Frank P. Barajas. Photos by BB Rivas.
Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Service 2014 Latino Leadership Awards. The awards gala will be held on Saturday, May 31 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Click here to register or to become a sponsor or call 805-486-9777 for more information.
Amigos805 staff reports
Frank P. Barajas, a professor at California State University Channel Islands, was born and raised in Oxnard and is a graduate of Oxnard High School and Moorpark College. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from CSU Fresno and his doctorate degree from Claremont Graduate University.
His father was a native resident of Rancho Sespe who grew up in Santa Paula and Moorpark. His father met his mother, from Chihuahua, Mexico, at the Seaboard Lemon Packing House in Oxnard. Barajas began as an educator at Cypress College in Orange County before returning to Oxnard in 1991.
Barajas said he considers himself fortunate to be one of the first 13 tenure-track professors at CSU Channel Islands. Upon returning to Ventura County, Barajas said he was inspired by the leadership in the community to help the underserved community achieve justice, leading him to participate in demonstrations and write opinion essays in various local publications, including Amigos805.
His research focuses on the history of Southern California and has published peer-reviewed essays on agricultural labor in Ventura County, the Sleepy Lagoon Trial and the implementation of the civil gang injunction in Oxnard.
“In 2012, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the United Farm Workers of America union, Barajas, along with 49 other activists from throughout Ventura County were recognized for service in the community,” according to a nomination letter. “University professors are members of a learned profession, officers of an educational institution and are also citizens. When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship … Frank Barajas, as a professional and a member of his community, has done that: Expressed his feelings, beliefs, position and opinions about issues that greatly impact the Latino community — past, present and future.”
For more information on El Concilio’s programs and services or reservations for the awards gala, visit www.elconciliofs.org or call 805-486-9777.