established in 1944, Incorporated in 1945
A New Day For The Civica - from a MI Gente article in 2009
SAGINAW—It’s a new day for La Unión Cívica Mexicana, and the group has big plans for 2010 as members try to unite the Hispanic community to continue to save the legacy left by the founders. As the year draws to a close a review of efforts by so many who have worked to keep the organization alive after 64 years proves that “si se puede.”
A Halloween Fiesta, a Dia de Los Muertos Brunch and a Tamale Taste-Off are recent examples of how Cívica members are using their cultural identity for awareness in the Saginaw Community. This is the first of three goals in the mission statement set forth by 11 founders in 1945. Advocating for civil rights and educational attainment are the two others. Together five older members with 10 newer members are forging new partnerships with visible results.
“We have an obligation to all the past members who worked toward these goals,” said José Arellano, who was appointed president of the 65-year-old organization on Oct. 1. “We definitely have it easier, but honestly we’re still fighting the same [founding] issues in our community.”
Still, Arellano’s predecessor Maria Vela had bigger worries in 2008, when she made a plea for assistance to save the Cívica. With the economic downturn and increased heating and cooling costs, the 50-year-old energy-inefficient hall was quickly bleeding the group dry.
“I couldn’t get any help from most of the members,” said then-President Vela, who had been at the group’s helm for nearly five years. Member apathy was at an all-time high, but Vela and longtime member Lola Aguilar struggled to pay the bills.
“We worked our tails off, trying to raise money anyway we could, but we knew the upcoming winter heating bills were going to kill us,” said Aguilar, who works tirelessly as a one-woman maintenance crew for the group.
Mi Gente Publisher Larry J. Rodarte recalls the day when Vela asked for his assistance.
“I remember looking at this woman with great admiration because I saw the hurt in her eyes; something she held close to her heart was slipping away. But she was still fighting the good fight.”
Vela was perplexed when Rodarte called her a short time later saying the Cívica would host a Dia de Los Muertos Brunch.
“When ‘that guy’ called me and said we were having a brunch for the dead, I was like, who’s going to come to that?” Vela now says with a smile, now knowing the cultural significance. The brunch raised $1,200.
Rodarte laughs too, and explains how introverted the handful of members were who worked that first brunch and were surprised at the turnout.
“I guess Maria must have thought I was crazy, but because of my profession, I knew the marketing and twist of this event was pivotal.”
That event set the group in motion for successful monthly brunches in 2009 to raise more funds and capitalize on the upcoming 30th annual Cinco de Mayo celebration.
“I wanted to build bridges within our Hispanic organizations, to work together for a cause,” said Rodarte. “I remembered the words of César Chávez when he said, ‘When you have people together who believe in something very strongly—whether it’s religion or politics or union—things happen.’”
The Low-4-Life Car Club, the Mid-Michigan Hispanic Business Association and the American G.I. Forum each hosted brunches that netted more than $3,500.
Rodarte then called Arellano to join the campaign of “Saving the Cívica,” and together they infused a “rebirth mentality” of old and new volunteers to pull off Saginaw’s most successful Cinco de Mayo celebration in the history of the organization.
But something happened on the way to the bank—as revenues of the 5th of May event came in, they quickly went straight to Consumers Energy to cover past due bills.
“We worked so hard to raise money only to pay over $5,000 for the utilities of the building,” Arellano said. “We agreed to close the building down for the winter months.”
With the Indian summer of 2009, the hall has remained open thus far, meanwhile new members who have ample ideas to raise funds are strategizing their next move.
“The involvement in the Halloween Fiesta really has motivated volunteers to join the Unión Cívica after more than 100 children participated—they saw things happening,” said Rodarte, who was appointed vice president in November. “It really is a new day for the group.”
All give credit to Vela and Aguilar, along with Angelita Gonzalez, Antonia Silvas, Lee Zaragoza and Ricardo Gallegos for keeping the Cívica in existence during the tough years.
Members are hoping the Dec. 12, Candyland Christmas Party at the hall is as successful, as well as a New Year’s Eve Dance featuring Tejano singer Elida Reyna and Lansing’s Grupo Aldaco.
