1. Empowering the Mixtecs in Linda Vista A study devoted to the empowerment of an indigenous community Daisy Miguel, University of California, San Diego, Urban Studies and Planning 2010-2011 Immigration according to Fulton and Shigley (2005) is one of the three main trends that is facing California’s planning environment. However over the last couple of years the Urban and Regional planning field has been mainly focused on the sustainability of the natural environment and the creation of community through design. This report is an attempt to step away from the physical environment and to focus on the sustainability of preserving community through immigrant culture. Familia Indigena Unida (FIU) is an indigenous organization that was founded in 2006, and serves the Mixtec population in Linda Vista. The organization holds different cultural workshops and events throughout the year, but the main program they host is the Mixtec cultural exchange program. This research project specifically identified whether the Familia Indigena Unida program is helping to empower the Mixtecs in Linda Vista. ABSTRACT PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Does the Mixtec Cultural Exchange program that is sponsored by Familia Indigena Unida empower the Mixtecs in Linda Vista?  What resources and opportunities are available to Mixtec community through the Mixtec Cultural Exchange program?  What are some of the challenges that Familia Indigena Unida faces in trying to empower the Mixtecs community? ANALYTICAL APPROACH AND METHODS Methods The conclusions resulting from this report where based on ethnographic methods and qualitative data.  Interviews and surveys were conducted among the volunteers, participants and the Familia Indigena Unida Board.  Personal observation from September 2010 to January 2011 was used as a tool to help explain some of the findings. Literature  the migration of indigenous communities from Oaxaca.  the experience of indigenous Mixtec people in the United States.  the rise of indigenous organizations in the United States after their migration. FINDINGS Familia Indigena Board, from left to right, Nidia Merino Chavez, Judy Lemon, Carmen Rodriguez, Daisy Miguel, Carlos Cisneros-Juarez, Paulina Torres, Julieta Gonzalez and in the bottom left Octavio Rodriguez. Photo courtesy of Daisy Miguel “[Empowerment] refers to the expansion of choice and action and is about individual as well as collective agency” (Courville and Piper 2010, 50) Source: Who Are the Mixtecs?: The Region by Kim Daniels, Shannon Pence. http://usc.news21.com/node/57 (Accessed March 7, 2011)  Through survey responses it was revealed that not only were the Mixtecs gaining a sense of empowerment by being part of the program but so were the volunteers and the FIU board members. The Mixtec Cultural Exchange program provides Mixtec role models.  Valentina Torres and Julieta Gonzales are two Mixtec university graduates who serve as role models to the Mixtec community. FINDINGS Mixtec Cultural Exchange Program, Julieta Gonzalez helping one of the Mixtec children with their homework. Source: Daisy Miguel  Mixtec women through education and interaction with volunteers are empowered to speak their minds. “The love for the community and the people, especially the kids. Just to give something back to the community makes me happy”-Familia Indigena Unida Board member response “You come and help them but in reality they are the ones who really teach you, they teach you about their culture and traditions”-Diane Vasquez, volunteer  The Mixtec Cultural Exchange program helps create a reverse of the hierarchy since indigenous people are perceived as poor and ignorant. “The Mixtec Cultural Exchange program helps reinforce Mixtec identity, they do not have to sacrifice who they are and what they want to be, they can be Mixtec and move up”-Hester,volunteer CONCLUSION Mixtec Cultural Exchange, Dan teaching English level 1. Source:Daisy Miguel  The Mixtec Cultural Exchange program empowers the community by celebrating the Mixtec culture and traditions.  One of the main challenges to the program is the lack of sufficient space to hold the classes and a lack of funding.  Despite the empowerment that is occurring in the Mixtec community there is still extensive challenges they must overcome as transnational migrants. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report could not have been completed without the support of the Familia Indigena Unida Board, the volunteers and the Mixtec community in Linda Vista. In addition the guidance of Dr. Keith Pezzoli and Lydia Lundgren were essential to the completion of this report.