Hispanic Policy Network

The public is invited to come celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the founding of Cementerio San Pedro, located at the intersection of Posey Road and Old Bastrop Highway (Hwy 21).  Established in 1909, San Pedro cemetery has had a very rich history.  At a time when our country and state were highly segregated by race, class, and ethnicity, local Mexicans formed a mutual aid society to help people with the expenses involved in funerals.  The society’s first officers were Antonio Sanchez (president), Pablo de la Rosa (secretary), Alejandro Rodriguez (treasurer and caretaker), Jose Guerrero (vice president), Ramon Rivera (substitute secretary), and Rosendo Arredondo (collector).  Established when most cemeteries in Texas were segregated by ethnicity, Luis Rosales and others helped collect money from Mexican and Mexican American residents in the area to purchase approximately two acres of land. A group of 47 men is listed on the By-Laws as founders of the Cemetery. Records from 1915 indicate that the Association had more than 300 members, and in 1937 they purchased another 2 acres. Based on the By-Laws, the association wanted to preserve the right for persons of all means and all faiths to bury their loved ones.
 
With increased urbanization and racial and ethnic integration after WWII, San Pedro Cemetery was relatively neglected, but local residents and members of the founding families revitalized it in the 1960s. Now, the San Pedro Cemetery Association is one of the few surviving mutual aid societies in Texas and the U.S.
 
San Pedro’s centennial celebration also commemorates the Mexican-Catholic Holiday of Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead.  According to current board members, some relatives and friends of the deceased buried in San Pedro Cemetery celebrate Dia de los Muertos by making home altars and decorating graves. The public is invited to learn more about the holiday and the cemetery. We are especially interested in having persons familiar with San Marcos and San Pedro attend to help us document the history and traditions of the local community, especially through photos, memorabilia, funeral announcements, and anything else related to San Pedro.  Texas State University students will be available to record stories, folklore, and oral histories prior to and during the celebration.
 
The event takes place Saturday, November 7, 2009 in the early afternoon between 2 and 4.  For more information please contact Dr. Ana Juarez at (512) 245-8272 or visit http://www.txstate.edu/anthropology/centers/Cemetery/San-Pedro.html for more information on San Pedro’s history.

 

In support of HAPCOA’s Vision, Mission, Values, and Goals, We have created an honorary scholarship funded membership for a student from Texas State University majoring in Criminal Justice. This honorary member will have the opportunity to experience how a professional organization made up of primarily Hispanic police commanders operates. He or she will also experience the art of networking within the police environment and be exposed to our national training conference.

    In addition to the chapter’s membership, the selected student will attend HAPCOA’s National Training Conference at our expense. In order to make this initiative a true valuable experience, attendance at the national conference is necessary. The networking that occurs and the career expo would be a tremendous opportunity for them and for us.

    The Texas State University Police Department has also pledged to contribute to this tremendous opportunity. The police department will invite the student to all in-house 120 hour training program to include firearms and tactical training, to leadership and professional development.

Scholarship Applicationhispanic-policy-network/HPN-News/HPN-Archives.html

Active and potential members of HPN will meet at noon for lunch on the first Friday of every month starting October 2, 2009.  This week we will meet on the second floor of The Den by Einstein's Bagels.  This is a great opportunity for HPN to become visible to the campus community and demonstrate that Latinos in Higher Education are united by common culture, experience and goals.