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 chapter. Since that time, chapters/councils have been formed in many towns throughout New Mexico. Source: LULAC Website.
Dr. Refugia "Cuca" L. Castillo was New Mexico State Director for LULAC for 4 years and member of the LULAC National Board of Directors for 6 years. She has been a member of the LULAC organization for over 20 years. She was a professor at College of the Southwest in Hobbs and Carlsbad. She received her Doctorate of Education degree from NMSU in 1997. In 1998 she was honored at the LULAC National Convention in Dallas as LULAC National Educator of the Year. She was inducted into the LULAC Women's Hall of Fame in 1992 and in 1996.
From the guide to the Refugia Castillo League of United Latin American Citizens papers, 1980-1999, (Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico.)
