Art, History and the Bracero Program

I’m finally in Califas and the last couple days have been busy. I had the opportunity to attend the opening of the “History of the Bracero Program in Ventura County” at CSUCI. Jose Alamillo and students did a great job on the exhibit! Check out the following photos:

Also, I visited the De Colores Art Show & Festival in Santa Paula (some of my father’s artwork is in the show!) And I had the opportunity to see the Santa Paula Farmworker Monument. Check out the following photos:

c/s

Research Trip to California, Part II

Bracero History Exhibit at the Smithsonian (2009). Courtesy of the author’s photo collection.

Another week of archival research! This week I had the opportunity to meet up my mentor Dr. Rodolfo Acuna at CSUN. I enjoyed the feedback about my research and his stories of struggles. Next stop was the CSUN’s Urban Archives Center to look at the Max Mont’s Emergency Committee to Aid Farm Workers Collection. Also, I helped my brother locate Chicano Studies material in the Rodolfo Acuna Collection. Also, I met up with Dr. Jose Alamillo at CSUCI to discuss his research on braceros in Ventura County. Jose is currently coordinating the bracero history project in the county which is part of the Smithsonian’s Bracero History Project. He shared with me his research and interviews of braceros in Ventura County.

Bracero History Exhibit at the Smithsonian (2009). Courtesy of the author’s photo collection.

Bracero History Exhibit at the Smithsonian (2009). Courtesy of the author’s photo collection.

I have another week in Chiques left, which I’m focusing on writing! Or maybe I will stop by the public library to look at newspaper microfilm.

c/s