Charles Vazquez:  

During high school I was actively involved with the Latin American Club, a non school group whose only requirement was that you attend SFA. We met weekly at the Denver Harbor gym and hosted fund raisers so that our graduation prom could be held. This group also served to bring students of Mexican descent together for some fellow ship and support. So I naturally became involved with the Chicano movement in Houston. This included increased participation with the political activity in the Hispanic community. I was involved in voter registration drives, political campaigns and many discussions. After graduation in 1968 I pursued my academic career by attending the University of St. Thomas in Houston. But in 1970 I set out on another of my life goals by becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer. My group, Los Paperos 1 met at Texas A & M University in College Station where we trained as agricultural volunteers for work in Perú.. Once I was in country everyday was an adventure and the experience can only be described as a camp out that was "fascinating". One of the biggest adjustments was leaving my site in Acobama, Huancavelica and being reassigned to Huaraz, Ancash, the site of the 1970 earthquake. My duties expanded and I traveled throughout the Callejon de Huaylas which is a valley in the Andes mountains. I returned to UST in 1972 and began my studies again. In 1973 I accepted a summer volunteer assignment with the Winant and Clayton volunteers in London, England where I served as an adventure playground worker at the TOC H Centre in Croydon and at the Hanwell Crescent Centre in London's West End. I was able to get away on week ends and visit Paris, Liverpool, Cambridge and Brighton Beach plus numerous other sites. Once again I returned to St. Thomas and received direction and support from many including Rev. John ...Expand for more