus Rubalcava (AZ)
• Director, Southern Region                              Gloria Casas (TX)

The Hispanic Council Nominating Committee carefully examined the qualifications of each applicant for consideration as members of the NHC Board of Directors.  The Committee believes these candidates can provide capable leadership to NHC, and recommends them for election as NHC Officers and Regional Director.

The Hispanic Council Elections will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2016 from 10:30 am – 11:45 am, at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, Grand Ballroom E, in Boston, MA.

Respectfully Submitted,

Guillermo Z. López

Nominating Committee Chair and Immediate Past Chair

National Hispanic Council of School Board Members

Somos Independents is a national woman-led organization active in supporting experienced and qualified women in politics and in education.  Sometimes we see corrupt politicians endorse people they can manipulate and who have very little experience in educational matters. Unfortunately we see people who use school board positions for selfish political advancement instead of what is in the best interest of children attending our public schools.  Lydia Hernandez is not a person using positions for selfish reasons.  She began to actively get engaged because she has children attending these schools and she knows first hand the issues related to students. We have personally witnessed Lydia do a good job with schools and school board issues  -- not only as a Mother of children attending these schools, but as a concerned citizen of our community.   We believe moms and dads with children attending the public school educational system ought to be more active within the school board environment because they are the ones who know first hand what their kid(s) relay.  Kids are at the heart of the public school educational system, and experience matters.  Lydia has proven herself time and time again (as a school board member) with her proactive ideas that solve problems before they even happen.  The passion she has put into our community will be an asset to the National Hispanic Council.

April 7, 2016

My name is Catherine Miranda and I am currently serving as an Arizona State Senator for Legislative Disctrict 27. This letter is to submit my full recommendation for Lydia Hernandez as she applies for the National Hispanic Council of School Boards-Vice Chair position. I believe that Lydia’s history at the board speaks highly of her work ethic and passion, but would like to reiterate it with additional support.  

Lydia has been a school board member for 12 years. Locally, she has served as a Board Member of the Cartwright School board since 2003; during which she has held the positions of Board President, Vice President, and clerk. During her time at the Cartwright School Board she has received many accumulated hours and certificates in board governance credit hours. I full-heartedly believe Lydia to be an integral part of the Maryvale and Cartwright communities because of the impact I have seen her cause; her tireless work to leveraging resources and bring the best practices in order to implement necessary changes to move the districts and communities forward has helped many families and inspired countless others to emulate her drive towards betterment.                                 

In addition to her experience as a school board member, Lydia has also served in the Arizona House of Representatives representing the aforesaid communities. Lydia is without a doubt ready to take on a leadership role on the NHC and will surely create an impact due to the depth of knowledge she has gained over the years and her passion of helping to develop Latino leadership through board governance programming at the national level.  

 Sincerely,

 

 Senator Catherine Miranda

We are very happy to see the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) union endorse Sec. Hillary Clinton! 

American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.

Here is their endorsement:

ENDORSEMENT OF HILLARY CLINTON

WHEREAS, the members of the American Federation of Teachers play a critical and active role in our democracy; and

 

WHEREAS, the AFT, its affiliates and its members have rededicated ourselves to reclaiming the promise of America for all our children, families and communities; and 

 

WHEREAS, the 2016 presidential election, like any other presidential election, provides an opportunity to elect a president who shares our vision for America; and 

 

WHEREAS, traditionally, the endorsement is decided in two phases: For the primaries, the AFT executive council, which is elected by the convention delegates to represent the full membership, makes endorsement recommendations. For the general election, our convention chooses our candidate; and

 

WHEREAS, in considering an endorsement for president, the AFT considers which candidate shares our values, has the support of our members, and is strong and electable; and 

 

WHEREAS, toward this end, since February 2015, the AFT has engaged our members in a variety of ways on both the issues and the candidates, has conducted two polls, has held two town hall forums, has established the "You Decide 2016" and the "You Got Schooled" websites, has conducted research on where each candidate stands, and has invited all candidates to complete a questionnaire and meet with our executive council; and 

 

WHEREAS, Hillary Clinton has spent her entire career, both in the private and public sectors, working to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to climb the ladder of success; and

 

WHEREAS, Hillary Clinton has a proven record in leading the fight for high-quality healthcare, including proper staffing levels; for high-quality public education for all, starting with our youngest children; was an original co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act; defended public service workers who came to our nation's defense on Sept. 11; and has a deep and long record on economic and social justice issues—from voting rights to immigrant rights to women's rights to worker rights—earning a 100 percent AFT voting record during her time in the U.S. Senate; and

