March 31, 2022, marks the federally recognized Cesar Chavez Day in honor of the late civil rights and labor activist Cesar Chavez. Throughout the month of March, Adelante is honoring and recognizing the legacy of Cesar Chavez.
Chavez, born in Yuma, Arizona, was best known for his work as a labor activist. He brought specific attention to the working and living conditions of farm workers, particularly in the western United States. It was in this spirit of advocacy for farm workers and the underrepresented that Adelante was founded in 1979 by a group of dedicated community members in rural Surprise and El Mirage, Arizona. They saw that the healthcare needs of local farm workers were going unmet.
These concerned citizens decided to join forces and apply for federal funding to build a community health center in El Mirage. The following year, a grant was awarded to establish the first health center for what was originally known as Clinica Adelante. In the decades since, Adelante has grown to offer patients affordable health care of the highest quality at nine locations throughout Maricopa County and surrounding communities.
While today’s focus has grown to serving a larger community, our humble beginnings formed the roots of our belief in sustainable health care and our ongoing mission to provide for those in need of quality health care. Our history within the farm worker community remains a part of who we are as an organization.
In recognition of all that Chavez brought to the farm worker community, all of Adelante’s locations will be closed March 31, 2002, in honor of Cesar Chavez Day.