Join us for a plática on May 16th: “Willie Velásquez: Su Voz” !

UTSA Libraries Special Collections and the family of Willie Velásquez will unite for an evening to celebrate the life and legacy of one of America’s most influential voting rights advocates, William C. Velásquez. The plática will serve as a tribute, marking what would have been Velásquez’s 80^th birthday and the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP), an organization he founded and spearheaded*. 

Willie Velásquez: Su Voz,” will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, in the Buena Vista Theater at the UTSA Downtown Campus. Open to the public, the plática will give attendees a look into the multifaceted layers of Velásquez’s life, exploring his motivations, challenges, and triumphs that extended far beyond his role as a voting rights champion. 

Moderated by Teresa Niño, vice president for University Relations at UTSA, the plática will feature Jane Velásquez, the widow of Willie Velásquez, offering personal reflections on Velásquez’s enduring commitment to social change. 

Accompanying her will be former San Antonio City Councilwoman María Antonietta Berriozábal, who will bring her firsthand experiences of advocacy within the Latino community; former Texas House of Representative for District 27 Dora Olivo, who will provide a legislative perspective on the ongoing fight for voting rights and Anthony Gonzalez, Marshall High School Mexican American Studies teacher and the winner of the 2022 Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award from Humanities Texas. 

Special Collections will have pop-up exhibit featuring photographs, memorabilia, and clippings concentrating on Velasquez’s life, mission, and accomplishments throughout his life.

Get more information and register for the event: https://lib.utsa.edu/specialcollections/events/willie-velasquez-su-voz

*In 2015 we acquired the records of the Southwest Voter Registration Project. You can read more about that here.