 

WHEREAS, Hillary Clinton has pledged to help build an economy that produces good jobs and rising wages, and will work with educators, telling the AFT, "It's just dead wrong to make teachers the scapegoats for all of society's problems. Where I come from, teachers are the solution. And I strongly believe that unions are part of the solution too"; and

 

WHEREAS, the stakes are critically high in this election, when corporate-backed politicians want to preserve today's status quo—a rigged, trickle-down economic system—and to do that, they want to eviscerate unions; and

 

WHEREAS, these politicians know that unions give working people power at the bargaining table and the ballot box; and

 

WHEREAS, in a scientific poll conducted in late June 2015, 79 percent of members who can vote in the Democratic primary support a primary endorsement, and, by more than a 3-to-1 margin, those members prefer Hillary Clinton; and 

 

WHEREAS, the AFT has received resolutions from several affiliates urging the executive council to endorse Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination; and 

 

WHEREAS, the 2016 election campaign is already well underway and an endorsement now will enable the AFT to help shape the debate and drive an agenda to reclaim the promise of America; and

 

WHEREAS, Hillary Clinton is a tested leader who shares our values, is supported by AFT members, and is prepared for a tough fight in order to champion the interest of students, families and communities:

 

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers endorses Hillary Clinton for president in the Democratic primary; and

 

RESOLVED, that the AFT and its state and local affiliates commit to engaging and mobilizing our 1.6 million members, their families and their communities to reclaim the promise of America and to help secure the Democratic nomination for Hillary Clinton.

 

(2015)

Please note that a newer resolution, or portion of a resolution, may have superseded an earlier resolution on the same subject. As a result, with the exception of resolutions adopted at our most recent AFT convention, resolutions do not necessarily reflect current AFT policies.

- See more at: http://www.aft.org/resolution/endorsement-hillary-clinton#sthash.qgBkFRpu.dpuf

It appears the Roosevelt School District is not listening to community member Ricardo Gallego with regard to computer theft concerns.  Taxpayers have a right to know that their dollars are not being wasted. Gallego has provided the district with evidence here that supports his concern or by clicking: https://www.docdroid.net/5sBSDyP/complaint3.pdf.html

Mr. Gallego writes:

My name is Ricardo M. Gallego.  I'm a community member, former employee of the Roosevelt School District #66 and former member of the Phoenix Union High school District governing board. As a board member at PUHSD, overrides were necessary to fully fund the district. During my employment at RSD #66, several override elections took place as well because funds were extremely limited. As an employee at RSD, I saw a lot of waste in Food Services Dept. Pilferage was a common occurrence with janitorial supplies and as a member of the Maintenance Dept., there too I saw a lot of items purchased by district p.o.'s that ended up in an employee's home. I have been tracking an employee in the Technology Dept. by the name of Jorge Custodio. I have presented incriminating evidence to the Roosevelt School District' Technology's Dept. supervisor , Mr. Nathaniel Hawkins and Superintendent Koba.

On Monday, January 25, 2016, I called Mr. Nathaniel Hawkins at his personal line and left a message. On Tuesday January 26, Mr. Hawkins returned my call and I advised him I wanted to report an employee of computer equipment theft, hardware and software. We agreed to meet on Wednesday January 27, 2016.

On Wednesday January 27, Mr. Hawkins and I met and I presented several documents, these documents are labeled as follows:

1)    A W9 form from the Tempe Elementary School District, to provide technological services using RSD software.

2)    A request form to add Mr. Jorge Custodio to Tempe School District vendor list.

3)    A flyer produced at RSD, using RSD equipment, by Mr. Jorge Custodio for his friend Julio Toro. Opie Amado witnessed the flyer production.

4)    A sign of an orphanage, in Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico where Mr. Jorge Custodio installed two RSD computers loaded with RSD software. Two telephone numbers and the name of the person that accepted the two computers.

5)    Picture of the two computers Mr. Jorge Custodio installed at the orphanage. As I presented this particular picture to Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Hawkins immediately identified computers belonging to RSD. I drove to Sonoyta on Saturday January 23, 2016 to retrieve the two computers from the orphanage and was informed by an employee, computers had been disposed of that morning.

6)    The model and serial number of a lap top also at the orphanage in Sonoyta. Model no. JQ4JXG1 Serial no. 42938633233.

