Objective One: We recognize that Chicanismo is evolutionary and that a Chicano identity is not a nationality but a philosophy.  Chicano nationalism is the key to taking our people forward. M.E.Ch.A. will not discriminate against any Mechista who works for and adopts Chicanismo as indicated in El Plan de Santa Barbara, and the Philosophy of M.E.Ch.A.  This philosophy is
the key to taking our people forward.

Objective Two: In the spirit of our past and for the spirit of our future, M.E.Ch.A. will not condone, tolerate, or perpetuate sexism.  Indigenismo teaches us that duality is the base for respect and dignity among our people.  As Mechistas, we have instilled this very fundamental principle as our foundation.

Process of Implementation:

1) Every M.E.Ch.A. chapter will hold workshops and/or forums dealing with the contributions of mujeres to our movimiento;

2) At every National M.E.Ch.A. Conference and Statewide M.E.Ch.A. Conferences there will be a gender caucus.  These caucuses will be the Chicana and Chicano caucuses in which gender issues will throughly discussed.  There will be separate Chicana/o caucuses in which mujeres and hombres will have an opportunity to talk to each other about their experiences.  Then there will be a combined Chicana/o caucus in which mujeres and hombres will talk/discuss their experiences; and

3) At every M.E.Ch.A. National Conference and M.E.Ch.A. Statewide Conference there will be a Chicana Workshop in which the contributions made by Chicanas will be presented.

Objective Three: Understanding that homophobia exists in our community, M.E.Ch.A. must undertake the task of educating ourselves to put a stop to homophobic remarks in our organization.  Being that there are Chicanas/os who are of the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) community we must work to provide a safe environment in M.E.Ch.A.  Therefore, M.E.Ch.A. will not tolerate disrespectful comments to LGBT members as they are a vital part of our Chicano community.  Our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender community is a very important asset not only in the growth of M.E.Ch.A. but it also provides strength and unity between our Mechistas.

Process of Implementation:

1) Every M.E.Ch.A. chapter must provide homophobia educational segments on their campus.

2) At every Statewide and National M.E.Ch.A. Conference workshops on our LGBT community and the harms and injustices of homophobia must be provided to educate Mechistas; and

3) Any Mechista who makes homophobic remarks must be stopped and corrected.  M.E.Ch.A. will not allow for any segment of our Chicano community to be disrespected as these remarks are as self-defeating in M.E.Ch.A.’s purpose to help create a safe environment for members who are Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT).

Objective Four: M.E.Ch.A. must commit its chapters to building a consolidated M.E.Ch.A. structure that is capable of applying political pressure at the local, regional, state, and national levels without being co-opted by outside interests.

Process of Implementation:

1) M.E.Ch.A. should establish campus and issues coalitions (See M.E.Ch.A.’s Relationship to Outside Organizations)

2) M.E.Ch.A. should identify community centers in each chapter’s area and establish liaison with parents and community people by doing a series of workshops on educational issues, and pressure University, Community College, EOP/EOPS/Financial Aid units to regularly provide information workshops at such centers;

3) Each M.E.Ch.A. chapter must establish and support a Central in their local area that includes High School, Community College, and University M.E.Ch.A.s, with the ultimate goal of organizing a M.E.Ch.A. at every school in the area that will become part of the Central.

Objective Five: M.E.Ch.A. must work for the establishment of an alliance for Chicano educational rights that will be built locally and then linked to region, state, and national levels.

Process of Implementation:

1) M.E.Ch.A. chapters should push for area-wide conferences on Chicana/Chicano educational rights and then mobilize on issues of concern on an ongoing basis.

Objective Six: M.E.Ch.A. must create educational mentor/tutor type programs organized at the Central level that shall serve as the foundation for all other organizing efforts for Chicana/Chicano educational rights.  Such mentor/tutor programs should have the following goals:

1) Training Mechistas as tutor/mentors to serve as a fundamental retention strategy since such training enhances the own mentor/tutor’s own academic skills;

2) Mentor/tutors, when trained, become a key element in recruitment; and

3) Utilize mentor/tutor’s to work with parents in establishing a communications network on college preparation, educational issues, and advocacy through educational institutions.

Objection Seven: Each M.E.Ch.A. chapter must assess outreach, retention, and financial aid and how those services impact on Chicana/Chicano students; such an assessment must include the demand that the recruitment/attribution numbers game, which brings Chicana and Chicano students into the University and then fails to provide adequate academic and financial support services to retain them, must stop.

Process of Implementation:

1) Every campus outreach program must be analyzed to see if early outreach and supportive counseling is being provided at surrounding Junior High Schools, and High Schools; demand that Mechistas receive work-study to augment such services at the Junior High Schools and High Schools;

2) Demand that your campus fund a student run, student initiated summer academic enrichment program for High School students that will be organized by the respective M.E.Ch.A. chapter and that will give Mechistas jobs;

3) Understanding that Chicana/Chicano attrition rates are high on all campuses, demand that the University/Community College fund the following educational modules: stress management, time management, study skills, writing lab, self-esteem, public speaking, critical thinking, Chicana and Chicano Identity/History, library research, a M.E.Ch.A. National Hotline, and
free tutoring;

4) Since services are demanded of the University, M.E.Ch.A. must demand that its membership be committed to these services and to academic achievement;

5) Demand that M.E.Ch.A.’s key officers be funded through work-study and offer the rationale that M.E.Ch.A. coordinates youth leadership through retreats and Central activities;

6) Demand that the Financial Aid office at the respective campus not acknowledge outside scholarships as affecting the final financial aid award from the University and Federal/State aid.

