Business operations at Cal State San Bernardino and its Palm Desert Campus will be closed Monday, April 1, in observance of the state holiday commemorating the birthday of the late labor leader, César Chávez.

The holiday falls during the university’s spring break of the spring semester; no classes are in session April 1-4. However, except for the holiday, all campus administrative offices are operating throughout the rest of the week. University Police will remain on duty while the campus is closed.

Spring semester classes will resume on Monday, April 7.

Prior to the holiday, Chávez’s life and legacy will be recognized when the Hispanic Coalition of Small Businesses, Jesse Valenzuela and the Latino Education and Advocacy Days at Cal State San Bernardino present the 2025 César E. Chávez Memorial Breakfast beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 29, at the university’s Santos Manuel Student Union South.

The theme of the breakfast is “Telling Our Stories — Our Way, Our Voice: Latino Representation in the Arts, Media, and Education.” While sold out, the event will be livestreamed at Cesar Chavez Breakfast (XIII Annual) on YouTube.

Pepe Serna, one of the longest working actors in Hollywood, will be honored with the Inaugural Hispanic Coalition of Small Business (HCSB) Lifetime Achievement Award. Bel Hernandez Castillo, founder and CEO of Latin Heat Media, and Enrique Castillo, producer, co-director and writer, are the Padrinos de Honor for the event.

In addition, Richard Montañez, the focus of the movie “Flamin’ Hot” and creator of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos; actor and director Richard Yinguez; and singer and composer Little Willie G. will be special guests at the breakfast, which will also mark the return of the Jesse Valenzuela Scholarship.

Serna, who was the Padrino de Honor for the LEAD Summit XIII and is also an activist, artist and motivational speaker, was born on July 23, 1944, in Corpus Christi, Texas. With a career spanning more than five decades, he has appeared in more than 100 films and 300 television shows. He is perhaps best known for his role as Angel Fernandez in the iconic film “Scarface” (1983), where his character met a gruesome end in a memorable scene. His documentary, “Pepe Serna: Life is Art,” and his book of the same title, highlights his contributions to Hollywood and the representation of Latino actors in the industry. This documentary is available on streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.

The annual breakfast honors, remembers and celebrates César Chávez, the late civil rights and labor movement icon, who is best remembered for his contributions to agriculture labor laws and social justice reform, and for founding the United Farmworkers of America in 1962.

The César E. Chávez Memorial Breakfast serves as a platform for community members, advocates and leaders to come together in solidarity, reflecting on the progress made and the work that lies ahead in the fight for farmworker rights and social justice. The event also inspires attendees to engage in advocacy and take action on broader issues impacting communities today.

Former California Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation in 2002 making Chávez’s birthday a state holiday — this year, the holiday falls on Monday, March 31 — to promote service to the communities of California in honor of the late labor leader’s life and work.