ODESSA, Texas —
The League of United Latino Citizens (LULAC) has a long history in Odessa and around the nation; stepping in to help Hispanic populations with all sorts of issues since its start.
“We've been here in Odessa for over 40 years, LULAC itself at the national level is 100 years old," said Carol Uranga, district director of District 6 for LULAC. "They were formed in Corpus Christi, and it's a civil rights organization, but we do projects. One of our projects is cultural development. We have the veterans events, we have the immigration, we have the different community projects that we do. But it's important that people realize that LULAC is here for the community.”
There are multiple councils of LULAC in Odessa and each specialize in helping with specific issues.
One of the main issues that the organization helps the local Hispanic population with is resolving immigration issues.
“My council handles immigration, I do have a network of attorneys and that is one thing that I love about LULAC because it does have a network of so many civil rights attorneys," said Theresa Servin, president of LULAC Council 22405. "Anytime that I need any advocacy or if it's out of my league, I get to call someone in Houston, someone in San Antonio, I have a network of attorneys that work with me for me and does a lot of pro bono, and that is another thing with LULAC, we are all volunteers.”
Hispanic veterans will also come to LULAC for help with issues of their own and that’s where Jesse Porra’s council comes in.
As a veteran himself he knows how to relate to them and work with the VA, sometimes to make sure veterans are made aware of services and benefits available to them.
Porra said in his experience not every veteran knows where to go or how to get involved with the VA or in some cases find work.
“When I first got out of Marine Corps, I didn't have any experience because you got to understand when I joined Marine Corps, I joined right after school and my job was O-311, which is infantry. As I came out of Marine Corps, there was no experience as far as any jobs that I could say that I knew," said Porra, president of LULAC Council 4960. "LULAC has the opportunity to give them some education, help them out, put them in the right direction where they need to be so they can get a door open for them to get some kind of administration help.”
LULAC also helps put on all kinds of cultural events and festivals to help show off Hispanic heritage and foster community engagement.
However, though the majority of Hispanics in the Midland-Odessa area are of Mexican descent that doesn’t mean it’s the only culture LULAC showcases.
“We embrace every culture where we celebrate every culture, and that's the reason it's called Hispanic Heritage Hispanic Heritage Month," said Liliana Marquez, president of LULAC Council 2247. "As you can see, it's not called Mexican Hispanic. It's called Hispanic. Why? Because we embrace the Venezolanos, the Cubans, everybody. Everybody's our brother, everybody's our sister.”
To LULAC, Hispanic Heritage Month is about more than just celebrating Hispanic cultures, it’s about keeping what makes those Hispanic cultures what they are alive.
“We can't afford to lose our traditions, our history, our background, and our ancestry, we can't afford to let it go because it's what keeps the whole system going," Uranga said. "If we're not proud of who we are, we cannot help anybody else. We've got to take care of ourselves first. So that's what Hispanic heritage is all about. Being proud of who you are, being part of where you come from and that way you set your path before you're going.”