According to new board: Arellano, Rodarte, treasurer Margaret Yrlas and secretary Guadalupe Zaragoza, all fund-raising is to keep the Cívica afloat, but more importantly, to set up an endowment fund for a new building.
“The current building has so many memories for so many people, but is so energy-inefficient” Rodarte said. “But its time has passed and we all know we must move forward with this one goal. We have to get a new location, to host our seniors, our children and our activities—a community center—a place people will go to day or night.”
Arellano agreed, asking, “How can we accomplish the goal set by our founders in regard to education if all our money is going toward Consumers? We want to give scholarships to our kids to help them with their education.”
The goals are set and as La Unión Cívica Mexicana enters its 65th year of existence, members are asking for the community support.
The group has some great ideas for fund-raising and for Cinco de Mayo, said Yrlas, who at 26 is the youngest member. And the Cinco de Mayo next year is the big annual event they will really work for, she added.
The proactive mentality is truly our guide, Rodarte said. “Sure, I foresee us having our up and downs, as the history of the organization dictates, but we can do this. We have to utilize our nonprofit status for the betterment of our people and not allow it to fall by the wayside.
“It’s a new day for the Cívica. Please come back and help us along.”
A Halloween Fiesta, a Dia de Los Muertos Brunch and a Tamale Taste-Off are recent examples of how Cívica members are using their cultural identity for awareness in the Saginaw Community. This is the first of three goals in the mission statement set forth by 11 founders in 1945. Advocating for civil rights and educational attainment are the two others. Together five older members with 10 newer members are forging new partnerships with visible results.
“We have an obligation to all the past members who worked toward these goals,” said José Arellano, who was appointed president of the 65-year-old organization on Oct. 1. “We definitely have it easier, but honestly we’re still fighting the same [founding] issues in our community.”
Still, Arellano’s predecessor Maria Vela had bigger worries in 2008, when she made a plea for assistance to save the Cívica. With the economic downturn and increased heating and cooling costs, the 50-year-old energy-inefficient hall was quickly bleeding the group dry.
“I couldn’t get any help from most of the members,” said then-President Vela, who had been at the group’s helm for nearly five years. Member apathy was at an all-time high, but Vela and longtime member Lola Aguilar struggled to pay the bills.
“We worked our tails off, trying to raise money anyway we could, but we knew the upcoming winter heating bills were going to kill us,” said Aguilar, who works tirelessly as a one-woman maintenance crew for the group.
Mi Gente Publisher Larry J. Rodarte recalls the day when Vela asked for his assistance.
“I remember looking at this woman with great admiration because I saw the hurt in her eyes; something she held close to her heart was slipping away. But she was still fighting the good fight.”
Vela was perplexed when Rodarte called her a short time later saying the Cívica would host a Dia de Los Muertos Brunch.
“When ‘that guy’ called me and said we were having a brunch for the dead, I was like, who’s going to come to that?” Vela now says with a smile, now knowing the cultural significance. The brunch raised $1,200.
Rodarte laughs too, and explains how introverted the handful of members were who worked that first brunch and were surprised at the turnout.
“I guess Maria must have thought I was crazy, but because of my profession, I knew the marketing and twist of this event was pivotal.”
That event set the group in motion for successful monthly brunches in 2009 to raise more funds and capitalize on the upcoming 30th annual Cinco de Mayo celebration.
“I wanted to build bridges within our Hispanic organizations, to work together for a cause,” said Rodarte. “I remembered the words of César Chávez when he said, ‘When you have people together who believe in something very strongly—whether it’s religion or politics or union—things happen.’”
The Low-4-Life Car Club, the Mid-Michigan Hispanic Business Association and the American G.I. Forum each hosted brunches that netted more than $3,500.
Rodarte then called Arellano to join the campaign of “Saving the Cívica,” and together they infused a “rebirth mentality” of old and new volunteers to pull off Saginaw’s most successful Cinco de Mayo celebration in the history of the organization.