7)    Monitor View Sonic Model no. VS12915, Serial no. RMH101202180.

8)    Monitor E Machines Model no. 500g, Serial no. MLASA50V13829.

9)    Monitor Dell Model no. E171FPB, Serial no. MX05W540466343621C3V.

Mr. Hawkins expressed to me an investigation would be launched immediately and he would keep me informed as new developments took place. On Monday February Vt. 2016 I spoke with Mr. Hawkins and also with an officer of the PPD. At that time I shared the same information to the officer from PPD as I had shared with Mr. Nathaniel Hawkins.
Later in the week I spoke with Mr. Hawkins and informed me the case had been referred to Mr. Mark Widman. I didn't speak with Mr. Widman.

On Monday February 22, 2016 I met with Superintendent Koba. During our meeting I identified myself and asked Superintendent Koba if she knew the nature of my meeting with her. She responded by telling me it was about the report I had made to Mr. Nathaniel Hawkins to which I said yes. She assured me there was an ongoing investigation against Mr. Jorge Custodio because of previous reports by other persons and that the evidence I presented to Superintendent Koba and Mr. Hawkins would be very helpful in their ongoing investigation. Superintendent Koba expressed to me members of the technology dept. wanted to testify and a meeting with the PPD would take place but it never took place because the investigating officer failed to show. I asked Superintendent Koba to make sure such interviews with the employees and the investigator from the PPD took place. Superintendent Koba also expressed to me a retired person from RSD called a technician from the technology dept. requesting a service call because the retired person's computer was malfunctioning. When the technician arrived at the RSD retired person's home she quickly identified the RSD tags on all components of the computer and that the retired person had said Mr. Custodio had supplied the computer.

On Tuesday February 23, 2016 I met again with Superintendent Koba at which time I returned a computer sold by Mr. Custodio to Rosario Medina Alejos of Indio, CA.

Superintendent Koba accepted the computer I retrieved from Indio CA. and took pictures of all components along with model numbers and serial of monitor, cpu and keyboard. Monitor had an RSD tag number11016157. After our meeting with a PPD officer and Superintendent Koba, I was told by Superintendent Koba and the PPD officer they didn't have enough evidence to prosecute.

Larry Nolen was a teacher in an Arizona school district for 25 years and a member of the teacher's association for at least 15 years.  He was also a past President of Pendergast Federation of School Employees for 8 years, but also served as Vice President of the federation for 4 years.    

Larry Nolen has met with Martin in the past as a representative of the union to discuss how the district was going. According to Larry Nolen, Arizona State Senator Martin Quezada more than likely violated open meeting law as a member of the Pendergast governing board when Quezada sent text messages to Nolen about a teacher that was supposed to be discussed in private. 

See photos of Larry Nolan's text messages below:

The Attorney General’s Office has established the Open Meeting Law Enforcement Team (OMLET) to handle inquiries and conduct investigations and enforcement proceedings relating to complaints of violations of the Open Meeting Law. Investigations are conducted when OMLET receives a signed, written complaint that describes conduct that, if verified, would constitute a violation.  Open Meeting Law Complaint Form

If you are a public body, you have to comply with OML. In Arizona, the Attorney General created the Open Meeting Law Enforcement Team (OMLET) who is charged with investigating allegations of OML violations. Under Arizona law, each violation of OML is subject to[2]:

1.  a $500 fine;
2. attorney’s fees;
3. removing the responsible party from office;
4. fees for the AG’s investigation of the OML violation claim; and
5. invalidation of any action taken in violation of OML[3]

Read more: http://charitylawyerblog.com/2013/04/26/open-meeting-law-basics/#ixzz455W83wYw

Gabriel Molina used to work for Empire Metal Products until he started blowing the whistle on mistreatment of undocumented workers in a metal shop where union organizing is frowned upon.  Even worse is how coworkers were allowed to use the racial slur "Wetback" and/or bring in knives that had a Nazi swastika on the handle of the knives.  Molina stated that Sal Farina, owner of Empire Metal Products, Inc., was conveniently firing and hiring undocumented immigrants so that they could not take advantage of their vacation benefits and/or overtime benefits.  Allegedly, the metal machine shop was also forcing workers to take vacation days on specific days because of so called "black out days" when they were forced to work.  According to Gabriel Molina, Empire Metal Products would get angry when Gabriel needed to take his mother to chemotherapy and/or support his wife when she was having a baby or other medical-related issues.  Bottom line was that Empire wanted their workers to work despite medical emergencies that occurred in workers' families.

