Make Your Mark Downtown Today: Latino & African-American Heritage

The exhibit includes over 40 veterans from Washington-Escobedo Community.
Today from 12-3
435 N Hibbert [just above University Drive]
This community exhibit, taking place in one of the original buildings in what was once a segregated neighborhood, includes not only African-American and Mexican-American residents but also a Native American vet from the Lehi Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Reservation. Bruce Nelson, the creator of this display of mostly archival published news images that were researched for his new in-the-works documentary, greeted visitors today taking the time to read the stories and talk with a good turn-out of guests who had even more stories and histories to tell him.
Heritage Room Mission: To preserve, publicize, educate the public on the African American and Latino heritage and culture of Mesa; while promoting local visual artist with interactive projects for youth and seniors.
A short screening of the trailer from the Veterans of Washington-Escobedo Community documentary and the Army recruiting film "The Negro Soldier" was shown to small groups.

History of the Washington Neighborhood is shown on the wall panel, along with some images of then-mayor Wayne Pomeroy playing a game of pool at the center with a group of residents.
Like much of the Confederate South, swimming pools were segregated by race way past the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
In one image Tom Ikeda, whose Japanese family is also an important part of Mesa's is shown awarding prizes for sports competitions on the athletic facilities.

Mesa-born and raised in the Washington neighborhood, documentary film producer Bruce Nelson is on the right  

 

Here again on the left