Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

FILIPINO activist Arturo Garcia is a member of the community advisory board for the Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission.

Garcia, a member of the Justice for Filipino-American Veterans (JFAV), Alliance of Relatives and Widows for Equity (AWARE), People’s CORE, and an active member of the Filipino community was appointed to the position by LA City Councilman Eric Garcia three years ago after being nominated by former field deputy Joe Bernardo.

As a member of the community advisory board, Garcia advises the members of the human relations commission about interethnic relations in Los Angeles.

The LA Human Relations Commission was founded in 1966 as a commission to develop comprehensive educational programs designed to enlist the cooperation of all groups in eliminating prejudice and discrimination in employment, housing, education and public accommodations.

The goal of the commission is to "assist in assuring to all people the opportunity for full and equal welfare and safety of all residents in the Los Angeles community through activities and programs designed to reduce discrimination, tension, and violence, and to advance improved intergroup relations. The Commission supports efforts to create a city free of racism and violence where residents may live and work in an environment of respect, mutual tolerance, and human diversity."

Garcia immigrated to the United States in 1997. He began his activism career as a community volunteer, and eventually a community organizer for People’s CORE. In 1998, he helped organize the Pro-People Youth, then helped consolidate the Alyansa ng Komunidad (AK) from 1998-2000, according to editor Peter Cuasey.

Since 1998, Garcia organized the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) as a campaign for People’s CORE. He became National Coordinator of JFAV in November 2008 after JFAV formally decided in 2006 to work as a separate organization from People’s CORE. Concurrently, he is also the coordinator of another community coalition, the Echo Park Community Coalition established in 2001.

Besides being a staunch community organizer, Garcia recently wrote a book titled, The Unrecognized American Veterans about the plight of Filipino World War II veterans.

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( Published October 21, 2009 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B2 )