After Molina was constructively fired, he went to the EEOC to file a complaint, and the EEOC gave him booklets to pass out to the Empire Metal Products workers since discriminatory practices and abuse were being reported.  When Gabriel Molina passed out the booklets to Empire Metal Products, the owner Sal Farina had his lawyers file an injunction against Gabriel Molina in Maricopa County, Arizona, Case Number CV2016-05184.  Molina's last day working for Empire Metal was on March 14, 2016, when a supervisor told him to clock out for a mandatory meeting.  Gabriel Molina said he should be on the clock if he has to attend a mandatory meeting.  While they were waiting for the mandatory meeting to begin, Molina's wife and daughter were at the clinic for illness and Gabriel told his supervisor that he needed to support his sick family.  Since they were not paying him to stick around for the mandatory meeting, he needed to support his sick family. 

Sal Farina denied all of Gabriel Molina's allegations, but when asked if he knew of undocumented workers working at Empire Metal Products, Inc., he put the blame on the people who do payroll and said he did not know.  Gabriel Molina disagrees and said Farina does know and this is how exploitation of undocumented immigrants have been allowed to occur at Empire Metal.

As of April 5, 2016, Empire Metal Products shows a pattern of retaliation against Gabriel Molina's son who was suspended for using their bathroom too much.  See photo.

A hearing date will be set for Case Number CV2016-05184 where we will be following up on this story with regard to discriminatory practice charges made by Gabriel Molina and the retaliation he feels he is receiving by Empire Metal Products. Union organizers have been contacted as a result of exploitation and will continue to help the Molina family.    The Molina family filed a complaint with the EEOC, OSHA (since employees are getting burned by lack of safety equipment on the job),and other agencies.

Here is the Answer made by Gabriel Molina as he defends himself against the injunction filed by Sal Farina and Empire Metal.

ANSWER

Defendant asks the Court to dismiss the Employer injunction.  Defendant has a son working at Empire Metal Products, Inc. and sometimes transportation is required to take son to and from to work. Empire Metal Products is filing an unreasonable injunction against Defendant because the Defendant was merely passing out pamphlets given to him by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to pass out to fellow workers because employee rights are being violated.  No threats or harm was conducted to Jennifer Castillo by Defendant.  The Defendant was merely warning her how the Sal Farina, owner of Empire Metal Products, Inc, was blaming Jennifer for his hiring of undocumented immigrants instead of accepting ownership and blame on his own accord for having knowledge of it.

3/14/2016         At 4’o’clock, I was asked to clock out for a manager’s meeting. I waited in the break room for over an hour while off the clock. While waiting in the break room, I received a call from my wife that she was ill and that she could not handle the kids. I went and informed Steve that a former employee by the name of Victor was waiting to see if he had his job back. Steve stated that, he could wait. At 5:15, I was called into the “meeting” and it was about a 5minute meeting where Sal stated that he was very happy with the new changes that he had started and that the “idiot” was wanting his job back for the 5^th time this year. Sal stated that “might as well, he has been doing this for 10 years”

When the meeting was over, I approached John and asked why are you guys keeping me here when I was told to clock out at 4. John responded with, “It’s like your salary but not and your like a supervisor but not” I did not want to argue so I left the meeting as I was already off the clock. On my way home, I received a call from Sal to come back to the office to talk. I went back to the office and spoke with both Sal and John. John was stating that he did not know why he told me what he said. John left the office and had Steve come into Sal’s office. Steve stated that he had me clock out due to not wanting overtime.  I was ready to go home and expressed that my wife was ill and needed me home so we would need to figure this out tomorrow. When I got home, my wife was very ill.

    On 3/15 @ 5:45 am, I called Steve and informed that I was not coming in because my wife and daughter were very sick and I needed to take care of them. He said I needed to call Sal and I told him that I was told I needed to call him as he is the manager and that was what I was doing.

In the afternoon, I had time to think about what was going on and I messaged Sal informed him of the issues I was having and he said that he was too busy because he was working too hard. I did not receive any other response after that.

On 3/16 @ 9:22 am, I received a message from Sal stating that the issue was handed over to John and that he would make John available to meet with me at 12:45. I responded back to Sal stating Really? John does not have the authority to make any decisions.

