Roots & Remedies 2021
Love
Albino Garcia Jr., the founder of La Plazita Institute was born in a suburb near Chicago, Illinois. In 1979 at 17 years old he served in the United States military as an alternative to incarceration, a choice that veered him from a current path of negative impact. In 1994 Albino founded the New School of Watsonville California, a school designed to give youth a second chance for education in an alternative setting. He has served as an educator, trainer, community liaison and lead program coordinator to several organizations outside of Albuquerque New Mexico.
In 1995, Albino was one of 50 people chosen for the prestigious Kellogg Fellowship which allowed him to travel nationally and internationally addressing major social issues and learning about several other cultures and their methodologies.
As a committed member of his community Albino has participated in numerous networks and professional affiliations including The Latino Network, Violence and Injury Prevention Project, Educational Leadership Institute and many others.
Albino is Apache and Chichimeca in origin and recognized as a leader and spiritual activist in Albuquerque. He has been married for 37 years to Frances Garcia, the father of three children, Ursula, Albino Jr., and Sylvia and has eight grandchildren.