But something happened on the way to the bank—as revenues of the 5th of May event came in, they quickly went straight to Consumers Energy to cover past due bills.
“We worked so hard to raise money only to pay over $5,000 for the utilities of the building,” Arellano said. “We agreed to close the building down for the winter months.”
With the Indian summer of 2009, the hall has remained open thus far, meanwhile new members who have ample ideas to raise funds are strategizing their next move.
“The involvement in the Halloween Fiesta really has motivated volunteers to join the Unión Cívica after more than 100 children participated—they saw things happening,” said Rodarte, who was appointed vice president in November. “It really is a new day for the group.”
All give credit to Vela and Aguilar, along with Angelita Gonzalez, Antonia Silvas, Lee Zaragoza and Ricardo Gallegos for keeping the Cívica in existence during the tough years.
Members are hoping the Dec. 12, Candyland Christmas Party at the hall is as successful, as well as a New Year’s Eve Dance featuring Tejano singer Elida Reyna and Lansing’s Grupo Aldaco.
According to new board: Arellano, Rodarte, treasurer Margaret Yrlas and secretary Guadalupe Zaragoza, all fund-raising is to keep the Cívica afloat, but more importantly, to set up an endowment fund for a new building.
“The current building has so many memories for so many people, but is so energy-inefficient” Rodarte said. “But its time has passed and we all know we must move forward with this one goal. We have to get a new location, to host our seniors, our children and our activities—a community center—a place people will go to day or night.”
Arellano agreed, asking, “How can we accomplish the goal set by our founders in regard to education if all our money is going toward Consumers? We want to give scholarships to our kids to help them with their education.”
The goals are set and as La Unión Cívica Mexicana enters its 65th year of existence, members are asking for the community support.
The group has some great ideas for fund-raising and for Cinco de Mayo, said Yrlas, who at 26 is the youngest member. And the Cinco de Mayo next year is the big annual event they will really work for, she added.
The proactive mentality is truly our guide, Rodarte said. “Sure, I foresee us having our up and downs, as the history of the organization dictates, but we can do this. We have to utilize our nonprofit status for the betterment of our people and not allow it to fall by the wayside.
“It’s a new day for the Cívica. Please come back and help us along.”
Giving Thanks
SAGINAW-- The history of Saginaw’s La Unión Cívica Mexicana is a grand crusade of committment by the early founders and current members to preserve the rich ethnic culture of the Mexican people in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
The early years were tough as the founders and their families faced extreme racial discrimination of the 40’s and 50’s in America. Along with many of the Mexican pioneers across the U.S.A, the Cívica members paved the way for the advancment in civil rights, education and cultural identity.
Today the Cívica is one of the oldest Hispanic organizations, if not the oldest, within the state of Michigan that is still functioning. After 75 years, the group is still a leader within the community promoting ethnic pride, cultural celebrations and community support. The historical heritage is key to any historian who writes the narrative of Saginaw.
On their way to the 75th Anniversary, we give honor and thanks to the founders — the pioneers who made an impact to ensure equality, justice and pride for their people. We thank those who have helped in any way to keep their vision alive throughout the years— to help succeeding generations know their cultural identity. We salute all current memebers and those who once called the Unión Cívica home. Adelante!
The early years were tough as the founders and their families faced extreme racial discrimination of the 40’s and 50’s in America. Along with many of the Mexican pioneers across the U.S.A, the Cívica members paved the way for the advancment in civil rights, education and cultural identity.
Today the Cívica is one of the oldest Hispanic organizations, if not the oldest, within the state of Michigan that is still functioning. After 75 years, the group is still a leader within the community promoting ethnic pride, cultural celebrations and community support. The historical heritage is key to any historian who writes the narrative of Saginaw.
On their way to the 75th Anniversary, we give honor and thanks to the founders — the pioneers who made an impact to ensure equality, justice and pride for their people. We thank those who have helped in any way to keep their vision alive throughout the years— to help succeeding generations know their cultural identity. We salute all current memebers and those who once called the Unión Cívica home. Adelante!
