Adrian “Chief” Cazares, an 8th grader at Trautmann Middle School, stands out as an athlete - whether he’s running track or playing football or basketball.

Now, he’s known for his entrepreneurial spirit. Adrian, who has Down syndrome, was honored at a City Council meeting on Oct. 5th during Down Syndrome Awareness Month by Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino for launching his new line of sports sunglasses called Chief 21.

This honor is big in its own way, but Adrian’s mother, Adriana Cazares, wants people to take away even more from this experience.

“I want them to see Adrian - a young man with dreams, abilities, personality, and a future to build,” she said. “If this story inspires one person, one school, one coach, one business, or one community to give an opportunity to someone who might not otherwise receive one, then Chief 21 will already be accomplishing something much bigger than sunglasses.”

The idea for Chief 21 began two years ago when Adrian and his older brother, Gael, another superb athlete in United ISD, were participating in track competitions through school and with BC Elite Track & Field.

“They began wearing special sports sunglasses while running, and we noticed how much Adrian really liked them. That is where the idea first started - that someday his interest in sports sunglasses could become something of his own,” said Cazares.

The name of his sunglasses line has special significance and the Chief 21 logo was designed by Gael, who drew the goat symbol into it, because when Adrian was a baby, his father called him “chivo” because his unique soft cry reminded him of a baby goat.

Later, someone thought they were calling him “Chief” and the new nickname stuck. The 21 represents Adrian’s extra copy of chromosome 21, which is associated with Down syndrome.

Jennie Sanchez, Adaptive/Inclusive Recreation Manager with the City of Laredo Parks and Recreation, watched Adrian and his family receive the special honor at City Hall. She knows the Cazares family well.

“This wasn’t just some random thing. They came up with something that was personal, that meant something to them, and it’s going to mean something to the people who buy it,” Sanchez said.

It meant something to Steve Landin, an assistant city manager for the City of Laredo who is the former chief of the Laredo Fire Department and the Laredo Police Department. While the Cazares family were leaving the meeting, Landin stopped them to buy two pairs of sunglasses.

He said he bought a red pair because of his experience with the fire department and a blue pair to represent his time with the police department.

“This is a nice first step for this family. It’s beautiful to see children and their families doing things like this,” Landin said.

Cazares said she wants Adrian’s story to represent hope.

“The message I would like people to take from our story is that one opportunity can change a person’s future,” she said. “We want our community to see Adrian, and also people with different disabilities, for their abilities, talents, and everything they can accomplish when someone believes in them and opens a door for them. A disability does not define everything a person can do. Behind every disability, there are also unique abilities, talents and strengths waiting to be discovered.”

She added that as parents they want to give Adrian and Gael the tools to learn about responsibility, hard work, commitment and what it means to build something of their own.

“Chief 21 was inspired by Adrian, but our dream is for it to become something that brings them together as brothers and that one day they can take far together,” Cazares said.

“We don’t know how far Chief 21 will go but we do know that we want to give them the opportunity to dream big and discover together everything they are capable of,” added Cazares.

You can meet the Cazares family on Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Haynes Recreation Center, 2102 Clarks Crossing Drive, where they will have the sports sunglasses on display for purchase at a Down Syndrome Awareness Walk special event.

Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino and his wife honor Adrian "Chief" Cazares, next to his mother, Adriana Cazares, for his entrepreneurial spirit at City Hall on Oct. 5. 

 

Adrian's brother Gael, a United High School student who helped design the logo for the sports sunglasses line, and Adrian "Chief" Cazares, a Trautmann Middle 8th Grader.