Chicano Informative Speech

Title: Preserving the church tied to Chicano movement
General Purpose: To inform
Specific Purpose: To have my audience learn about the importance of the Church of Epiphany
INTRODUCTION

I. Old buildings should not be destroyed.

A. Old buildings have intrinsic values, meaning it has essential values contributing to a culture.
B. Old buildings are reminders of a city’s culture and complexity.

II. Today, I want to tell you about why it is important to preserve an old building related with the
Chicano culture.
CORE STATEMENT
I. Specifically, I would like to present to you about different reasons why the Church of Epiphany, tied to L.A’s Chicano movement, should be preserved according to the article that I have read.

BODY

I. The first reason

is that the church has many intrinsic values.

A. The Church of Epiphany is L.A.’s oldest continually used Episcopal church.

1. The church has stood at the corner of Sichel and Altura streets since 1886.

2.

The church has held multiple religious services, weddings, community meetings and
events.

B. Church of Epiphany has been through a period of great transformation

1. In the middle of the 20th century, it still held firm when Lincoln Heights evolved from
white professional enclave into an important Mexican immigrant community.

2. Lincoln Heights is the oldest neighborhood in Los Angeles, California.

II. The second reason is that the church is an important center of local Chicano history.

A. Many famous speakers have given speeches or held campaigns in this church.

1. Cesar Chavez, the famous farm labor leader, gave his speeches at the church.

2. Robert F. Kennedy, the former American senator’s presidential campaigns were
gathered in its halls.

B. The church was a reliable place for activists to gather.

1. It was in this church that they helped plan the 1968 East L.A. high school walkouts
which was about the unequal education opportunities.

2. They also helped with the 1970 Chicano Moratorium anti-Vietnam War protest.

III. The third reason is that the church still serves as an important community site.

A. The church offers many community programs.

1. The church provides SAT

tutoring.

2. The church provides a food bank and important health services.

B. The church also offers entertaining programs.

1. The church offers summer art programs.

2. The church also holds dance classes.
CONCLUSION

I. The Church of Epiphany must be preserved and restored to keep its values.

A. According to Father Tom Carey, the church’s vicar, landmarks are important because they
remind us of who we are, who demanded the country’s rights, and who we are as a
nation.

B. The church is still part of a living history.