SPONSORSHIPS

Dozens of sponsor organizations have
joined us to support our cause.
​If you would like to learn more please
​see 'contact us' above.

mission & vision

The focus of our organization is to develop the intellectual, moral + humanitarian status of our community through conferences, cultural events, acts of civic responsibility and scholarship.

our leadership team

Our HISTORY

Machetes, S.A.

Dreams in Action

Martin De Mucha Flores
President. Martín is the Associate Dean of Educational Success and Student Equity & Achievement at Berkeley City College (BCC). Martín leads and supports various BCC efforts in equity, inclusion and retention programs. 

Sam Blanco III
Treasurer. Sam is currently Director of Pre-College Programs which includes Talent Search and Upward Bound at UC Davis.  He served as School Board Trustee with the Woodland Joint Unified School District from 2012-16.

Rafael Chavez

​Secretary. Raffa has two unique careers. One as a Communications Manager in the Office of the California State Governor and the other as a painter of fine art.

Juan Berumen

​Vice President. Juan was born in Guadalajara, and raised in the Bay Area, Dr. Berumen is an ethnic studies lecturer at U.C. Berkeley and is in production for his second short film, Recetas.

CONTRIBUTIONS

You can also support a student in need by contributing to the cause and the future of a "dreamer". ​If you would like to learn more please see 'contact us' above.

​Los MSA (Los Machetes) has existed officially with the State of California since 1977, but its roots stretch back to 1973 when a group Chicano staff and students at the University of California, Davis (UCD) united, as a mutual benefit association, with the primary goal of having a positive effect on the local community with events such as dances, car shows, art exhibits and concerts. Los Machetes is now a registered 501(c)(3) organization with the IRS. In order to sustain this community involvement, the MSA has raised funds through events, personal, community and private donations. To maintain its cohesiveness the members--without exception--have embraced the concept of Mutual Respect.  

There have been many recipients of the 35-member group’s philanthropy including artists, musicians, arts organizations, youth groups, educators and many of those in need who have reached out to Los Machetes.  Over the last 15 years the focus has been primarily focussed on providing scholarships for AB 540 students or “Dreamers.” These scholarships are known as the Jesus “Xuy” Leyba Scholarships. Mr. Leyba, who passed away in 2002, was the first Chicano Studies Coordinator at UCD and a founding member of Los MACHETES. His influence on not only the campus and community at large, but also the members of Los MACHETES touched upon the very idea that once educated it was important to plant that seed and bring others into the university system.  Many of the group’s members are to this day involved with education or retired from such careers. They honor the concept of passing through the doors of education and holding it open for successive generations.

In April 2016, Los MACHETES collaborated with the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) to sponsor Suenos 2016 an immensely successful event raising scholarships for local students to complete their education and realize their life goals and dreams. All proceeds from Suenos 2016 went directly to the scholarship fund of the LACCD.

Today Los MACHETES provides the Jesús “Xuy” Leyba on a “quarterly” basis to the students who attend and apply for them at UCD. The organization has given up to $2,000 per quarter at the university and will continue to do so in the years to come as there will always be a need and support from la comunidad.