At 12:45, I met with John. When I arrived, Sal had Willie in his office as a bodyguard and said that I would be meeting with John in the back office. In the meeting with John, I was asked a series of questions, Why, did I walk out? Why was I a no call, no show? When trying to explain myself, I was told to shut up.  I stated to John, that I do not understand how they want me to conduct myself professional with them, when they do not act professional themselves. I also stated to John that as a man, I don’t know how to conduct myself when talked to like that, when normally if someone talked to me, there would be an altercation.

I chose not to continue with this conversation with John and asked why did they even have me there? John responded with, this is the last chance for me to be employed there and that I would not be able to manage anyone, that I would be going back and taking orders and told what to do and when to do it. I felt that their reasons and scenario, they were giving me were all fabricated because I DID NOT walk out and I was NOT A No call No show. I left because I was clocked out and I did call in. I refused the offer and left.

3/16 @ 7:10, I received a call from Sal and we discussed my issues and he offered my job back with a supervisor title still, with better pay. Sal stated, money was no problem this was after he was contacted by DeeDee Garcia Blase – a national immigrant advocate, who is writing a story about employer allowing the derogatory slur of “wetback” to be used by employees.  Sal, kept pleading with me, stating” Put the shit back in the horse”.

In the conversation with Sal, I expressed to Sal that 16 years ago when I first started working with Sal, I felt I was mistreated and back than I did not have any knowledge on resources to help me, that back then I felt that I wanted to kill him but that was 16 years ago. I expressed that I did not feel that way anymore because I have grown a lot for than and that is why I was coming to him with my issues as he had suggested I needed to do. Our conversation ended on a good note, with that I had my job back and that I would be paid more. Per Sal, I just needed to come in the next morning so we could sort through  it all and to just stop the course that I had started in contacting my resource “DeeDee.” I told him I would see what I could do.

On 3/17 @ 9:00, I went to Empire to speak with Sal. Sal started to say that he did not feel comfortable working with me and how could he trust me. He tried to convince me that I did not want to work there. He offered me money to keep my mouth shut in the meantime while he sorted through things. I DECLINED the money and told him that I just wanted to be treated with respect and fair. I left.

On 3/18, I had a meeting at 9:30 at the Sheet Metal Workers Union with Pat Montroy. I was there for about 2 hours. I went to lunch at Big Mike’s Diner and went home at about 2:30. I never went to any employees house on 3/18/16.

On 3/19, John Steigmann came to my house and we talked. John was apologizing that he could not do anything because his hands are tied and that is how Sal wants it. John expressed that he hopes our friendship will remain after all this clears up. He told me he loved me, we hugged and he left my house. My wife was present during this whole thing.

On 3/21, I messaged Jennifer Castillo to thank her for her help and advise her to protect herself because per a recorded message Sal was blaming her for the hiring of the illegal immigrants. Just advised her to keep a journal because I was pretty sure she has had to do things that in her heart she knew were wrong. I never threatened her by any means.

At 2:30, I went to the EEOC to file a complaint and I was given information to hand to the Hispanic employees. My wife and I had a late lunch and when we were finished, my son and his friend were done working. I did not park in the parking lot of Empire, I parked at the company next door. As I was standing outside smoking a cigarette, one of the supervisor’s came up to me and we briefly talked. My son and his friend came out and we left.  I went to James house and left EEOC material with his wife. I did not make any threats to her or towards James.

Today is Cesar Chavez Day.  And it could be an opportunity for Rosario Dawson to signal healing beginning with an apology to Dolores Huerta who worked side by side with Chavez.  On March 28, 2016, I wrote about how Puerto Ricans Ought To Be Careful Attacking Chicana Mexican American Heroes like Dolores Huerta in light of scathing open letters and negative view points against our hero.   Chavez was a strong union leader and labor organizer dedicating his life to improving treatment, pay and working conditions for farm workers.  In 1962 Cesar founded the National Farm Workers Association, later to become the United Farm Workers - the UFW and was joined by Dolores Huerta and the union was born.

An apology by Dawson to Huerta would be a sign of respect and a signal towards healing if she does so.

Dawson could have picked up the phone to call Dolores Huerta regarding differences in political opinions, but instead she chose to be used as a tool for the Bernie Sanders campaign in writing an open scathing letter. For the record, Dolores supports Secretary Hillary Clinton, but so does Rep. Luis Gutierrez from Chicago, IL. Gutierrez who also wrote an open letter to support Hillary, yet, received no open criticism from Dawson.

