Castillo, Ursulo

1997 LULAC Convention Brochure Cover. Box 1, Folder 6.

LULAC: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is concerned with improvement of the social, political, and economic status of Hispanics in the United States. Their main focuses have been on education and legal reform, citizenship, and the extension of civil and political rights to Hispanics. With approximately 115,000 members throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the largest and oldest Hispanic organization in the United States. LULAC was founded in 1929 in Corpus Christi, Texas as a grassroots collective against discrimination, segregation, and racial violence. LULAC "advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide." New Mexico was the second state to form a LULAC council, and since then, councils have been formed in many towns throughout New Mexico. Source: LULAC Website

LULAC Council 8026/206: LULAC Council 8026/206 in Carlsbad, New Mexico has been concerned with improvement of the social, political, and economic status of the Hispanics of the Carlsbad, New Mexico area. The organization has focused on issues such as education, legal reform, citizenship, and the extension of civil and political rights to Hispanics. Carlsbad LULAC has maintained a steady level of activity. LULAC activities include: scholarships for college bound students, funding for high school special events, civic activities such as fund raising for student scholarships and activities, "Student of the Month" awards, and an annual 16 de septiembre Fiesta.

Ursulo Castillo: This collection of LULAC documents was gathered by Ursulo A. Castillo, who was active in the Carlsbad Council of LULAC from 1996-1999. He also served as the National Vice President for the Elderly from 1989-1999, and was also responsible for coordinating the activities for the LULAC fiestas. A former principal at a Carlsbad public school, Castillo was concerned and involved with education. During his tenure as an active LULAC member, he wrote letters to New Mexico Senators and Congressmen/women asking for support on issues pertaining to discrimination, civil rights, and immigration. Castillo intensely defended the rights of elderly Hispanics, was actively involved with LULAC National Educational Services Centers (LNESC), and worked toward the right of self-determination for the Puerto Rico Chapter.