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InnerCity Struggle Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-2015-009

Scope and Contents

The materials in the InnerCity Struggle Collection (ICS) were created in1987-2017. The bulk of this collection contains newspaper articles that include narrative surrounding InnerCity Struggle, higher education, youth movements, and the greater Los Angeles. Publications in form of journals, newsletters, programs also serve as a bulk of the collection. Journals and newsletters are not necessarily published by InnerCity Struggle instead there are resources that InnerCity Struggle used in their personal library.

Other materials include youth programming materials, student writings, photographs, newspaper clippings and graduation sashes. The collection also includes ephemera related to its youth activist component with items such as posters, buttons, t-shirt and a commemorative ICS anniversary lock. Materials represented in this collection are the first accession of the collection.

The collection was donated by the InnerCity Struggle organization in two accessions in 2015 and 2016.

Series I. InnerCity Struggle (ICS), Organization-wide Inclusive Dates: 1994-2017, u.d. Arrangement: Alphabetical and thereunder Chronological

This large subseries begins in 2001 and ends in 2016. It is comprised of four subseries: a. Subject/Topical Files, 2001-2016; b. Publications, 1999-2017; c. Notebooks 2000- 2006; d. Audio Visual and Photographic materials 1994-2008. The series is composed of agendas, notebooks, e-mails, photographs, newsletters, programs, etc. The documents also consist of icebreakers by participants from InnerCity Struggle. For example, there is a folder that contains a “Brick of Justice/Brick of Justicia” sheet. These sheets were used so that participants could write down any aspirations and goals. There is a folder in honor of deceased Gabriela Amanda Pérez, in it is her work badge from InnerCity Struggle as well as some honorable mentions. Two of the notebooks in this file belonged to Luis Sánchez. However, all notebooks in this subseries contain weekly notes on meetings and to-do lists. Subseries d. contains negatives and photographs that often coincided with each other.

Series II. United Students Inclusive Dates: 1985-2017, u.d. Arrangement: Alphabetical and thereunder Chronological

This is one of the largest series for an InnerCity Struggle collection. This series is comprised of seven subseries: a. Organizational Materials, 1985-2016; b. United Students at Garfield High School, 2002-2010; c. United Students at Roosevelt High School, 1999 -2014; d. United Students at Wilson High School, 2005-2009; e. United Families “Familias Unidas”, 2008-2017; f. United Students, Jr., 2004-2010; and g. United Students, Educational Justice Week, 2002-2006.Topics in this series include; organizational materials, United Students at Wilson and Lincoln High, “Familias Unidas” etc. Folders of interest include; surveys conducted in Los Angeles High Schools for “student needs,” campaigns driven as a result of “student needs,” parental involvement through retreats and professional development.

Series III. Youth Organizing Committee (YOC) Inclusive Dates: 1994-2002, u.d. Arrangement: Alphabetical and thereunder Chronological

This series is comprised of four subseries: a. Subject/Topical Files, 1994-2002; b. Organizational Materials, 2017; c. Proposition 21 and “Schools not Jails” Campaign, 1996-2015; and d. YOC Media Activism Camp, 1997-2016. This sereis details the beginnings of InnerCity Struggle’s Youth Organizing Committee through Southern California Organizing Committees. This series also details their involvement in campaigns such as “Schools Not Jails” and Proposition 21. YOC’S Media Activism Camp folders contain camp schedules, notes, workshops, trainings, and more.

Series IV. Youth Programming Inclusive Dates: 1997-2003, u.d. Arrangement: Alphabetical and thereunder Chronological

The series includes of two subseries: a. The Learning Academy, 2001-2003 and b. The Photo Project, 1997-2002. Both the Learning Academy and the Photo Project were part of Youth Programming efforts stemming from InnerCity Struggle. The subseries on the Learning Academy contains certificates of students, rosters, and student curriculum. The subseries on The Photo Project includes student made booklets such as “Reality Check” and “Still We Rise.”

