UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

July 15, 1969

Vol. 1No. 1

MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER

The news relating vehicle to the Mexican American Community in the field of human experience.

The Mexican American Cultural Center

The Chicano throughout history has been the unknown factor of America. He has been referred to by many names, most not very flattering, but all of them misguided at best. His history and his culture have been placed at a low level of priority by the educational and cultural processes of the majority.

Not only have his historical achievements and cultural traits been made unavailable to him but at the same time he has been faced with a misdirected educational process that frequently results in what the sociological census oriented professional call "lowerincome Spanish Speaking Peoples." The dehumanizing process which the Chicano has been subjected to is reflected in the systematic effort by the majority of society to exclude him from achieving full political, educational, and economic participation.

The added phenomenon of the Chicano being largely regionally based population has resulted in many institutions passing him by, taking no note of his existence, his achievements and his contributions to the whole society, nor making a concerted effort to solve the unique problems stemming from the interface of his culture and the American society.

The need to combat this Anglo oriented ignorance is imperative. At the same time the opportunity must be given to the young Chicano to learn and fully participate in the educational process, to take pride in his heritage and to develop the confidence and skills necessary for him to realize his full potential as a member of this society. With these goals in mind it was proposed that a Mexican American Cultural Center be established at UCLA.

Principle objectives of the Mexican American Cultural Center

The Mexican American Cultural Center became operative in June, 1969 under a Steering Committee which appointed Gilbert Garcia its Coordinator and set up as principle objectives: 1) to encourage and support research into all areas of knowledge relevant to the Chicano community; 2) to assist in the development of programs and research which will focus the unique resources of this university on the problems of the Chicano community; 3) to assist in the development of new curriculum and bibliographical materials dealing with the culture, history and problems of the Chicanos; 4) to actively engage in furthering the involvement of the University with the Chicano community.

In order to achieve these and related objectives, the Center will act as a stimulus support, and resource agency for existing University departments, schools, and institutes to promote and facilitate research and program development that will further understanding and recognition of the Mexican American. In its role as coordinator between community and University and as a research and bibliographical resource, the Center hopes to place this University in the forefront of institutions actively seeking solutions to the problems of the barrios of America.

UMAS

The programs and agencies related to Chicanos now functioning at UCLA have been developed through the initiative and expertise of the United Mexican American Students. Each of the individuals involved in the administration, coordination and implementation of the various programs, has demonstrated a commitment to La Raza and are functioning under the philosophical concept deliniated in the seal of UMAS: "Por mi raza habla el espiritu."

Programs related to Chicanos

I. Special Education Programs

a High Potential

b Educational Opportunities Program

c Upward Bound

d Summer Work Opportunity Program

e High Potential Engineering Program

f High Potential Sciences Program (in development)

g Veterans Special Program

II. Teen Opportunities Program (office of student activities and ASUCLA)

III. Centro Universitario (UCLA Extension)

IV. Urban Teacher Corps (School of Education Simon Gonzalez)

V. Urban Crisis Communication Center (Television Training Theater Arts Dept.)

VI. Minority NonAcademic Employment (Employment Office Larry Aguilar)

Campbell Hall

When touring UCLA one of the places to visit is Campbell Hall, a central building on campus where most of the projects related to the Mexican American are housed.

Centro Universitario Emiliano Zapata

UCLA Extension, UMAS, ASUCLA designed and established this Chicano Center in order to house university courses, a job development unit, a teen opportunity program and a liason office between the Mexican American Cultural Center and the barrios. The Centro is located at 2213 Whittier Blvd., Los

Angeles 90023. The telephone number is 2644748.

Chicano Teacher Corps Program

The UCLA Chicano Teacher Corps Program will begin on August 18, 1969. This program is designed for college graduates with an interest to teach in the barrio schools at the elementary level. It is spons6red by the Chicano community, UCLA and the Los Angeles City School District. Sixty students are scheduled to take part in the program. They will take classes such as: Chicano Thought 8Z Culture, History of Mexico as it relates to the Southwest and Education of the Mexican American and other related courses.

Chicano Council on Higher Education

The Editorial Board of the C.C.H.E. in it's meeting at UCLA on July 19, 1969 reported that El Plan dc Santa Barbara. A master plan on higher education will be published through La Causa, Inc., in September, 1969. Some of the subjects covered in this publication deal with recruitment, student support, communityUniversity relations, funds, Chicano Studies and curriculum, Chicano program institutionalization, coordination and communication, etc.

Journal

Preliminary plans are being worked out for a journal on La Raza Studies to be published by the Centro, editors, Juan Gomez and Roberto Sifuentes. Please forward manuscripts to Mexican American Cultural Center, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90024 telephone number 8252363.

Mexican American Cultural Center

Editorial Board

Roberto Sifuentes, Chairman