Founded in 1965 by Luis Valdez, El Teatro Campesino — or, The Farm Worker’s Theater — began as the educational and cultural wing of the United Farm Workers movement. A playwright and a farm worker himself, Luis initially sought to dramatize the plight and motivation of the striking farm workers, and used centuries-old traditional Mexican arts to inspire striking farm workers and Chicano student activists. In the process, a Chicano theater movement was born, one aiming to unearth the cultural legacy of the Americas and to preserve community-based expressive forms. In its nearly 60 year history ETC has led the vanguard of innovative, impactful and resonant storytelling to achieve social change. Through the years ETC has expanded its repertory, produced theatre throughout California and the nation, expanded into independent film and digital storytelling. Today, as a grassroots arts organization and performing ensemble based in San Juan Bautista, El Teatro Campesino keeps the tradition of Chicano theater alive, giving multiple generations of underserved communities of California’s Central Coast the knowledge, training, and encouragement to challenge the human condition through traditional performing arts.