Poder Escondido: Stories of Latino Civic Engagement is a project produced by the Media Arts Center San Diego’s Teen Producers Project, in partnership with San Diego County Office of Education’s Migrant Education Program (Region IX).  The year long project worked with Escondido youth from Orange Glen High School over the course of a year to produce two short documentaries that focus on Latino civic engagement in North County, San Diego.  The project produced a two-part documentary series called, PODER ESCONDIDO: Latino Civic Engagement in Escondido.  

Film Descriptions:

Poder Escondido/ Hidden Power

TwoLatina women make a difference in the city of Escondido, empowering their community.  Carmen Miranda and Consuelo Martinez embark on a grassroots campaign to betterEscondidofor all.

 

Seeds of Change

After a terrible shooting in his neighborhood in the 90s, Bill de la Fuente was moved to action.  The businessman turned community organizer has become an influential community leader inNorth  County, advocating on behalf of Latino communities, youth, and local businesses.

Highlights from the films include:

“What I am asking people now is to register to vote. It’s important to vote because we need to get involved in local government.  We need people up there who will represent everybody who lives in Escondido, pays taxes, everybody who built Escondido.” - Carmen Miranda, Former Candidate for Escondido City Council, 2006

“I don’t believe that the voices of Latinos voices in reflected in the government ofEscondido.  I definitely think we need to be represented on the city council. .  Latinos need to get involved, we have to be part of that process, we have to be part of the solution.    We have to tell people want we want."- Consuelo Martinez, Student & Grassroots Activist

"Life made me change.  Take a positive approach, and turn those stereotyped images around! Respect makes things work; yet some respect has been lost.  I'd love to see it returned."- Bill de la Fuente, CLA Inland President & Community Organizer

The oral histories gathered will give voice to featured participants while providing instructive models for leadership, community building and civic engagement. Youth documentation of residents’ life histories strengthen communities by re-building intergenerational ties, training future leaders, preserving life stories and has offered a model to help other communities’ maintain their cultural survival.

Tell Your Story!   

If  you live in the North County are and you have a story to tell about your participation in the community, please contact us:  619.230.1938 x 102      

 Consuelo Martinez from PODER ESCONDIDO