Arriba Juntos

Arriba Juntos was created by three social justice activists Leandro Soto, Herman Gallegos and James McAlister on May 13, 1965. Originally named the Organization for Business, Education and Community Advancement (O.B.E.C.A), the staff at that time was comprised of just these three men. Their vision, will and commitment to the Mission District led to the creation of a successful new non-profit organization for a community in transition. The founders would change the organizations name in 1967 to Arriba Juntos but the original mission stayed the same. That was to meet the basic needs of the increasingly large number of Latino immigrants that were moving into what was before a primarily Irish working class neighborhood. The needs of these newcomers were adequate housing and education, improved employment opportunities, reliable childcare, and health care. During the 1960s such efforts were supported by President Lyndon B. Johnsons War on Poverty. In the early 1970s the Model Cities ...