Broncos Honor Cesar Chavez Day Through Service at Moonwater Farm
The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) hosted a Cesar Chavez Day of Service at Moonwater Farm in Los Angeles.
The April 2 event brought together 24 dedicated volunteers—including students, staff, alumni, and faculty—for a full day of hands-on learning, community reflection, and environmental stewardship.
Moonwater Farm, co-founded by Plant Science Professor Kathleen Blakistone, is a thriving urban farm located in Compton that champions social justice, food equity, and sustainability—values closely aligned with the legacy of Cesar Chavez. Volunteers rolled up their sleeves to assist with wool processing, trenching, composting, planting seeds, weeding, animal feeding, and painting. They also had the opportunity to make tamales, observe a beehive up close, and taste fresh honey and nectar directly from the hive.
“The visit from Cal Poly Pomona volunteers brought so much energy and care to the farm," said Blakistone. “Days of service gather people across differences—grounded by places, connected by purpose. Working side by side, we remember that care for land and community is inseparable. In the shared labor of tending, repairing, or building, we witness our interdependence in real time. These moments remind us that civic duty isn’t abstract—it's relational, rooted, and ongoing.”
For many volunteers, the event offered their first-ever visit to a farm and a fresh perspective on food systems and sustainability. Camille McCurry, a food and science technology major, shared her experience.
“Urban agriculture helps bring food production back to our neighborhoods,” McCurry said. “The hard work becomes a shared, community practice that’s both fun and rewarding. I appreciated the opportunity to do work that’s meaningful and to know it’s helping others.”
Blakistone also emphasized the educational value of service learning.
“Classrooms can teach theory, but justice lives in practice,” Blakistone said. “Service learning creates space for students to move from ideas to action—learning through relationships, accountability, and the work of showing up. When grounded in community need and mutual respect, this kind of learning deepens understanding and begins to repair the separation between institutions and the people they serve.”
CCE’s ongoing partnership with Moonwater Farm exemplifies how civic engagement and service learning can create real world impact while strengthening bonds between the university and the communities it serves.
“Our collaboration with CCE helps strengthen our shared commons—offering a moment to navigate complexity through solidarity, relationship, and deed,” said Blakistone.
For more information on the Center for Community Engagement and upcoming opportunities to volunteer at a day of service, follow them on Instagram (@ccecpp) or visit their website.