For my field report I chose to visit the Centro Cultural de la Raza located in Balboa Park. The Centro Cultural de la Raza was founded in 1970 and completed in 1985. It was created to preserve, promote and educate Mexican, Chicano, Indigenous and Latino culture and art. When I arrived at the Center I was greeted by a volunteer named Bertha "Birdie" Gutierrez who has been volunteering there for five years, I asked to take a tour of the facility. Birdie is also a jewelry designer and sells the pieces she creates with Chicano inspiration. He does it to raise money for Chicano causes. I was told that the building itself was a water tank, which explains its circular shape. Birdie explained that the circle is sacred in Chicano culture. The first mission that took place was the large mural that is spread on the circular wall of the old cistern. It was designed by Guillermo “Yermo” Aranda and is titled “La Dualidad”. The mural took 12 years to complete. There were other artists who contributed to this piece, and many of these artists also contributed to the artwork in Chicano Park. There is currently an exhibition of Sergio Vásquez's work on display in the Center entitled "Portraitures and Alebrijes". There were about 13 pieces and a book of his on display. The walls are white and there is a lot of empty space between each piece, really creating an environment to focus on each creation. The Centro Cultural de la Raza located in Balboa Park has an important history here in San Diego for Chicanos. Salvador Torres, Guillermo Aranda, Ruben de Anda, Mario Acevedo, Victor Ochoa, David Avalos, the Enrique Family, the Delia Moreno Family and others worked together to organize... middle of paper... taught people to plant and cultivate leading to prosperity. The belief that every person has something good inside them is also called Watakame. The mural "La Dualidad" represents a long history of the beginnings, struggles and successes of our people. I think the Centro Cultural de la Raza is an important pillar in our community because it preserves the lessons we all need to learn. It's often said that to know where you're going you need to know where you've been. I believe that lesson is taught within the walls of the Center. I'll be completely honest, I didn't know our story before this course and before my trip to the Center. As a result, I have definitely become more passionate about my culture, and that in itself is significant. That's why we need courses like Chicano studies, professors like you, and places like the Centro Cultural de la Raza.