In 1981, the San Francisco Lowrider Council was founded by Roberto Y Hernandez to unite Lowrider Clubs, solo writers, and the community to organize to resist the San Francisco Police Department, selective enforcement forbidding cruising on Mission Street in el Barrio de la Mission in San Francisco!

After suffering, 113 arrest and being brutally beaten several times by the SFPD, Roberto Y. Hernandez, along with several other community members, Cruise, right into a court filing a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of San Francisco, SFPD, mayor, Diane, Feinstein, and the police commission, seeking justice to end their racist discrimination!

Eventually, the lawsuit forced the removal of several officers and command staff from the SFPD Mission Police Station, the end using the Mission community as a training ground for the police Academy recruits and paved the way for the building of Raza Park and Mission recreation Center and the right to Cruise on Mission Street!

Two years ago, Roberto was part of forming the California Lowrider Alliance, a coalition of Lowriders throughout the state of California to organize and declare that“Lowriding is Not A Crime”! The alliance with Assemblymember, David Alvarez, who sponsored legislation AB 436, lifted the restriction of Lowrider cruising in the State of California won approval in the Assembly and the Senate which Governor Gavin Newson signed into law on October 17, 2023, which went into effect in January 2024!

This moderated round table discussion/panel will feature contributors to the first-ever lowrider studies reader titled The Lowrider Studies Reader: Culture, Resistance, Liberation, and Familia. It will feature opportunities for discussions and a Q&A session.

About Guillermo Aviles-Rodriguez
Assistant Professor CSU San Bernardino

Guillermo Avilés-Rodríguez, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the department of Theatre Arts at California State University, San Bernardino. He was born and raised in Watts, CA. A collection of his publications can be found at: Learn More

About Daniel Osorio

Film Instructor, Downtown College Prep - Alum Rock High School (DCP-ARHS)

Director/Producer, East Side Hero Films/Music

Born and raised in East San Jose, Daniel is a graduate of Santa Clara University with a B.A. in ommunication, Directing/Producing films and Music Videos for his company East Side Hero Films/Music as well as producing music for his productions.

Daniel also currently teaches film at Downtown College Prep Alum Rock High School, located in the heart of East San Jose. The main goal of all the productions is to empower his students to find their voice through film and share it to inspire their surrounding community.

About Martin Morales Ramirez

Born and raised in the Salinas Valley, Martin Morales Ramirez is a street survivor from Greenfield, CA a small town in South Monterey County. The son of campesin@s Guadalupe Morales and Luis Ramirez, Martin's passion for working with students and educators derives from working in the fields as a kid and adult. He lives in Northern California and is a proud community advocate, husband and father to three children. - Martin Morales Ramirez - 1st Grade Teacher, NUSD Heredia-Arriaga Elementary

About Anthony J. Nocella II

Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, Salt Lake Community College Outreach Director, Save the Kids

Anthony J. Nocella II, Ph.D., scholar-activist and public intellectual in the areas of critical criminology, sociology, Hip Hop, lowrider studies, juvenile justice, social justice, and environmental justice, is Editor of the Peace Studies Journal, Executive Director of the Institute for Critical Animal Studies, member of the Dreamkeepers Lowrider Club, and National Co-Coordinator of Save the Kids. Dr. Nocella II is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal justice at Salt Lake Community College, author of over one-hundred articles or book chapters, and has published over forty books. His website is http://www.anthonynocella.org.

Intro to Pinstriping/Custom PaintI will start with a brief intro focused on the autobody industry and career paths but focus on custom paint and pinstriping tecniques. I want to each student have their own piece to practice pinstripes and take home.

About Minerva Banuelos Uribe
Painter at Tesla

Minerva Banuelos Uribe has been in the Automotive industry for the past 5 years. Her day job is a painter with Tesla Collision, and her hobby is Custom Painting.

This workshop will highlight the art style of collage and its use in lowrider culture. Participants will create a one-of-a-kind lowrider collage and convert it into a light-up art piece that they can take home and display.

About Mr. Lowrider Fever

Ricardo aka Mr. Lowrider Fever is a Chicano author, artist, and creative director exploring the intersection of art, culture, and technology. He has been creating artwork for the last 15 years and lowriding since he was 12.

Brandon Loran Maxwell is a writer, speaker, prize winning essayist, film director, and entrepreneur. His writings and commentary have appeared at The Hill, Salon, Townhall, The Washington Examiner, The Oregonian, and The Foundation For Economic Education, among others. In 2022, his writings were cited at the U.S. Supreme Court (United States Of America vs. Helaman Hansen).

In addition, Brandon regularly speaks on a variety of social topics, and has been cited or profiled by outlets such as The Los Angeles Times, Vox, NPR, The Washington Post, Yahoo, The Blaze, and The Oregonian. His personal essay “Notes From An American Prisoner” was awarded a Writer’s Digest prize in 2014, and his one-act play “Petal By Petal” about drug and alcohol addiction was performed at The Little Theater in 2009. He holds a B.S. in political science and resides on the West Coast.

Through a combination of visual analysis, case studies, and historical contextualization, the presentation aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of Chicano street culture and present it as a dynamic and multifaceted expression of identity that draws inspiration from various sources, including the rich cultural heritage of the Aztecs. The identity and potential of the Chicano person flourishes under such artistic scrutiny.

