National Coalition of Barrios Unidos

The National Coalition of Barrios Unidos (NCBU) grew out of the turbulent 1960s and 1970s and the Chicano empowerment movement. Both NCBU and its predecessors sought to rally Latinos to support one another and resist the forces of discrimination in employment, housing, education, and other spheres, preserving and celebrating the cultural heritage of the many distinct groups that fit under the broad heading of “Hispanic.” There are numerous Barrios Unidos (BU) organizations located throughout the country, most concentrating their efforts on a particular city. These local BUs coordinate their actions and share resources through the national organization of NCBU.

The overall mission of NCBU is to address issues of violence and gang membership among Latino youth. This is accomplished by creating programs to provide at-risk youth ...