Flor del Pueblo Zoom Event

A conversation with San Jose's

Flor del Pueblo.

A Zoom Facilitated Event

Thursday, April 22, 2021

8:00 PM to 10:00 PM CDT

Link to registering for the Zoom event:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sjsu-luis-valdez-speakers-series-flor-del-pueblo-tickets-148840575167

The Luis “El Machete” Valdez Annual Speakers Series honors the work and accomplishments of people of Mexican ancestry in the areas of social justice, community involvement, culture, politics, and the arts. Past speakers have included Luis Valdez, Blanca Alvarado, and Dr. José Carrasco.

This year’s guest speakers will be the members of the San José-based Flor del Pueblo, one of the most influential musical ensembles of the Chicana/o Movement whose music inspired activism for social justice with local roots and intergenerational reach.

Formed in the 1970’s through their participation with different South Bay Teatro Chicano groups. Including El Teatro Campesino. The members of Flor del Pueblo, (Ed Robledo, Deborah Rodríguez, Felipe Rodríguez, Francisco Rodríguez, Ben Cadena, Yolanda Pérez, Ramiro Pérez, Enrique Castillo, Clay Shanrock, and Richard Garcia) found a meaningful avenue of engagement through the arts with the ideals of the Movimiento Chicano. 

Members of the group were active at numerous events, including being on stage at the Chicano Moratorium on August 29, 1970, when police violence broke a peaceful demonstration. Their 1977 recorded album, Música de Nuestra América, established a new sound of Movimiento music with the incorporation of Latin American protest music influences on Chicana/o Movement music as well as the group's unique vocal style.

Featured speakers:

Deborah Rodríguez-Garcia, Yolanda Pérez, Ed Robledo, Francisco Rodríguez, Enrique Castillo, and Ben Cadena

About the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at San José State University

The mission of the Chicana and Chicano Studies Department is to serve SJSU students and diverse communities through an interdisciplinary Chicana/o Studies Program that is based on principles of education for Social Justice. The program prepares students to critically examine and address intellectual traditions and contemporary issues resulting from race, ethnicity, class, and gender intersections in Chicana/o-Latina/o and other communities.

Co-sponsored by SJSU Chicana and Chicano Studies Department, Aspire/McNair Trio Programs, La Raza Historical Society of Santa Clara Valley, SJSU School of Music and Dance, the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Sociology & Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at SJSU.

Event link will be sent via Eventbrite and updated on Eventpage for livestream closer to the event date.

 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sjsu-luis-valdez-speakers-series-flor-del-pueblo-tickets-148840575167

Latina Students Land Gallery Row Exhibit for Their Interpretation of Historic Olvera Street

This month Cobá will open its headquarters to expose Art Walk attendees to a photography collection from students involved in Las Fotos Project, a non-profit, community-based program that seeks to empower Latina youth through photography. The collection of photographs is from “Nuestra Placita Olvera,” a project in which the young women captured the culture and life of the city’s historic landmark, Olvera Street, by documenting its annual celebrations.

Headquartered in the heart of the arts district in downtown Los Angeles, Cobá wanted to respect the culture of the neighborhood and thus transformed their office into a gallery featuring the work of various accomplished, local artists. Last month, Cobá featured the work of Yolanda Gonzalez, whose bold use of color and texture reflects her family’s long heritage of artists. In April, José Ramirez’s sociopolitical paintings, rich with images of Chicano culture, were a hit.

The Las Fotos Project encourages young women to express their individuality and creativity and hone their artistic talents with photography training, mentoring and field projects. On display will be the work of Valerie Beltran, age 16, Julie Cabral, age 18, Civil Hernandez, age 16, Jessenia Pineda, age 14, and Yoali Sayago, age 17. According to Las Fotos Project founder Eric V. Ibarra, “The students took a photojournalistic approach to this project by documenting historical celebrations that may be forever changed in the future. Their ability to create this beautiful installation full of color, culture, and life was very inspirational to the Las Fotos Project community and we are all very proud that their hard work and amazing accomplishments will be shared with such a large audience.”

Cobá CEO, Arnulfo Ventura stated, “Art Walk is a great venue and opportunity for these students to display their best work and I know how much this means to them.” Later adding, “Orozco’s murals in Guadalajara made an impact on me as a child and today, I see Yolanda (Gonzalez) and José (Ramirez) as some of the greats of our time. Arts have a rich history in the Latino culture and I’m just glad we’re able to provide a forum to keep celebrating these fabulous artists.”

The event takes place the evening of Thursday, June 9 during the general hours of Art Walk. Cobá, the first ready-to-drink all-natural aguas frescas company, will be providing samples of their authentic aguas frescas sweetened with organic agave.To learn more about Cobá and its work with local artists, please go to www.drinkcoba.com. For more information about Las Fotos Project, visit lasfotosproject.org.

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