The American Friends Service Committee’s youth-led organizing committee 67 Sueños collaborated with Oakland-based artists Pancho Pescador and Francisco Sanchez to create 67 Sueños UnDocu-Murals: Visualizing Lives Unseen—three murals examining the millions of low-income migrants who may be left out of immigration policies currently being discussed by the federal government. The murals are placed strategically in the Fruitvale and East Oakland at 8501 International Boulevard and on a wall at Life Academy. Pancho Pescador was the original lead artist for the project but due to scheduling conflicts stepped back after the first year and, with permission from the Creative Work Fund, Francisco Sanchez led the process for the final mural.
Under Pescador’s and Sanchez’s guidance, 36 participants were involved in the production and painting of murals at each site. Even more youth helped to conceptualize the themes chosen: two murals focus on the theme “Black and Brown Unity”–the larger of which is titled “Still We Rise.” The third mural highlights challenges faced by migrant women.
Pancho Pescador melds traditional muralist sensibilities with arte callejero techniques popular to urban youth aesthetics. Born in Chile, Pescador lives in East Oakland where many undocumented migrant communities reside. He has painted more than 30 murals in Oakland and is a member of Oakland’s Community Rejuvenation Project.
The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that promotes lasting peace with justice as a practical expression of faith in action. Since its inception, it has provided young people an alternative to military service, engaging youth in movements for justice, peace, and the empowerment of marginalized people.