Chicano Advocates: A user's guide to the Centro Chicano in Austin
Zeke Uballe and Martin Delgado discuss the advocacy work they do in the Centro Chicano in Austin, Texas. Uballe explains that in 1974 Brown Berets organized the first Centros Chicanos as sites where people in the barrio could register their complaints or instances of discrimination. These Centros dealt mostly with complaints against the police and tried to mediate between the police and the Chicano Community. The Centros rely on grants, volunteers and fundraisers to keep operating.
With money provided by the Urban Council of Churches as well as the Parks and Recreation department, the Austin Centro has been able to focus on organizing youth activities and doing social advocacy work for Chicanos in need, especially the elderly who do not qualify for Social Security.
Delgado then talk about the critical role of volunteers in the Centro. They make referrals, help individuals and take complaints. Uballe explains they work very closely together and encourage people to come and volunteer, especially social work students who need experience.
KEYWORDS
AdvocacyBarrio
Brown Berets
Centro Chicano
Chicano relations with the police
Community Activism
Concientization
Discrimination
Elderly
Episcopal Church
Eviction
Ezequiel Uballe
Jimmy Carter
Legal Aid
Martin Delgado
Media
Police Brutality
Police-Community relations
Protestant Churches
Social Movements
Social service advocacy
Social Work
Tenant Battles
Urban Council of Churches
Volunteering
Youth culture
Youth Programs