We are grateful, humbled, and joyous by this accolade and the national recognition by the Yield Giving Foundation. The grant is a testament to the important and necessary work of the organization, the dedication of our staff, our board members, and our beloved community. It will allow us to deepen our impact and increase our reach to help even more community members for years to come. Thank you MacKenzie  Scott, Yield Giving, and Lever for Change for this great recognition.

Richard Zaldivar
Founder and Executive Director
The Wall Las Memorias

The Eastside is well known for its many murals, many of which hold cultural significance for its residents, both past and present. Falling in line, a new work titled “Our Boyle Heights” on 1st Street reflects the mission, vision, and values of the local nonprofit it covers. [Read More] 

The first report of AIDS appeared in the Center for Disease Control’s weekly public health digest in June of 1981 on CNN. Today, it is estimated that 39 million people are living with HIV and 1.2 million live in the United States. According to local data, in Los Angeles County, there were over 50,000 individuals living with HIV in 2022. [ Read More ]

LGBTQIA+ Catholics in Southern California are welcoming the announcement from the Vatican on Monday that Pope Francishas given his approval to priests to bless same-sex unions.

Why it matters: Richard Zaldivar, executive director-founder of The Wall Las Memorias, a Los Angeles-based LGBTQ+-Latino community organization, called Francis’ approval a “Christmas gift.” [ Read More ]

World AIDS Day, December 1, 1993. That’s the day The Wall Las Memorias Project was founded by Richard L. Zaldivar, who still leads the organization as its Executive Director three decades later. It was also the organization’s first “Noche de Memorias”, a night of mourning dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS epidemic and remembering the lives of those who have passed from the disease over the years. [ READ MORE ]

The Vatican’s surprise announcement Monday that authorized the blessing of same-sex couples — while still upholding the church’s ban on gay marriage — was celebrated by many queer Catholics and their allies as a significant win for inclusivity, though one more of philosophy than practice. [ Read More ]

When Richard Zaldivar founded The Wall Las Memorias Project, his goal was not simply to build a wall to honor those who died of AIDS and offer a place of solace and remembrance to their loved ones. He also built, through his organization, a groundbreaking community health and wellness resource and inspired public conversation about a disease that makes people scared and uncomfortable. [ Read More ]

 A nonprofit organization that serves some of the most vulnerable communities in Los Angeles is facing a major loss in funding from the city. On Wednesday, about 30 members of the nonprofit The Wall Las Memorias Project and advocates attended the Los Angeles City Council meeting. [Read More]

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, The Wall Las Memorias — a local community health and wellness organization dedicated to serving minority and underserved populations — will hold a free community event at its Boyle Heights hub on Sunday.

The event is called "Honoring Our Women, Nurturing Our Soul" and aims to draw attention to mental health issues in the Latino and LGBTQ+ communities. [READ MORE]