LA County Library Honors the Chicano Resource Center with Latinidad LA: 50 Years of Culture, Community, and Chicano Legacy Celebration

Free August 15 Celebration Features Community Voices, Family Activities, and a Conversation on the Future of Latine Storytelling

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA –For half a century, the Chicano Resource Center at East Los Angeles Library has helped preserve the history, culture, and voices of the Chicano community. On Saturday, August 15, LA County Library will celebrate the center’s 50th anniversary with Latinidad LA: 50 Years of Culture, Community, and Chicano Legacy, a free, all-ages event featuring community storytelling, family activities, and a conversation about the future of Latine storytelling.

The celebration will take place from 12 – 4 pm at East Los Angeles Library, located at located at 4837 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90022, and will bring together local writers, families, community members, and some of Los Angeles’ leading contemporary storytellers to honor the center’s legacy and consider the stories that will shape its next 50 years.

“For the last 50 years, the Chicano Resource Center at the East Los Angeles Library has preserved the voices, experiences, creativity, and achievements that have shaped East Los Angeles and surrounding communities throughout the First District,” said Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “This anniversary commemorates generations of residents, activists, and neighbors who understood that our stories deserve to be collected, protected, and shared for our communities to engage and build upon. I look forward to seeing this extraordinary resource continue to help shape and inspire young people, families, researchers, and future storytellers, while ensuring we build towards a more informed, inclusive, and empowered future for our communities.”

“The Chicano Resource Center was created so that our communities could see their histories, experiences, and contributions represented and preserved,” said Dr. Skye Patrick, County Librarian and Director of LA County Library. “Fifty years later, the center remains a vital place for research, discovery, and connection. This celebration honors everyone who helped build its legacy while affirming our commitment to keeping these stories accessible for generations to come.”

The anniversary’s featured conversation will bring together award-winning journalist and audio storyteller Adolfo Guzman-Lopez; multimedia journalist, author, and documentary filmmaker Patricia Nazario; and writer, producer, and cultural commentator Erick Galindo. The panelists will explore how the past has shaped Latine storytelling and what its future may look like in Los Angeles and beyond.

Following the conversation, attendees can meet Nazario and Guzman-Lopez at dedicated tables featuring their latest books and films, with signing opportunities available.

Event Schedule

12 pm – Community Open Mic for Adults Chicano Resource Center

Local writers, poets, and community members are invited to share stories, poetry, and personal reflections on what East Los Angeles and Chicano culture mean to them.

1 pm – Family Fun: Paletero Man Storytime and Craft Children’s Room

Children and families can enjoy a bilingual reading of Paletero Man, followed by a hands-on activity where children will create colorful paper paletas.

2 pm – Latinidad LA: 50 Years of Culture, Community, and Chicano Legacy Meeting Room

Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, Patricia Nazario, and Erick Galindo will discuss the past, present, and future of Latine storytelling.

Preserving Chicano History and Culture

Established in 1976, the Chicano Resource Center serves the information needs of the Mexican-American community and makes its history and culture accessible to the public.

The collection includes Southwestern periodicals and newspapers on microfilm dating as far back as the 1600s; Chicano Movement publications such as La Raza, Con Safos, and Aztlan; subject notebooks, pamphlet files on more than 750 topics, and political posters from the Chicano Movement.

Keeping History Alive Across LA County

The Chicano Resource Center is one of four distinct Cultural Resource Centers established within LA County Library during the mid-1970s. Each Center archives and preserves the history of the communities it serves and helps residents explore their own cultural heritage while learning about the experiences of others.

The Library’s Cultural Resource Centers are:

• American Indian Resource Center at Huntington Park Library
• Asian Pacific Resource Center at Rosemead Library
• Black Resource Center at A C Bilbrew Library

Each center is led by a librarian with specialized knowledge of its collections and community. The centers assist students, researchers, educators, and community members seeking information about history, culture, art, identity, and the development of Los Angeles County.

Media Opportunities

Media outlets interested in arranging advance coverage, including interviews, preview segments, or filming opportunities at the Chicano Resource Center, or planning to cover the August 15 celebration, should contact pio@library.lacounty.gov.

About LA County Library LA County Library belongs to our communities and serves as a portal to learn, grow, and succeed. Founded in 1912, it is one of the largest and most innovative library systems in the US, and was awarded the nation’s highest honor—the National Medal for Museum and Library Service—in 2023. Dedicated to reducing barriers and increasing access for all through culturally responsive and dynamic collections, programs, and services, LA County Library serves 3.6 million residents across 3,000 square miles through its 87 libraries and 15-vehicle mobile fleet, including Bookmobiles, MākMō maker mobiles, Reading Machines, and outreach vehicles. To learn more, visit LACountyLibrary.org and follow @LACountyLibrary on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.