DRC.Dec.19.2021.article.40th D nton Recordim Chronicle
Saturday-Sunday, December 18-19, 2021 II Denton, Texas II Vol. 118, No. 139 II DentonRC.com 32 pages, 2 sections II 2.50
Denton marks 40 years -
By Justin Grass 4366 stationed in Denton. strong in its roots:'
Staff Writer Denton's council celebrated 40years But education isn't the only contri- FYO RCAN:51� I i
jgrassLdentonrc.corn Friday at Rudy's BBQ, in addition to bution the group has made. LUI.AC
Denton County's local council of naming officers for Denton, Ryan and participates in several events and works
the League of United Latin American Guyer high schools.It also took c ontri- to increase Latino representation in
Citizens celebrated 40 years Friday: butions for its most visible program:its governmental bodies. In facet, current t
Members say the Latino community college scholarship awards, which give president Alfredo Sanchez said voting
has made strides since the chapter's be- out hundreds of thousands of dollars is at the top of the list for next year. a
ginnings in 1981 —but also that there's to seniors. Original member Isabella "One of the biggest issues for us is
much work still to be done. Pina-Hinojosa said that program has the number of Latinos here in Texas,
LULAC began in Corpus Christi, been the focus since the beginning. that we'd like to get them more in-
in 1929. It credits itself as the largest "Education and scholarships have volved in voting,"Sanchez said."That's
and oldest Hispanic organization in been the main focus of the Denton where our biggest impact is. Whether
the United States, aimed at advancing LULAC," Pina-Hinojosa said. "We it's Democrat or Republican, getting Jeff Woo/DRC
the living situations and opportuni- have continued to persevere and have them out to vote and having their voice Youth council officers from Denton High School, Guyer High School and
ty for Hispanic Americans. It wasn't members continue to join us, and heard." Ryan High School are sworn in by Rodolfo Rosales, LULAC Texas state
until 1981 that the organization came there's been some of us here since director, right, during the LULAC holiday party and 40th anniversary
to Denton County, with local council the beginning. It's still a group that is See LULAC on 9A celebration Friday in Denton.
dentonrc c r i Denton Record-Chronicle
From Page 1A f
LU LAC
Sanchez said he thinks
things are moving in the right
direction for the Hispanic com-
munity, but that there's still a
lot that needs to be done.One
of the challenges,he said,is the
inherent diversity of the group.
"We [tend to] throw cv-
enibody into one big bowl,but
there's a lot of our Hispanic
community that's been here for
a long time,that go bask to the
1700s or 1600s;Sanchez said.
"We have to learn to differentiate Jeff WooMC
between those that have heen Dr. Rudy Rodriguez, top, speaks about the history of Den-
citimms for decades and those ton LULAC Council 4366, which has leveraged more than
that just arrived. ... We have $116,000 of local donations into more than $300,000 in
to deal with new immigrants total college scholarship awards to almost 280 deserving
much different than those who Denton ISD seniors.
have been here for generations"
Sanchez said he wants more leaden,in the oommnunitv:' Denton is what s in the fiiture for
recognition for the community's longtime member Ana-Hi- IKI AC, Pina-Hinojosa said.
accomplishments—.and wants ngjosa hoc similar hopes for the "Ae.want to continue growing.
to get more young people inter- local LUTAC council and the Hopefidly the new generations
estcd in making important deci- Latino community as a whole. will continue to step up for the
sions. "What's in the future for league"
"Ihing to get more of our
young people interested in pol-
itics and having them run for
offices,"Sanchez said."They are
capable....They can be more in-
volved in the community and he