The Arizona César E. Chávez Holiday Coalition has organized the first Dolores Huerta International Women’s Day Luncheon & Awards Ceremony from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4 at the YWCA, 525 Bonita Ave. Tickets are on sale now. Go here for more ticket information.

What's exciting about the luncheon is Huerta's return to Tucson. She will be in attendance and helping to present awards to outstanding community leaders in our community. The coalition is soliciting nomination for awards "to be given to women in our community that embody the strength, dedication, and passion for social justice that Dolores Huerta exemplifies."

Nomination deadline is Friday, Feb. 14th. The following two categories will be considered:

The Consuelo Aguilar Esperanza Award — Given to a woman leader 25 years or younger that demonstrates strong activism, love of community, and represents great hope for our collective future.

Si Se Puede Legacy Award — Given to a woman leader that has 15 years or more of advocacy in our community, and a long term history of activism on social justice issues.

The Arizona César E. Chávez Holiday Coalition is asking that submissions be e-mailed to doloreshuertaluncheontucson@gmail.com and include a one to two paragraph summary about the nominee. Submissions for the Esperanza Award should include the age of nominee. All submissions will be reviewed between the aforementioned dates, and anyone is welcome to nominate local leaders.

More form the coalition:

Dolores Huerta is co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union, and one of the most prominent Latina leaders of our lifetime. She worked to organize the most vulnerable laborers among us in the 1960’s and 1970’s, winning basic rights for farmworkers and negotiating landmark contracts with growers. She went on to found the Dolores Huerta Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to community organizing, developing leadership skills, and encouraging civic engagement. Dolores Huerta has received multiple honors and recognitions, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her activism and civil rights work in 2012.

All proceeds for this event will go to support the Arizona Cesar E. Chavez Holiday Coalition, and help finance the annual Cesar Chavez March & Rally, as well as the Cesar Chavez youth conference in local schools.

For more information on the luncheon, go to its Facebook event page.

The César E. Chávez March & Rally will be held Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet at Pueblo High School, march east on 44th Street and south on South 6th Avenue to Rudy Garcia Park (formerly Rodeo Park) for rally, music and speakers. The march also has a Facebook even page.