You may have heard of MEChA in your history class while learning about civil rights, or seen a recruitment poster around your school campus, but do you truly know what MEChA is? If not, you are in luck. MEChA is a movement that began in the year nineteen sixty-nine as a political advancement against oppression, exploitation, and racism towards the Latino community. In the year nineteen sixty-nine, there was prominent discrimination against Latinos within the workforce and overall daily life. Latinos faced cultural shame in schools, they faced being called racist slurs, and they lacked representation within professional careers in their communities. The creators of MEChA decided they could form a movement that dealt with these issues in society through education and activism. Foundations were set for this organization: political activism, education, cultural pride, and self-determination.

This organization spread through universities, colleges, and even high schools. Latinos all over the United States of America felt empowered to protest through their own personal education. MEChA advocated for Latino self-determination in education and understood that education is power. Many educational systems have this club in the schools, including Pasco High School.

This year, the MEChA club at Pasco High School went to Chicago to learn about Latino leadership. During the trip, they bonded through cultural pride by speaking Spanish amongst themselves, and they connected

with Latino leaders from all over the nation. There were Poets, Authors, Educators, Politicians, and many more Latino leaders, all willing to help others seeking cultural pride and empowerment. MEChA creates various opportunities for Latinos. It started in nineteen sixty-nine and is still making an impact today in two thousand twenty- six. MEChA is proof that when Latinos come together for a change, si se puede.