Series V. Justice Campaigns Inclusive Dates: 2001-2016, u.d. Arrangement: Alphabetical and thereunder Chronological

This series is comprised of three subseries: a. Educational Food Justice, A-G, 206- 2015; b. Educational Justice, New Schools, 2001-2016; and Food Justice/Wellness, 2001-2016. There are two Educational Justice subseries one deals with the A-G campaign and the other with New Schools. The A-G subseries consist of meeting notes from 2006 and 2007, chant lists for protest/marches, and promotional material. The Educational Justice subseries contains action plans for new schools in East Los Angeles, pilot samples, and documents on a meeting held in 2002 with the Los Angeles Unified School District on building new schools. The last subseries focuses on Food Justice and Wellness. Graphics in this subseries include a “Beet the System” sticker. Documents range from surveys and investigations on Food Justice in Los Angeles High Schools such as Lincoln.

Series VI. Publications and Newspapers Inclusive Dates: 1994-2016, u.d. Arrangement: Alphabetical and thereunder Chronological

This series is comprised of three subseries: a. Publications, 2000-2013; b. Newspapers; and c. Newspaper Clipping Scrapbooks and Portfolios, 1998-2014. Publications in this series are not produced by InnerCity struggle, rather these are publications by other institutions or organizations that were used by InnerCity Struggle. Some of these In this series “Newspapers” refers to complete/full-length newspapers and newspaper clippings. All newspapers have been compiled by InnerCity Struggle over the years. Newspapers that have been clipped are in scrapbooks and portfolios. In total there are five scrapbooks and portfolios. All material discusses InnerCity Struggle, higher education in Los Angeles, and student led movements. Some of the newspaper publishers include La Opinion, LA Weekly, Northeast Sun, and newspapers from local Los Angeles High Schools such as The Garfield Log by Garfield High School students.

Series VII. Oversized Materials Inclusive Dates: 1998-2016, u.d. Arrangement: Alphabetical and thereunder Chronological

This series is comprised of three subseries: a. Posters, 2002-2016; b. Oversized Misc. Booklet, 2004; and c. Sgins, 1998-2014. Oversized material comprise of posters and signs. All of the oversized material has been stored in map cases. Posters range from enlarged duplicates of students campaigning for A-G Now!, commemoration silk screen posters for InnerCity Struggle, and posters that support Proposition 30. Signs in this series include enlarged reprints of articles such as; LA Weekly’s article on “Why Los Angeles Schoolkids Get Lousy Meals,” a pledge to be signed by LAUSD’s superintendent, and check to InnerCity Struggle from Women Helping Youth.

Series VIII. Ephemera Inclusive Dates: 2000-2015 Arrangement: Alphabetical and thereunder Chronological

This series is comprised of five subseries: a. T-shirts, 200-2014; b. Banners, 200-2015; c. Buttons, 2009; d. Sashes, 2009-2011; and e. Misc. Ephemera, 2014. Ephemera includes; t-shirts, banners, buttons, graduation sashes, and misc. ephemera. T-shirts include those that promote the A-G campaign such as “Keep the Promise, A-G is my Civil Right!” and “Let me Choose my Future, A-G Now!” Other shirts include; “Demand Ethnic Studies,” “I Love Wellness,” and “Zapatista.” Buttons predominantly promote InnerCity Struggle’s United Students with quotes such as “Education is a Human Right” and “We Demand New Schools Now.” Other buttons serve in opposition of Proposition 21 and for Denim Day in Los Angeles. Misc. ephemera includes a tote bag, lock, and the United Students “Power to the Students Bucket” which served as a musical instrument during marches and protest, it comes with a set of drumsticks.

Dates

  • Creation: 1985 - 2017

Language of Materials

English .

Conditions Governing Use

The InnerCity Struggle Collection is the physical property of California State University, Los Angeles, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Special Collections and Archives.

