2026 MSU César Chávez & Dolores Huerta Commemorative Celebration

Theme:
The Hands that Feed Us:
Honoring Traditions through Repowerment – Timetzalimet

(We are Indigenous in the Nahuatl language)

Thursday, March 26, 2026
6-8 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.)
Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center
219 S. Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI

Celebration Information

Michigan State University is celebrating its 16th Commemorative Celebration on Thursday, March 26, 2026, honoring the legacies of local and national community leaders and organizers with a special on-campus dinner for MSU students, faculty, staff and local community leaders. The event recognized the brave leaders who created change and impact for farmworkers and Latinx communities, their history, challenges and progress in America. The theme for 2026 is The Hands that Feed Us: Honoring Traditions through Repowerment – Timetzalimet (We are Indigenous in the Nahuatl language).

Each year, the MSU, Greater Lansing and East Lansing communities gather on campus to honor the legacy of two of the most prominent U.S. labor leaders and civil rights activists, César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta. This event is grown from the strength of the Latino/e and farmworker communities and the allies who stand in solidarity to raise awareness of the contributions, hardships, issues, and obstacles both ongoing and newly surfacing.

For more information, contact the Office for Inclusive Excellence and Inclusion at inclusion@msu.edu or the César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta Planning Committee at msu-ccdh@msu.edu.

Registration

Registration is now available online for the 2026 celebration!

Once you register, you will get an email with your ticket(s) attached. If for some reason you are unable to attend, within the email, scroll down under “order summary,” and click the link to “view and manage your order online.” Here you can cancel your order. Note: If you cancel, it will cancel all tickets reserved under this order.

Parking is free with an MSU Employee Parking Permit. For Non-MSU visitors (non-students), parking will be redeemed at check-in through a QR code. Students are encouraged to take CATA bus lines 15, 18, 20, 25, 31, or 34. Additional parking available at Brody Hall (free on weekends).

Celebration Award Nominations

The César Chávez & Dolores Huerta Community Leadership Awards are an important part of the celebration. Nominations are now being accepted for the awards listed below. The winners will be recognized for their contributions at the celebration on March 26 at 5 p.m.

Descriptions can be found on the awards page.

Michigan State University Nominations:

• MSU Faculty or Academic Staff of the year (Plantando Semillas Award)
• MSU Staff of the year (Chavez Humanitarian Award)
• MSU Latine/x Grassroots Student Organization of The Year (Cosechando Raices Award)
• MSU Students (Aguila Award)

Statewide Nominations:

• Community Organization (Orgullo del Pueblo (Pride of Community/People) Award)

For questions, please contact Florensio Hernandez (herna159@msu.edu)