About Marvin Milian
Director of Operations and Art History Instructor
Point Loma Nazarene University

Marvin earned an M.A. in Modern Art History from Azusa Pacific University and a B.A. in Art History from the University of California Riverside.

As a Ph.D. candidate in Visual Arts: Philosophy, Aesthetic, and Art Theory at IDSVA his work looks to understand the fluid evolution of art and aesthetics through philosophy and critique. Functioning as a Director of Operations and Adjunct Professor in art history at Point Loma Nazarene University, Marvin is an educator who seeks to innovate the classroom with the ambition to impact the university of tomorrow.

Lowriding, Car Culture and Mental Health: The intersection of our cultural identities, self-care journey and our dreams! Join us for an interactive workshop that will highlight the power, benefits and positive mental health impact of lowriding and car culture. Engage in an activity about your goals and dreams! Learn about our respective journeys in the Automotive trade and Social Work/Mental Health field. Get hands-on experience with a custom car air ride suspension system! Pull Up!

About Bobby Hector Miguel DeLeon
Auto Mechanic / Business Owner
Bobby's Kustom Shop (National City, CA)

Bobby's love for car culture and lowriding began at 6 years old when he first built his own model car limousine utilizing a ladder as a frame and egg cartons for the exterior! Heart, hustle and hard work fueled his journey from Mexico to San Diego where he has been operating his own automotive business for the past 16 years. Bobby is a proud father and member of Emperors Kustom Car Club, San Diego. He is here to share his expertise and to inspire you to fight for your dreams! Keep cruising Low and Slow!

About Ree Obaña
Social Justice Community Organizer & Mental Health Licensed Clinical Social Worker

EMRG Collaborative Therapy & Support Services, Inc. & Vision Culture Foundation

Ree is a Filipina social justice community organizer and social worker born and raised in San Diego, CA. She currently serves as Co-Chairperson of Vision Culture Foundation, a non-profit that serves, empowers and uplifts the community through art, advocacy and mental health support. She currently works as a mental health clinician in suicide prevention in addition to managing her own tele-mental health therapy private practice. Ree obtained her BA in Psychology from UCSD, Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from NYU and is currently a Doctoral Candidate at Simmons University's DSW program. She is a proud mother, jiu jitsu practitioner and classic car owner. Ree is here to motivate, collaborate and activate you towards success and achieving your goals!

This presentation explores the intersection of women in business and the lowrider culture, highlighting the achievements and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs within this unique community. It delves into how these women navigate both professional and cultural spheres, emphasizing their contributions to business innovation and their impact on challenging traditional gender norms in the lowriding subculture. Through compelling stories and data, the presentation aims to shed light on the dynamic roles women play in shaping both the business and cultural landscape of lowriding.

About Ashley Palomo
Salon Owner/ Hairstylist Gypsy Rose Salon

As the owner of Gypsy Rose Salon in San Jose, she blends creativity with precision, transforming each client's visit into a personalized beauty experience. Beyond salon life, her passion extends to lowriding and its culture, where sleek aesthetics meet automotive artistry, reflecting diverse interests and a commitment to craftsmanship. Through dual pursuits of crafting hairstyles and custom rides, she leaves an indelible mark on both the beauty and Lowrider scenes.

How does a lowrider Art curriculum/unit take shape in a Bay Area high school? In this workshop, I will share my lowrider art unit and my experience teaching high school students in the Bay Area. I will also have a few students from my art class present and talk about their experiences as well. This art unit introduces/ students to Lowriding Cultura, art design elements, and an example of how they will create their own Art Research Projects. My art research unit begins with a generative question: How is lowriding connected to identity, cultura, resistance, and healing? Leading to a culminating project for students to build their own lowriders out of cardstock and art materials.

About Mitzi

Mitzi Ulloa is a Bay Area visual/performing artist and educator, with experience spanning more than two decades. She currently teaches at Sequoia Union High School District, Skyline College and is an advocate for critical theory, arts for social change, and culturally relevant pedagogy. She sparks creativity and inspiration within her students supporting them as they voice their narratives through their creative process.

Designing for your Classic Ride or Lowrider. A walkthrough the engineering process of designing a part for a classic car, from measurement to CAD designing, Slicing for 3D Printing, 3D Printing, fit Checking, Prototyping, and a final product.

About Hugo Tupac-Yupanqui
Mechanical Engineer
Classic Concept Engineering & Lockheed Martin Space

I was Born in Oakland California, where I grew up and after barely graduating high school I had no interest or intentions to go to college so I joined the USAF as a flight mechanic. Nine months after I joined the Air Force in 2001, 9/11 happened where my life changed to open my eyes into a world of technology and global mobilization. After 6 years of military service I honorably discharged in 2007 where I decided to go to community college at CCSF with no idea what I wanted to study but eventually decided to do a BS in mechanical engineering. I transferred to SJSU to complete my undergraduate in mechanical engineering in 2016 where I started working my dream job at Lockheed Martin Space Company as a mechanical design engineer designing mechanical systems for space vehicles.

Today i still work in space and now I am applying my skills and talent with my passion with Lowriding and Classics and started my own company developing hard to find parts for classic cars by re designing them using software and 3D printing them using additive manufacturing technology.