Objective Eight:  Given the poor track record of institutions of higher learning in fulfilling their mission to recruit and retain Chicana/Chicano students, demand that the president or chancellor of your campus immediately establish a community advisory committee to promote the increased allocation of resources for our Gente; submit a list of credible community people, who are sensitive to our needs, to serve on the committee, as well as a M.E.Ch.A. representative; request a commitment from the president or chancellor to assess enrollment, retention, and financial aid services, then ask that a campus/community task force be formed to recommend changes to improve services.

Objective Nine: Currently, Chicano Studies programs, in most cases, have been co-opted by the mainstream educational system and communication with M.E.Ch.A. is at an all time low.  Many Chicano Studies faculty have submitted to the pressures of the system and no longer support student activism, leaving their departments vulnerable to attacks from school administrators.  To correct this lack of linkage with Chicano Studies, M.E.Ch.A. proposes the following goals:

1) The immediate re-establishment of communication with student program input, and M.E.Ch.A.’s Campus Chair having a vote in departmental meetings;

2) The establishment of inter-campus Chicano Studies Concilio Networks at the local level with student and community participation;

3) The re-direction of a portion of Chicano Studies resources into cooperative recruitment and retention projects with M.E.Ch.A. and the Chicana/Chicano community;

4) Demand that Chicano Studies fund M.E.Ch.A. officers out of work-study; and

5) M.E.Ch.A. should cement a positive relationship between Chicano Studies and their respective M.E.Ch.A. chapter.

Objection Ten: At the present time, very few Mechistas are involved in student government even though they sometimes could win several seats with a concerted effort.  While increasing M.E.Ch.A.’s political power on campus, student government is a strong training ground to acquire leadership skills.

Process of Implementation:

1) Establish a coalition slate that pools resources, campaign workers, and votes; or

2) Establish a Chicana/Chicano coalition slate.

Objective Eleven: To augment education, each Central needs to organize a one week M.E.Ch.A. Leadership Retreat for High School students and incoming freshmen that provides political and academic skills.  In addition, M.E.Ch.A. must establish a Saturday School to assist grade school, junior high, and high school students in overcoming academic problems and
instilling cultural pride.

Objection Twelve: The establishment of a NationalNewsletter, augmented by Regional Newsletters that provide important information on issues occurring at various campuses; this also promotes tighter linkage through ongoing communications.

Process of Implementation: Each member campus in your Region should be given the task on a rotating basis of putting out the RegionalNewsletter, with each Region responsible for contributing to the NationalNewsletter that should eventually become a newspaper for the process.

Objection Thirteen: Collective fund-raising at the local Central level should be organized with 50% going to the campuses that contribute to the Central fund-raiser and 50% remaining with the Central to fund area projects.  Incorporation and non-profit status should be pursued to organize fund-raising efforts for educational programs.  Raza businesses should be approached to become sponsors and contributors to a Central Scholarship Fund and other educational programs promoted by the Central.  Eventually, M.E.Ch.A. should work to establish a National Chicano/Chicana Scholarship Fund.

Objective Fourteen: M.E.Ch.A. must adopt principles to insure that M.E.Ch.A. functions democratically.  These principles include:

1) Leadership should be based on the collective, with equal representation of Chicanas and Chicanos;

2) Authorized Representation means that individual Mechistas should not offer the endorsement of, or formally represent, any M.E.Ch.A. chapter without the authorization of the body;

3) Central and Campus Autonomy, Centrales and Campuses that accept the Regional Process and it’s positions statements, should be allowed to resolve local disputes without interference.

4) Organizational Issues should be brought before the body for democratic discussion and resolution, without individuals or small groups deciding outside of the chapter, since this promotes factionalism;

5) Personal Issues should be handled in an individual and private manner so that they do not affect organizational unity;

6) Slander and Rumor Spreading causes misinformation, disunity, and dissension and cannot be tolerated by M.E.Ch.A.;

7) Decisions of the Body must be respected and not undermined by individuals or small groups acting outside the recognized structure of M.E.Ch.A.;

8) Conflict of Interests between an individual’s within a chapter shall call for an abstention;

9) Honest Representation by Mechistas in disclosing outside organizational interests when such interests impede the democratic process of M.E.Ch.A. must be mandatory.  Anyone attempting to orchestrate organized secret activity for any outside organization inside of M.E.Ch.A. must face expulsion and public exposure; and

10) Respect for M.E.Ch.A.’s Integrity and Autonomy as an organization is a requirement for membership in M.E.Ch.A.