Luis Valdez

About the Mexican-American History Maker: Luis Valdez (born on June 26, 1940) is regarded as one of the most important influential American playwrights living today. His internationally renowned, and Obie award winning theater company, EL Teatro Campesino (the Farm Worker’s Theater) was founded by Luis in 1965- in the heat of the United Farm Worker’s struggle and the great Delano Grape Strike in California’s Central Valley. Luis’ had work and long creative career have won him countless awards including numerous LA Drama Critic Awards, Dramalogue Awards, Bay Area Critics’ Awards the prestigious George Peabody Award for excellence in television, the Presidential Medal of the Arts, the Governor’s award for California Arts Council, and Mexico’s prestigious Aguila Azteca Award given to individuals whose work promotes cultural excellence and exchange between US and Mexico. In September, 216, he was awarded the National Medal of the Arts by President Obama at the White House. Mr. Valdez has written numerous plays, authored numerous articles and books. As an educator, he has taught at the University of California, Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, Fresno State University, and was one of the founding professors of CSU Monterey Bay.