PITTSBURG -- Cesar Chavez was a fighter for social justice with a simple creed using just three words, "Si, se puede" -- Yes, we can -- to describe an entire philosophy for achieving the impossible. He believed that out of many, we are one and that when you lift up one person, it strengthens the nation.

In the spirit of helping the legacy of Cesar Chavez live on, the city of Pittsburg is presenting the fifth annual Cesar Chavez Free Multicultural Celebration on Saturday.

Continuing the theme of "Marching from the past to secure our future," the event begins with a morning rally and march from Pittsburg City Hall that culminates with a celebration and fiesta at Marina Vista Elementary School.

When the Cesar Chavez Committee started the event, the idea revolved around education.

"If you asked youth about Cesar Chavez they had no clue who he was or what he did," said committee member Daniel Lopez. "So the main goal when we started doing this in 2012 was that we wanted to give an opportunity to the community to pay a tribute to this man and to educate the future generations coming up to the legacy of Cesar Chavez and the farm workers movement."

The goal is to get people involved in community participation and for that the multicultural event is targeted to everyone. This year the main focus was to find a good role model speaker who would reach youth and encourage them to continue their education past high school.

For that they went to Los Angeles and reached out to Iliana Perez. She was born in Mexico and immigrated with her family when she was eight. She navigated the system as an undocumented student for 18 years until she became a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient in 2013.

Perez is currently completing a Ph.D. and her research focuses on educational and occupational attainment of immigrant students, the effects of deportation on young adults and the economics of immigration.

"Iliana is a great role model for our youth as someone who followed Cesar's legacy with that simple creed 'Si, se puede,' " Lopez said. "We think Cesar's legacy is what inspired her to be a Hispanic breaking barriers in the United States."

The March 26 event begins with a rally when city officials will say a few words. The march follows and the committee is inviting clubs, organizations and church groups to join in.

At Marina Vista Elementary School the formal celebration will include Perez as the keynote speaker and a variety of entertainment that includes Ballet Folklorico from Pittsburg High School, Ritmo Mexicano ("quebradita" dance group) from Pittsburg High School, Spoken Word and MC's, both young and old.

Once completed an informal fiesta will take place outdoor with the Alex Moreno Band, Andrés Soto and the Bay Breeze, piñatas, food, healthcare providers and nonprofit organizations' booths.

"The informal fiesta gives people a chance to socialize and get to know each other and to get information from different health care providers there," Lopez said. "They can find out more about what's going on in the community throughout the year."

Though Cesar Chavez's movement took place more than 40 years ago his legacy lives on through present day protests and rallies, and for Hispanics who are breaking barriers in business, politics and the arts.

The Cesar Chavez Celebration reinforces Chavez's beliefs as it focuses on the community, Lopez said.

"Cesar knew that when you lift up one person, it enriches a community, it bolsters our economy, strengthens our nation, and gives meaning to the creed that out of many, we are one," Lopez said. "As we celebrate his life, we are reminded of our obligations to one another and the extraordinary opportunity we are each given to work toward justice, equal opportunity, and a better future for every one of our sisters and brothers."