In this article, Laura Cazares describes her participation in the local politics of East Salinas during the recent recall election. She draws connections between the current state of Mexican-American political participation in California politics and the historical disenfranchisement that they have suffered since statehood. She also analyzes specific policies that have prevented Mexican-American political involvement and proposes ideas for overcoming them. The political project discussed in this pages stems out of a unique college course designed around the concept of Democratic Participation
