In 1989, a close friend of the founder, Richard Zaldivar, shared that he had tested positive for HIV. During that conversation, Richard was struck by the overwhelming fear and shame his friend expressed. At that time, HIV/AIDS carried a heavy burden of stigma, especially within Latino communities. Richard saw firsthand the silence and denial from parents and partners, many too afraid to confront the disease openly.

That moment became a turning point. Richard knew he had to act.

He envisioned a project that would help his community heal from the many losses caused by AIDS, a space for remembrance, education, and transformation. His dream was to create a public monument that not only honored lives lost but also served as a visible catalyst for conversations to confront fear, stigma, and denial through education and visibility.

On December 1, 1993, The Wall Las Memorias project was officially launched with the goal of building a monument dedicated to those who had died from AIDS. Richard led a grassroots movement that brought together faith leaders, elected officials, advocates, nonprofit organizations, and community members.

The  effort was neither easy nor uncontested. Richard worked tirelessly to unite the Latino community, business leaders, faith communities, and LGBT advocates, building broad-based support for the monument. In doing so, he was not only working to construct a physical memorial, but also advancing awareness in the Latino community about HIV/AIDS, sexuality, compassion, and tolerance. 

That vision moved closer to reality with the support of State Assemblyman Gilbert Cedillo, who secured $400,000 from the California State Legislature, along with additional contributions from the City of Los Angeles, The California Endowment, the Episcopal Diocese, and other partners. 

Just prior to the final approval by the City of Los Angeles, the project faced a coordinated effort to discredit and halt its construction, fueled by homophobia and misinformation. A small but vocal group sought to create a climate of fear and intolerance, arguing that an AIDS monument did not belong in a public park. During this period, Richard and staff members even received death threats, an unmistakable reminder of the stigma the monument sought to confront.

Despite these challenges, construction of the AIDS monument began in late 2002 and was completed in time for the dedication on World AIDS Day. On December 1, 2004, The National Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument was formally dedicated before more than 1,500 people, marking a historic moment of remembrance, resilience, and collective resolve to confront stigma and advance justice and inclusion.

Today, The Wall Las Memorias carries that mission forward through a wide range of culturally responsive services, including HIV prevention and testing, PrEP services, mental health education, substance use prevention, and  tobacco cessation. TWLM is also proud to collaborate with Cedars-Sinai and UCLA to advance cancer research that addresses persistent health disparities in our communities.