The Mexican American Community Services Agency, Inc., MACSA traces its origins to 1964 when a group of community activists joined together to identify ways to help the emerging Latino community respond to injustices such as discrimination, racism, poverty, police brutality, educational inequity, and inadequate access to public services.

MACSA’s first director, the late Lino Lopez described the social landscape of Santa Clara County in the 1960’s this way, “To the average person the impression is that if people live freely in all sections of the community, then they must live free of segregation and discrimination. This first impression is immediately erased when one looks behind the façade that is customarily erected by the community power structure constructed to give such an appearance... Behind the banks and the supermarkets and behind the landscaped arterial ways there are slums, there are hovels, there are hungry people; the discards of society.” Those most affected, according to Mr. Lopez, were Mexican Americans.

Since that time MACSA has remained steadfast and committed to improving the quality of life for youth, families and seniors. MACSA offers programs throughout Santa Clara County, in particular East and Central San Jose, Alviso, Morgan Hill and Gilroy. MACSA’s commitment to progressive community change is demonstrated through the numerous youth development programs offered at three youth centers, fifteen schools, library and community sites. MACSA has earned local, state and national acclaim for its “cutting edge” youth programs. In the area of senior services MACSA operates one of only two Adult Day Health Care Senior Centers in the county. This premier program offers our elderly the opportunity to grow old with dignity. The lack of affordable housing in the community has greatly hindered the quality of life for many. In response, MACSA has erected two subsidized senior apartment projects and is in the process of developing an additional 50-unit subsidized senior apartment complex and a 65-unit family housing project for low to moderate income first-time home buyers.
Today, the Latino community in Silicon Valley is substantially better organized than thirty-five years ago. Important advances have been made in education, employment, political empowerment and other areas. However, in spite of these advances a walk through any barrio suggests that many old difficulties persist and new ones have emerged. It is precisely these challenges that inspires MACSA to continue its tradition of providing quality and innovative services into the new millennium.