Scholars, students and community leaders gathered at the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS) Tejas Foco conference at University of Houston–Downtown, continuing a decades-long tradition of discussing Chicano and Latino history, culture and activism.
The Tejas Foco is the Texas regional chapter of NACCS, an academic and community organization founded in the 1970s that promotes scholarship and dialogue surrounding Chicana, Chicano and Latino experiences in the United States. The annual regional conference brings together academics, educators, activists and students to present research, attend panels and build community around issues affecting Latino communities.
Organizers said the gathering also provides a space where complex topics — ranging from civil rights history to representation in popular culture — can be explored openly.
“We’re here at NACCS Tejas Foco 2026,” Dr. Anthony Ramirez, a professor of Communications at UHD, said during the event. “This is a regional conference here at the University of Houston–Downtown… It’s representation on a higher-education front and also in the community.”
More than 200 people attended the conference, which featured academic panels, discussions on media and culture, and networking opportunities among scholars and community members.
Dr. Manny Grajales, a lecturer in the history department at University of North Texas, said the event stands out because it blends academic research with community participation.
“This is my third NACCS,” Grajales said. “One of the things I always appreciate is the commitment to bring in everyone. It’s not just academics — you have community leaders, educators and even middle and high school students.”
Grajales, who teaches courses in U.S. history, Latino history and Mexican American civil rights, said the conference helps bridge generational gaps in knowledge about history and culture.
“I think it’s important for younger generations to learn from older generations,” he said. “But it’s also important for older generations to see that youth are interested in learning these histories and maintaining their culture.”
Many discussions during the conference focused on how different forms of media — from literature and comics to video games and film — can be used to explore historical themes.
Grajales said connecting history to modern pop culture can help students better understand complex ideas.
“If I use a pop-culture reference my students understand, then they realize the themes we’re talking about — conflict, discrimination, identity — are in those stories too,” he said.
For graduate student Jenny Rodriguez of University of Texas at San Antonio, the conference serves as a platform for highlighting resistance and storytelling within Chicano communities.
“The goal of the event is to showcase resistance in Chicano and Chicana communities,” Rodriguez said. “Whether that’s through education, community activism or seeing ourselves in popular media, we want our stories to be heard and told by us and for us.”
Rodriguez said the conference has evolved over the years by using social media and digital platforms to share research and connect participants beyond the event itself.
She also emphasized the importance of recognizing multiple forms of learning and storytelling.
“For so long students were told they were supposed to learn only from a book,” Rodriguez said. “But you can learn from costume design in film, from comics, from political cartoons or from community art. Those are all valid forms of knowledge.”
Participants said one highlight of the conference was the opening ceremonial danza performance, which set the tone for the weekend’s discussions and cultural celebrations.
Grajales said the most meaningful part of the event is the sense of community.
“Seeing scholars whose work I’ve read, community activists, teachers and youth all coming together to learn and pass down history and culture — that’s the most important thing about this space,” he said.
Organizers encouraged people outside academia to attend future conferences.
“Even if you’re not an academic, come and check it out,” one speaker said. “It’s a space for people to feel seen, heard and represented.” Dr. Ramirez said.
