Grantee Database
MEXICAN HERITAGE CENTER
Grant Year
2026-27
Grant Program
Impact Projects
Award Amount
$17,500.00
Project Description
With CAC support the Mexican Heritage Center will create its first exhibition highlighting central San Joaquin Valley history by focusing on West Fresno in the 1940s and 1950s, a period we define as “Seeds of Change.” We chose this current effort because we have collected past interviews and can obtain more from those still living, along with memorabilia donated to our center.
Mexican West Fresno was a multicultural, segregated, dynamic area and the seat of an emerging generation’s social, political, economic and cultural awakening. We call this mid-century phenomenon Seeds of Change because the Mexican generation became the Mexican American generation, moving beyond West Fresno and launching the Chicano generation. We will reveal a community of organizations and leaders who straddled cultures and became many of our early leaders, advancing communities even beyond West Fresno.
Organization Summary
1. To gather and archive material relevant to the experience of the Mexican origin community of the Central San Joaquin Valley [primarily the counties of Merced, Madera, Fresno, Tulare and Kings]
2. To develop a professionally curated collection of interviews, photos, documents, publications and diverse media productions of the Central Valley’s community of Mexican descent that is accessible to researchers, scholars, students, and the public
For example, filmed/recorded music, dance, artistic exhibits, interviews, performances, parades, etc.
3. To foster relationships and collaborative efforts with educational institutions, public libraries, museums, historical societies, civic organizations and related entities.
4. To provide opportunities for high school and college students as well as community members to develop research skills related to the mission of the Center.
5. To disseminate the Center’s work to the public through events, exhibits, publications, public lectures, diverse media outlets, and traveling/touring presentations.
Organization
MEXICAN HERITAGE CENTER
Address
267 N FULTON ST
FRESNO
93701-1610
County
Fresno
Region
Central Valley
Congressional District
21st Congressional district
State Assembly District
District 31
State Senate District
District 14