Biographical / Historical

InnerCity Struggle (ICS) works with youth and community residents to promote safe, healthy and non-violent communities in the Eastside of Los Angeles. ICS began as a project of Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission and launched as its own independent community organization in 1994. The founding Executive Director María Teixeira, led the organization forward based on a vision of building and promoting a safe, healthy and non-violent community in Boyle Heights by organizing and mobilizing community members to achieve that mission. As co-founder of InnerCity Struggle, Luis Sánchez launched the youth organizing component United Students and the parent organizing component Familias Unidas.

The conditions and needs that InnerCity Struggle worked to address included high unemployment and poverty rates and high levels of gang violence in the community. ICS organizes youth and families in Boyle Heights, unincorporated East Los Angeles, El Sereno and Lincoln Heights to work together for social and educational justice and provides positive after-school programs for students to become involved in supporting their schools to succeed.

InnerCity Struggle works with high school students through United Students campus clubs at Roosevelt, Garfield, Esteban Torres, Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez Learning Center, Wilson and Lincoln high schools. These clubs demand equitable opportunities and educational justice to ensure that all students graduate and attend college.

InnerCity Struggle also engages thousands of Eastside voters during critical election cycles to ensure they have all the information to make educated decisions at the ballot box. ICS has registered thousands of new voters and trained community residents to engage in Get-Out-The-Vote efforts.

ICS staff and youth participants recognize the importance of youth programs in Boyle Heights that link quality of life, violence prevention and higher education. Since 1994, ICS has organized thousands of parents and students to demand education reform to improve life opportunities of the youth from East Los Angeles.

Extent

11.71 Linear Feet

Abstract

InnerCity Struggle (ICS) works with youth and community residents to promote safe, healthy and non-violent communities in the Eastside of Los Angeles. ICS began as a project of Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission and launched as its own independent community organization in 1994. The founding Executive Director María Teixeira, led the organization forward based on a vision of building and promoting a safe, healthy and non-violent community in Boyle Heights by organizing and mobilizing community members to achieve that mission. As co-founder of InnerCity Struggle, Luis Sánchez launched the youth organizing component United Students and the parent organizing component Familias Unidas.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into eight series: I. InnerCity Struggle (ICS) Organization-wide; II. United Students; III. Youth Organizing Committee (YOC); IV. Youth Programming; V. Justice Campaigns; VI. Publications and Newspapers; VII. Oversized Materials; VIII. Ephemera. Series I. InnerCity Struggle (ICS), Organizationwide is organized into four subseries: a. Subject/Topical Files; b. Publications; c. Notebooks; d. Audiovisual and Photographic Materials. Series II. United Students is organized into seven subseries: a. Organizational Materials; b. United Students at Garfield High School; c. United Students at Roosevelt High School; d. United Students at Wilson High School; e. United Families “Familias Unidas”; f. United Students Jr.; and g. United Students, Educational Justice Week. Series III. Youth Organizing Committee (YOC) is organized into four subseries: a. Subject/Topical Files; b. Organizational Materials; c. Proposition 21 and “Schools Not Jails” Campaign; and d. YOC Media Activism Camp. Series IV. Youth Programming is organized into two subseries: a. The Learning Academy; and b. The Photo Project. Series V. Justice Campaigns is organized into three subseries: a. Educational Justice, A-G; b. Educational Justice, New Schools; and c. Food Justice and Wellness. Series VI. Publications and Newspapers is organized into three subseries: a. Publications; b. Newspapers; and c. Newspaper Clipping Scrapbooks and Portfolios. Series VII: Oversized Materials is organized into three subseries: a. Posters; b. Oversized Misc; Booklet; and c. Signs. Series VIII. Ephemera is organized into five subseries: a. T-shirts; b. Banners; c. Buttons; d. Sashes; and e. Misc. Ephemera

Title
InnerCity Struggle Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Amalia Castañeda, Allina Nunley, and Stephany Bravo
Date
2015, 2017
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is written in: English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
Library South, Room 2079, 5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles CA 90032
(323)343-3960