Our Historical Pilgrimage

Our pilgrimage as a community to the northern continent of *Abya Yala, in the territory of *Aztlan, occurred prior to the invasion of our continent by Europeans and people from other parts of the world. We are descendants of the original communities of Mexico and other regions of Abya Yala.

The Chicano and Mexican community, whose roots originate in Aztlan, has a long history of persistence, resistance and the conservation of their cultural identity, human rights, social projects, political organization and economic development. We look at ourselves as part of a continental community that struggles to establish a basis for self-determination, self-identity and self-sufficiency.

For the members of Libreria Del Pueblo, the ancestral pilgrimage continues to this day. We have lived and worked our land (now divided by political and economical borders) around racist immigration policies and laws. As we continue our pilgrimage looking for a place where we can live and work with dignity, without the pressures to migrate and abandon our original communities as a result of poverty, unjust governmental policies, political and economic corruption, including military conflicts, we have migrated to this country with the illusion of changing our reality. However, instead of finding the Promised Land, we have come to encounter the same reality here, relatively speaking as that which we left behind.

Despite the “new reality” that we encounter, the search for freedom and dignity gives us the strength to seek alternative ways to change any unjust situation that we encounter, so we can continue our cosmic journey. Because we encounter the same unjust social discrimination and exploitation here, that is present in our countries of origin, Libreria Del Pueblo was founded in 1985, as only one of many alternative ways to provide the community with tools that will help us to move forward in our search for justice and dignity, be it education, information dissemination or community organizing.

The vision of the founders, initially was to transform into reality a method of organizing within the Mexican/Chicano community of Southern California that resulted in a new liberating process, put us in contact with national and international popular struggles spirited by Mexican/Chicano Catholics. The founders desired to vindicate themselves within the church, define their rights and receive services within the structure of the Catholic Church of North America. We supported the farm workers struggle lead by Cesar E. Chavez and Dolores Huerta, as well as the struggles of the continental original nations, as well as those battles within our local immigrant community. Actually we are supporting the 1942 – 1964 Bracero Movement under the leadership of Ventura Gutierrez and the many coordinators from Mexico and USA.

In 1972, prior to the formation of Libreria del Pueblo, Rosa Martha Zárate Macias supported an organizing process involving youth within groups of social action that eventually lead to the initiation of an economic project that supported both youth and adults activities with a commitment to the struggles of their own community. This effort was supported with the sales from her first recording, “Pueblo en Marcha” and 10 bibles. Bishop Gilberto E. Chavez, currently serving in the San Diego dioceses contributed significantly to this initial project. Other key persons engaged in this effort, were such notables as Father Patricio Guillen, Ramon ‘Chico” Ortiz, Father Frank Ponce and staff based within the Padre Hidalgo Center in San Diego, CA. This collective seed gave birth to and prepared the path for the journey now being lead by Libreria Del Pueblo and the Calpulli Project.

In 1985, a very important year in our pilgrimage, Rosa Martha Zarate organized a community group in Corona, CA, to incorporate the original youth project as Libreria del Pueblo, as non profit corporation. Rosa Martha Zarate, Father Patricio Guillen, Juan Reza, Gloria Zometa and other community members joined as founding team members for the formation of this new organization. As a first commitment, LDP assumed the responsibility of supporting the needs of the undocumented population. Our community was being affected by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA). We therefore established a program to assist undocumented workers legalize their status under the “Amnesty Program” offered by the IRCA, with the assistance of Union Sin Fronteras, based in the Coachella Valley. Our services included support in the preparation of the necessary documents needed to present legalization applications to the INS, including the provision of English classes. Eventually other members of the community participated as volunteers and at the same time received training, education and opportunity to participate in this community organizing experience.

In 1997, a new process of popular consultation and education was initiated which lead to the elaboration of a first Plan of Action now known as the Calpulli Project. Miguel Chavez and Rosa Rivera joined us in this process by organizing a community effort that lead to the formation of Quetzal Services, Inc., as an economic alternative project.

Since its inception, LDP’s primary goal has been to organize in order to bring about healthy and dignified integral social change that allows people to take their place in their historical liberating journey. For this reason the implementation of the Calpulli Project will continually be a priority.

In the year 2000, LDP celebrated the Fifth General Assembly with the participation of over 200 community members and civic leaders. The priorities and the goals for the Calpulli Project were set!

During the period 2001 – 2005 the Calpulli Project advanced much like a small tributary that eventually meets with a great continental river and in its course searches for alternative ways down its historical and liberating path. It was during this foru-year period that we began an important phase in our pilgrimage, as we set a goal to identify, consolidate and establish the Calpulli Network. The formation and education of fifty grassroots community Promoters (natural leaders) from the different Calpullis. The community organizing and the identification and education of natural Health Promoters and Health Educators, was accomplished with the support of The California Endowment and the Wellness Foundation, with the commitment of the Health Promoters/Educators and the Calpulli members.

Since 2001 our work and the popular struggle has been moving towards the organizing and establishment of a community based infrastructure of Calpullis, as a base to develop an integral project that affords our community an organized way to develop its cultural identity, self sufficiency and the self determination of the immigrant community.

The development of Libreria has been gradual within the programs and services that are offered, such as immigration and education services, alternative economic projects, health and popular education training, the defense of human and civil rights, solidarity programs with Chiapas and other causes in support of the community. Thanks to LDP, the Calpulli Project and all the individuals that have collaborated with our cause, we are now becoming an independent grass roots popular movement throughout the southeastern region of southern California.

Now we gave ourselves the time to evaluate our journey. At this celebration of 20 years of service, education and community organizing, we confirm our commitment to implement our goals and to maintain alive the mission and the vision to work towards developing our own continental self-identity and the right to live a dignified life as we walk a journey in search of our historical place within a global community. In essence, our mission is to: