COUNTYWIDE : Latino Group MAPA Forms New Chapter

A new community association has been created to tackle political issues that affect Latinos.

The group is the Greater Orange County/Anaheim chapter of the Mexican American Political Assn., an offshoot of the Orange County chapter of MAPA formed in March. The county chapter is based in Santa Ana, however, so the new group was created to make it convenient for residents in Anaheim and surrounding cities to join.

Both chapters are part of the nationwide MAPA, which promotes Latino activism in politics, education and civil rights. The Anaheim chapter formally organized this month. The following officers were elected to serve on the new chapter’s board of directors:

* President Rudy Escalante, a Korean War veteran and longtime community activist.

* Vice President Ross P. Romero, president of UC Irvine’s Chicano Alumni Assn. and a real estate broker.

* Secretary Olivia Porras, a Fullerton College student.

* Corresponding secretary Judith A. Safarini, a community activist and writer.

* Treasurer Tony Garcia, a business consultant.

* Youth organizers Seferino Garcia, executive director of Solevar Community Development Corp., and Alfonso Alvarez, a counselor at the Orangewood Children’s Home.

MAPA’s goal is “to include Latinos in the political process and to help cultivate viable Latino candidates,” Romero said. Group members plan to promote student leadership in school and hold voter registration drives and candidates forums.

“There’s not too many organizations out there that are working with so-called at-risk youths or gang-affiliated youths,” Seferino Garcia said. “We plan to empower youths by teaching them about what’s happening in local government and politics.”

Rueben Martinez, president of the Orange County chapter of MAPA, said his group welcomes the new chapter.

Latinos “are the fastest-growing ethnic group in California, and hopefully many chapters of MAPA will open throughout the state,” Martinez said, adding that MAPA should have a chapter in every Orange County city “so together we can stand and fight for the rights of all people.”

The Greater Orange County/Anaheim chapter meetings in members’ homes on the last Wednesday night of the month are open to the public. Information: (714) 776-4323.