Gente Organizada front of building Holt Ave

Pomona, CA — At 8:30 AM, representatives of Gente Organizada noticed artwork on the front of their building on Holt avenue had been stolen overnight. The artwork was an enlarged photograph taken by Julian Lucas during the 2020 protests in the city of Pomona, during the global Black Lives Matter uprising protesting the police murder of George Floyd.

The artwork was installed a year ago, but was stolen a week after the the ACLU released a press release announcing they were suing the City of Pomona over code enforcement fines that the City had leveled on Gente Organizada. The ACLU said the City was in violation of Freedom of Speech. ACLU Press Release

Gente Organizada released a statement on an instagram post stating, “Art is supposed to be provocative and political, not stolen off of our building this morning. It seems like pro-police folks are the ones committing the crimes in our neighborhood.”

The artist, Julian Lucas, who has captured Pomona street culture for the last 23 years, took the news as a anazed, but laughed and stated, “It sucks because artists make art and it costs money, time, and effort. It also sucks because what people don’t usually understand is photography creates history, it’s a slice of life that happened in 2020, during the time of the pandemic, which can’t be repeated. Therefore, the image can also be viewed as a part of Pomona’s history for the future to come. On the other hand I’m flattered, the city of Pomona can now stand up and pat itself on the back, because instead of bikes or porch thieves, they now have someone who steals art. I think that this is a step in the right direction when it comes to what we think is valuable, as opposed to an Amazon package from someone’s porch”.

The Pomonan is the cultural structure, empowering visionaries to propel the global society to the future.

On April 8, 2023, the City of Pomona honored famed author, poet, memoirist, journalist, mentor, teacher and all around living legend Luis J. Rodriguez. The recognition was given for Mr. Rodriguez’s contributions to "the advancement of the poetic arts." The certificate was presented to Mr. Rodriguez by Mayor Tim Sandoval and Councilmember Norma Garcia at the Pomona Civic Center at the steps of the library.

This public recognition was a result of collaborative efforts between Pomona’s newest Poet Laureate, Ceasar K. Avelar, and Pomona Library Manager, Anita Torres.

By Matt Sedillo

Published 7:25 AM PST

Speaking on the impact of Luis Rodriguez, Mayor Tim Sandoval focused deeply on a personal history with the author. The Mayor spoke of Luis Rodriguez's commitment to the community at large and Pomona specifically mentioning several high schools Rodriguez had visited in recent years. Sandoval also touched upon formative study groups he had attended hosted by the late professor Trevor Campbell and the specific impact Luis Rodriguez had had on those meetings as they discussed the very nature of the economic system we live under, namely capitalism.

Poet Laureate of Pomona, Cesar Avelar also spoke. Caesar said of Rodriguez that, “Luis has this thing, but it’s our ancestor’s thing, it is in us.” Avelar spoke again not only to the grand artistic contributions of Luis Rodriguez but again touched upon his role as a mentor. Avelar met Rodriguez young in his writing career and as a new father. Avelar spoke not only to the advice Rodriguez had to offer in terms of writing but also of the example he provided in the life he has led.

Luis Rodriguez is the author of Always Running: Mi Vida Loca Gang Days in Los Angeles, the 2nd Poet Laureate of Los Angeles the cofounder of Tia Chucha’s Bookstore and Cultural Center, a teaching artist in the prisons, one of the few Los Angeles authors enshrined in Vroman’s Los Angeles author’s Walk of Fame. Rodriguez has received recognition the world over. Has spoken in prisons and campuses across the globe. Luis Rodriguez is by all accounts a great man, an iconic figure and an inspiration to the Chicano community.

Always Running is a seminal classic which in many ways founded and defined a field of writing. It has sold hundreds of thousands copies. It has inspired a generation of authors who would not have otherwise been authors. The impact of that book and what it means particularly to criminalized youth in the Chicano community is unparalleled to this day. Yet when asked about what he considers his greatest contribution Luis will often refer to his work at Tia Chucha’s and his work in the prisons.

During Rodriguez’s speech he invited the audience to come to Tia Chucha’s and of the role he has played as a workshop leader to the incarcerated. He spoke of the transformation he had seen in others through the written word, a transformation he knows himself all too well, a transformation he is a living testament too.

“Sometimes you don’t have a choice. You’re born into terrible circumstances”, Rodriguez describes during his enlightening speech. But I tell them at a certain point you have a choice: am I going to curse the world. Or am I going to bless it.” Luis Rodriguez has clearly chosen the latter and we are all the better for it.

Luis Rodriguez is a magnificent author and artist whose work will stand the test of time. He is a true pillar of the community who builds upon what was there and leaves the place fuller than found. Rodriguez is a great man, a great mentor, a great teacher, who has not only created his own legacy but has provided the tools and example for future generations to do the same.

On April 8th 2023, on the steps of the Library, there in the Civic Center, the City of Pomona honored the great Luis Rodriguez. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day.

Matt Sedillo has been described as the "best political poet in America" as well as "the poet laureate of the struggle" by academics, poets, and journalists alike. He has appeared on CSPAN and has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, among other publications.

Update: Art Work Stolen from Gente Organizada A Community-Led social Action Non-Profit Organization

Famed Author and Poet Luis Rodriguez Receives Certificate of Recognition by the City of Pomona