In 2014, Rosario chose to play Dolores Huerta in a Cesar Chavez movie.   The Cesar Chavez movie is a biography of the civil-rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez, and it highlighted Dolores’ association in working with him, too.   But playing Dolores in a movie should not entitle Rosario to wag her finger against our Civil Rights Chicana hero, and since she was open about her criticism toward Dolores, she should expect open criticism in return.    The same sentiment goes for Latino Rebels who penned a story titled: “Dolores is Wrong.”

Though Mexican Americans represent the lion share of the entire Hispanic population pie, we continue to fight for legal immigration reform for all ethnic groups and backgrounds who do not receive automatic citizenship or privileged amnesty the Puerto Ricans and Cubans currently receive.  Rosario should understand why hardcore and staunch advocates of legal immigration reform cannot forgive Bernie Sanders “nay” vote when he voted against reform in 2007 because millions of us were marching in support of it.  Bernie also voted to protect the minuteman vigilantes.  3 years later a young Mexican American girl was killed by a minuteman murderer in the State of Arizona – the state Cesar Chavez was born.   Though Bernie voted in support of a stricter immigration policy in 2013, I believe he reversed his opinion later on because he knew he needed the Latino / Hispanic vote and his continued record of anti-immigration would destroy his chances as a formidable Democratic candidate.

Bottom line:  Bernie Sanders’ previous anti-immigration record where he sided numerous times with the Republicans who were against a much needed reform (under the clearly broken immigration system we experience today) would have given the Republican Party fuel or fodder to point out Bernie’s immigration record.  And if a voter is inclined to forgive Bernie for his legal immigration reform sins in the past, then Republicans would ask for that same forgiveness from Hispanic or Latino voters.  According to Think Progress, “Sanders’ position on immigration has been called “complicated” and he has been criticized by immigration activists for supporting the idea that immigrants coming to the U.S. are taking jobs and hurting the economy, a theory that has been proven incorrect.”

FOX News Latino states:

After appearing in "Chavez," which opens Friday, Dawson said she was "very much encouraged" to produce a story about Huerta. "I did so much research about her and it was just impossible — a lot of the stuff that we filmed didn't even make it into the cut," she said.

Starring Michael Peña in the title role and America Ferrera as his wife, Helen, "Cesar Chavez" follows the Chicano activist as he builds the United Farm Workers union and eventually forces growers to sign contracts to better the working conditions of mostly Latino field laborers.

Though it appears Dawson is encouraged to produce a story about Dolores Huerta, she will be met with fierce opposition in light of her scathing open letter against our heroine.  Chicana Mexican Americans instead want a genuine actress to play the role of Dolores that embraces a true respect and reverence of her ... but it begins with an apology from Rosario to allow healing to begin.  We would like to see healing begin this Cesar Chavez Day.

"Chavez left a legacy as an educator, environmentalist, and a civil rights leader. And his cause lives on. As farmworkers and laborers across America continue to struggle for fair treatment and fair wages, we find strength in what Cesar Chavez accomplished so many years ago. And we should honor him for what he's taught us about making America a stronger, more just, and more prosperous nation. That's why I support the call to make Cesar Chavez's birthday a national holiday. It's time to recognize the contributions of this American icon to the ongoing efforts to perfect our union." – President Barack Obama, March 31, 2008

Bel Hernandez is the President / CEO of Latin Heat Media with over 25 years of experience advocating for Chicanos as well as other Latin ethnic groups within the entire Hispanic population.  She writes:

I think this is a terrific and positive idea from my good friend David Damian Figueroa. If you have taken a photo with Dolores Huerta show your support of her by sharing it on social media #‎ISupportDoloresHuerta.

A little about David Damian Figueroa: He is the former AVP of Government & External Affairs for Frontier Communications. He is the former Vice President of Strategic Development and Communications for MALDEF where he was charged in developing strategic partnerships with donors and in developing the organization’s public profile.

