June is Pride Month! Pride month is a time to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, honor its history, and continue advocating for equality and acceptance. I was pleased to spotlight a dear friend, Richard Zaldivar, Founder and Executive Director of The Wall Las Memorias. During a recent council session, Richard was recognized as the City’s #CD14 Pride Month Honoree for his tremendous contributions and leadership in the LGBTQIA+ community in CD14 and beyond. Let’s continue celebrating Pride Month and incredible leaders like Richard who continue to change the world every day!

¡Junio es el MES DEL ORGULLO! Este mes es un momento para celebrar a la comunidad LGBTQIA+, honrar su historia y seguir abogando por la igualdad y la aceptación. Me complace destacar a un querido amigo, Richard Zaldivar, Fundador y Director Ejecutivo de The Wall Las Memorias. Durante una reciente sesión del consejo, Richard fue reconocido como el Homenajeado del Mes del Orgullo de la Ciudad de parte del Distrito 14 por sus enormes contribuciones y liderazgo en la comunidad LGBTQIA+ en CD14 y más allá. ¡Sigamos celebrando el Mes del Orgullo y a líderes increíbles como Richard que continúan cambiando el mundo todos los días!

The LAPD Celebrates Pride Month - Richard Zaldivar was selected as one of the influential members of the community. [Watch More]

Less than four years after it was created in the wake of social justice protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd, the city of San Gabriel will consider disbanding its Human Equity, Access and Relations Commission at their Tuesday, April 16 meeting, despite outcry from residents and activist organizations. [Read More]

Latina Vice Mayor Denise Menchaca promoted the end of HEAR; She receives boos from the LGBTQ community and is criticized for spreading a message of non-inclusion, hatred and rejection. By a 3-2 vote, the San Gabriel City Council rescinded the Commission on Equity, Access and Human Relations (HEAR), four years after its creation, with members of the LGBTQ community blaming Latina Vice Mayor Denise Menchaca , of being the promoter of the dissolution and of spreading “hatred” and assured that they will do everything possible “so that she does not occupy a position in the municipal government again.” [Read More]

We are grateful, humbled, and joyous by this accolade and the national recognition by the Yield Giving Foundation. The grant is a testament to the important and necessary work of the organization, the dedication of our staff, our board members, and our beloved community. It will allow us to deepen our impact and increase our reach to help even more community members for years to come. Thank you MacKenzie  Scott, Yield Giving, and Lever for Change for this great recognition.

Richard Zaldivar
Founder and Executive Director
The Wall Las Memorias

The Eastside is well known for its many murals, many of which hold cultural significance for its residents, both past and present. Falling in line, a new work titled “Our Boyle Heights” on 1st Street reflects the mission, vision, and values of the local nonprofit it covers. [Read More] 

The first report of AIDS appeared in the Center for Disease Control’s weekly public health digest in June of 1981 on CNN. Today, it is estimated that 39 million people are living with HIV and 1.2 million live in the United States. According to local data, in Los Angeles County, there were over 50,000 individuals living with HIV in 2022. [ Read More ]

LGBTQIA+ Catholics in Southern California are welcoming the announcement from the Vatican on Monday that Pope Francishas given his approval to priests to bless same-sex unions.

Why it matters: Richard Zaldivar, executive director-founder of The Wall Las Memorias, a Los Angeles-based LGBTQ+-Latino community organization, called Francis’ approval a “Christmas gift.” [ Read More ]

World AIDS Day, December 1, 1993. That’s the day The Wall Las Memorias Project was founded by Richard L. Zaldivar, who still leads the organization as its Executive Director three decades later. It was also the organization’s first “Noche de Memorias”, a night of mourning dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS epidemic and remembering the lives of those who have passed from the disease over the years. [ READ MORE ]