“What has happened at Mayfair is more than anyone could have imagined…It is a reaffirmation of the resiliency of poor people and the depths of what they are capable of.”
– Supervisor Blanca Alvarado, Santa Clara County
Overview of Community
The Mayfair neighborhood is a working-class community of more than 20,000 residents in east San José, California. The majority of us are first generation immigrants; mostly from Mexico, though there are an increasing number of families from Asia. Our neighborhood is also home to families who have lived here for generations and who have roots which run deep. Immigration to Mayfair from Mexico dates back to the 1920’s.
Mayfair was once known as “Sal Si Puedes“ (Get Out If You Can) referring to the annual floods and the general belief that this barrio was nothing more than a place of desperation.
Yet our neighborhood has a long history of organizing for better conditions and justice
- Starting in the 1940’s, Mayfair was a center for community organizing, sparked by dangerous conditions at local packing plants, abuse in the nearby fields, poor pay and discrimination.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe parish opened in 1952 under the leadership of Father Donald McDonnell. He befriended a young Cesar Chávez, then living on Scharff Avenue, and supported Cesar’s first organizing experience–here in Mayfair.
This legacy continues. We believe in the power and promise of our community and in our inherent abilities to be leaders. We are neighbors who work together to create new opportunities for our families. We are determined to make a difference.
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