Yesterday, Figueroa wrote a heartfelt note via FB and said:

#DOLORESIGOTYOURBACK. I rarely ever post my political opinions, write negative stuff about other people, or use blame and shame tactics in social media. I like to focus on things and ideas that hopefully inspire others. But Rosario has really pissed me off. Dolores Huerta has been such a major influence in my life and I respect, admire and love her with all my heart. She is like a mother figure to me and always has had my back. She calls me her 12th child and I love her dearly....it hurts me to know that someone she cared for and helped so much betrayed her in print. I am dumbfounded by how passionate folks are in writing all this horrible stuff about my dear friend on social media.....disregarding her body of unmatched work for over 6 decades. But when it comes to registering voters, feeding and clothing the homeless and, marches, organizing, mentoring and so many other selfless acts those folks are nowhere to be found. It takes hard work and sacrifice to create social change and Dolores has been doing this tirelessly and with no complaint. If Rosario disagreed with Dolores, she could have called her to say I disagree with you Dolores. Plain and simple. Why Rosario chose to go to such lengths to TRY to take down Dolores just baffles me. One thing for sure, is that I have Dolores' back. Dolores is taking the high road by not returning the dark energy she received. That act in itself shows the kind of woman she is. She would never go after someone she mentored and cared about. I hope one day that Rosario calls Dolores to mend things up. Her open letter has divided many Latinos and that is not good for our community. Rest assured that Dolores legacy is fully intact and her spirit will live always through those of us that have been so blessed to call her a friend. She is the BEST friend anyone could ever have.

As a result of David's idea, below are some of the people who are chiming in to his  #iSupportDoloresHuerta drive.

Brooke Olive who knows both Dolores Huerta and Rosario Dawson chimes in on the scathing letter by Rosario in a public Facebook post.  She writes:

Again, w/o link that makes it hard to share: I have thought about how and whether to respond to Rosario's open letter to Dolores. I have met Rosario and her mom, and like them a lot and have deep respect for both of them. I also know, love, have traveled with and have the luck to have Dolores as a mentor and friend. I don't love the tone of this article. But it's a start. And I haven't talked to Dolores about what I'm saying here.

Dolores' legacy is hers to do with as she wishes. And not supporting Bernie Sanders in no real way diminishes it. Dolores has been in the streets and fields and electoral politics for 60 years, and has an honest disagreement, based on her deep experience, with Bernie's record and qualifications for president. She is also a loyal person, and Hillary has been there for farmworkers consistently for decades. That is significant and important.

Playing Dolores in a movie, with whatever sincere and diligent background research was done to get that right, does not entitle Rosario to wag her finger at Dolores.

I am saddened when anyone who has been an activist for a few years, maybe even a decade or two, and who has never been a full time organizer (as I was for 10 years and Dolores has been for over 60 years), takes it upon themselves to lecture someone who has given every day of 60+ years creating and fighting for social justice.

As the article says, when D started registering Latinos to vote, and when she stood in the fields of California, and hundreds of other times, her life and liberty were on the line. Celebrity does not give that right; it does impose a great responsibility, and I can read through the lines in the "Open Letter" that Rosario may well have thought she was taking that responsibility to show that not all Latinas are supporting Hillary.

Of course Dolores is not always right; she'd be the first to tell you that.

But how you approach an elder with disagreement is key. I've been know-it-all to Dolores in the past and am still so ashamed of myself. But I NEVER did it in public.

Isn't it hard enough for Latina leaders already, without a young courageous leader attacking an elder?

I'm so saddened that Rosario - head of Voto Latino - chose to publicly attack Dolores' integrity.

None of us has any idea what integrity means until we have walked in Dolores' shoes all those decades. I have worked and traveled with Dolores a lot and know just a little what hard decisions and choices she must make daily, to go where called, to work a room until 1 am and then be back up for a 5 am interview, then to give diplomas and congratulations to the indigenous leaders -- Spanish speaking immigrants -- graduating from her organizer institute in the Central Valley, to miss family events, to take risks, and then attend sunrise mass. No one has more integrity and more genuine sense of service than Dolores. No one.

And not all of Rosario's so-called "facts" are facts... Note for example that while the immigration bills Bernie voted against were less than perfect (as any bipartisan bill is), we needed those reforms then, there has been nothing better - either side of that is not a "fact," it is a political assessment. People are allowed to have contrary political assessments, but please don't call them "facts."

Disagreements and substantive conflict are good. But Rosario, you could have done better. You could have called Dolores. You could have suggested a joint article that would flesh out the different positions. You could have done a joint video or interview or panel, that showed how Latinas in leadership can differ on substance while remaining in solidarity and collaboration. But you wagged your finger and called her a tool of the establishment.

You will someday feel ashamed of that hubris and rude, impersonal, attacking "open letter" Rosario. I'm sorry you did it. I hope you fix it.