jennyoropeza The community center at Cesar Chavez Park will be officially named after the late state Senator Jenny Oropeza during a 3 p.m. ceremony Thursday at Cesar Chavez Park.

Oropeza’s husband, Tom Mullins, will speak at the dedication, the kickoff event in the 10th annual Cesar Chavez Day celebration presented by Councilmember Robert Garcia, along with community organizations Centro Cha and Centro Shalom.

Oropeza’s death last autumn cut short a life of activism and a political career that began as Student Body President at Long Beach State and included stints on the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education, the Long Beach City Council and the state Assembly.

Garcia sponsored the local legislation to name the Chavez Park facility the Jenny Oropeza Community Center. Garcia occupies the 1st District seat where Oropeza once sat—in fact, she swore him into office—and is also a former Long Beach State Student Body President.

“We are looking forward to honoring the great work of Senator Oropeza and everything she did to build this park when she was on the Long Beach City Council,” Garcia said in a statement released by his council office.

The Cesar Chavez Day festivities include music, performances, food, information tables, and activities for children and families. The event is free and open to the public.

“It’s so important that we remember and honor the struggles of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers,” Jessica Quintana of Centro Cha said in the same prepared statement. “That struggle continues for working people today, and this is one day to remember that.”

More information is available at: http://www.centrocha.org/

JENNY OROPEZA COMMUNITY CENTER DEDICATION AT CESAR CHAVEZ DAY • CESAR CHAVEZ PARK • 401 GOLDEN AVENUE • LONG BEACH • 90802 • 3PM TO 7 PM • FREE