California Story Fund
Los Veteranos
Latino Activists of the 1960s and 1970s
Bienvenidos to Accion Latina
San Francisco
Project Director: Eva Martinez
Documenting the contributions of Latino activists
In the 1960s and 1970s, Latino activists fought to improve the life of people in the Latino community. Their work led to the creation of many programs and institutions that continue to serve the community today.
This project gathered the stories of Latino activists in San Francisco's Mission District. Among those interviewed were Rene Yanez, an artist who helped found Galeria de la Raza, a community art gallery; and Roberto Vargas, a key person in establishing the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts. The stories were audio-taped and videotaped and presented to the public in a number of ways, including at a community forum and in a community newspaper.
The goal was celebrate the work of the activists, and inspire a new generation of leaders to protect and expand existing programs and develop new ones.