Juarez–Lincoln University
[1] Experiences of discrimination and the absence of Mexican American history in school curriculum occurred throughout the United States.
[3] The concept was initially presented at a plenary session of the Mexican American Youth Organization holding its annual statewide meeting at La Lomita, a building which had been a seminary, just south of Mission, Texas in December 1969.
After a few years and disagreements, Leonard and Andre left and made the Juarez-Lincoln Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
[1] The call for Mexican American representation in higher institutions in the United States derived from a much larger Chicano movement known as “La Lucha” which ranged from Civil Rights to cultural pride.
These events happening for decades made an invisible barrier against Mexican Americans and hindered their educational progress in their lives.
From this, the formation of the Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO) occurred in 1967 which focused on Chicano cultural nationalism and the need to be directly involved in politics.
In that same year, MAYO discussed the need for more Mexican American representation in universities and they founded Colegio Jacinto Trevino in Mercedes, Texas.
The curriculum in the university wanted to emphasize the bilingual and bicultural environment the students lived in and to work with local communities.
The tuition was kept at a low cost because they wanted students who could not afford to go to college, be able to enroll a university that gave them the support and resources that they needed.
Other variants of the traditional delivery model included the incorporation of supervised independent study and research, and competency based college level learning.
They also supported other projects such as a Chicana Leadership Development group and the League of United Chicano Artists (LUCHA) which held art expositions at the center.
Groups such as the League of Chicano Artists (LUCHA) and Mujeres Artistas del Suroeste will continue to use the building for art events.
Raul Valdez has claimed that an event like the demolition is a sign of gentrification in Austin and that the displacement of Mexican Americans is making them lose their cultural identity.
[14] This university has been forgotten by the community in Austin and many of its history has disappeared into small articles reminiscing about the impact that it once had in this city.
