A Night to Honor Courage, Legacy & Community

Sep 04, 2025, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Warriors for justice dinner

Join us in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 4th for the Warriors for Justice Awards Ceremony & Dinner, hosted by the César Chávez Commemorative Committee of the San Fernando Valley.

This unforgettable evening pays tribute to the life and work of César E. Chávez, celebrating the individuals who continue his fight for justice, dignity, and equality. Surrounded by community leaders, advocates, and visionaries, you’ll experience powerful stories, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to building a better future.

Knollwood Country Club: 12040 Balboa Blvd, Granada Hills, CA 91344, USA​

A Night to Honor Courage, Legacy & Community

Warriors for justice dinner

Sep 04, 2025, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Join us in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 4th for the Warriors for Justice Awards Ceremony & Dinner, hosted by the César Chávez Commemorative Committee of the San Fernando Valley.

This unforgettable evening pays tribute to the life and work of César E. Chávez, celebrating the individuals who continue his fight for justice, dignity, and equality. Surrounded by community leaders, advocates, and visionaries, you’ll experience powerful stories, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to building a better future.

Knollwood Country Club: 12040 Balboa Blvd, Granada Hills, CA 91344, USA​

Honoring Those Who Inspire Change

Alex Reza

Lifetime Achievement Award

Raised in a small farming community by farmworker parents who had minimal schooling, Alex A. Reza overcame his own fears to become the first in his family to attend college, driven by the conviction that education was the path to a better world.

After serving two years in the U.S. Army, he dedicated his life to teaching, spending 34 years as a social studies teacher at San Fernando High School. Alex taught a wide range of subjects, including U.S. History, Economics, and Chicano/Chicana Studies — all guided by a clear philosophy: “Every student possesses outstanding creativity and limitless potential.” His main goal as an educator was to shine a light on the injustices faced by working people and to inspire his students to achieve greatness and work for a more just society.

Veronica De Lara

Trailblazer Award

Veronica De Lara is a community leader born and raised in the Northeast San Fernando Valley (SFV). She is the eldest daughter of immigrant parents and is proud of her Mexican and Guatemalan roots. She has over ten years of experience working in the public sector alongside community members at the grassroots level. Veronica is a Senior Political Organizer at SEIU-USWW, where she strongly advocates for working families.

She has spearheaded SEIU-USWW's environmental justice campaign, which aims to prioritize airport workers' rights and fights for environmental protections at the intersection of the labor and environmental justice movements. Veronica is deeply involved in the community. She serves as a long-time member of the Cesar Chavez Commemorative Committee of the SFV, on the Board of Directors for Alcohol Justice and Pueblo y Salud, Inc., and previously served as the Vice President of the Arleta Neighborhood Council.

Mark Marquez

Committee MVP Award

Mark Marquez is the recipient of the Committee MVP award, a recognition of his outstanding commitment to our shared mission. Mark's extensive career and volunteer work have been driven by a lifelong passion for community and youth development.

His journey began with the 1968 high school walkouts, a pivotal moment that sparked his dedication to justice. Mark's commitment to young people is best exemplified by his career as a high school football and baseball coach from 1992 to 2008 at schools including Alemany, Sylmar, Montclair, and Notre Dame. For him, coaching was not just a job; it was about being actively involved in shaping the next generation of leaders.

In recent years, Mark has been a crucial and active part of the César Chavez Commemorative Committee. His contributions have been vital to the success of our initiatives. In 2024, he began volunteering with Pueblo y Salud, continuing his unwavering dedication to community service. We are proud to honor Mark Marquez for his tireless work and his invaluable contributions to our committee.

Alex Orozco

Labor Warrior

Alex has been working in education since 1996. Like many other educators, he began as a paraprofessional, working at Pacoima Elementary — where he met his wife — while attending Los Angeles Valley College. After earning his BA from Cal State Northridge in 2000, he began his teaching career at Madison Middle School as a history teacher. He later went on to receive his master’s in Education Leadership and Policy from CSUN.

As an immigrant child with little resources and living in a converted garage, Alex found refuge in school. He would spend his afternoons helping his teachers after school, which gave him insight into the world of teaching and the dedication that it took to be a teacher. Along with great teaching, Alex saw the joy in giving back. 

Honoring Those Who Inspire Change

Alex a. Reza

Lifetime Achievement Award

Raised in a small farming community by farmworker parents who had minimal schooling, Alex A. Reza overcame his own fears to become the first in his family to attend college, driven by the conviction that education was the path to a better world.

After serving two years in the U.S. Army, he dedicated his life to teaching, spending 34 years as a social studies teacher at San Fernando High School. Alex taught a wide range of subjects, including U.S. History, Economics, and Chicano/Chicana Studies — all guided by a clear philosophy: “Every student possesses outstanding creativity and limitless potential.” His main goal as an educator was to shine a light on the injustices faced by working people and to inspire his students to achieve greatness and work for a more just society.

Veronica De Lara

Trailblazer Award

Veronica De Lara is a community leader born and raised in the Northeast San Fernando Valley (SFV). She is the eldest daughter of immigrant parents and is proud of her Mexican and Guatemalan roots. She has over ten years of experience working in the public sector alongside community members at the grassroots level. Veronica is a Senior Political Organizer at SEIU-USWW, where she strongly advocates for working families.

She has spearheaded SEIU-USWW's environmental justice campaign, which aims to prioritize airport workers' rights and fights for environmental protections at the intersection of the labor and environmental justice movements. Veronica is deeply involved in the community. She serves as a long-time member of the Cesar Chavez Commemorative Committee of the SFV, on the Board of Directors for Alcohol Justice and Pueblo y Salud, Inc., and previously served as the Vice President of the Arleta Neighborhood Council.

Mark Marquez

Committee MVP Award

Mark Marquez is the recipient of the Committee MVP award, a recognition of his outstanding commitment to our shared mission. Mark's extensive career and volunteer work have been driven by a lifelong passion for community and youth development.

His journey began with the 1968 high school walkouts, a pivotal moment that sparked his dedication to justice. Mark's commitment to young people is best exemplified by his career as a high school football and baseball coach from 1992 to 2008 at schools including Alemany, Sylmar, Montclair, and Notre Dame. For him, coaching was not just a job; it was about being actively involved in shaping the next generation of leaders.

In recent years, Mark has been a crucial and active part of the César Chavez Commemorative Committee. His contributions have been vital to the success of our initiatives. In 2024, he began volunteering with Pueblo y Salud, continuing his unwavering dedication to community service. We are proud to honor Mark Marquez for his tireless work and his invaluable contributions to our committee.

Alex Orozco

Labor Warrior

Alex has been working in education since 1996. Like many other educators, he began as a paraprofessional, working at Pacoima Elementary — where he met his wife — while attending Los Angeles Valley College. After earning his BA from Cal State Northridge in 2000, he began his teaching career at Madison Middle School as a history teacher. He later went on to receive his master’s in Education Leadership and Policy from CSUN.

As an immigrant child with little resources and living in a converted garage, Alex found refuge in school. He would spend his afternoons helping his teachers after school, which gave him insight into the world of teaching and the dedication that it took to be a teacher. Along with great teaching, Alex saw the joy in giving back.