Mexican American Research Center: Connecting Communities to Federal Resources
Linda Fregoso discusses the efforts of the Mexican American Research Center to build Chicano self-determination through economic development with the Center’s director, Jose Urreagas, Roberto Guerra who heads the organization’s weatherization programs, and Maria Negrete of the Rural Development Institute. Urreagas explains that while the Chicano Movement has made some gains, the movement has made little economic progress for Chicanos who have had minimal equity growth. He believes that for the community to progress, Chicanos need to understand the economic issues and development projects that drive local government. The Center, which he organized in 1974, seeks to provide Chicanos with the technical knowledge and skills to improve their communities. They provide loans for Chicano owned businesses and assist neighborhood groups with grant applications. They also help communities develop housing options and protect tenant’s rights and Urreagas describes their work in Dimmitt, Texas where they helped the Chicano community organize a housing authority.
Fregoso next speaks with Roberto Guerra who heads the Center’s weatherization program. Guerra explains that their program makes interior and exterior repairs to the homes of low-income families to help them conserve energy. She then speaks with Negrete who discusses her work helping rural communities with economic development programs and building local infrastructure.
Although the Reagan Administration might cut some of the funding to programs like the Center, Urreagas believes they will still be able to access grants for economic development through other funds. He concludes that the Center’s work is critical to developing self-determination and building the Chicano community’s resources.
KEYWORDS
Aztec Economic DevelopmentBanking Industry
Budget Cuts
Business
Chicano Movement
Chicano Politicians
City Services
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Development Programs
Dimmitt, Texas
Economics
Education
Elderly
Energy Conservation
Equity
Farm Workers
Farmer’s Home Administration
Ford Foundation
Grants
Housing
Housing Authority
Jose Urreagas
Labor Camps
Local Government
Maria Negrete
Mexican American Research Center
Minority Owned Business
Politics
Reagan Administration
Roberto Guerra
Ronald Reagan
Rural Development Institute
Self-Determination
Southwest
Training Programs
Transportation
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Weatherization
Zoning