Filipino American History Mural - Endowment Fund

This Crowdfunding campaign is part of a donor matching campaign with the K/T Foundation. The K/T Foundation will be matching all donations up to $25,000, giving an opportunity to raise a total of $50,000! These funds will go towards an Endowment Fund for the mural, which will be used for the mural’s on-going maintenance and general upkeep for generations to come.

PLEASE NOTE: All donors giving at the level of $2,500* and above will have their name enshrined on a plaque for the mural, visible to the public.

Although this campaign will proceed until our full $25,000 goal is reached, the LAST DAY to have your name considered for the plaque will be on Monday, May 4th, 2026 at 11:59pm. We will update this deadline accordingly, should we be able to extend this date over time.

*All donations to the Tower Foundation, including SJSU Filipino American History Mural Endowment Fund are tax-deductible.

About the K/T Foundation:

The K/T Foundation is a small family foundation dedicated to providing an effective and enduring philanthropic legacy which honors the lives, commitments and values of Grace and Alice Kase, and Harry Tsujimoto. The K/T Foundation is pleased to support this project as it aligns closely with our mission, vision and values. This mural is a result of multi-generational, multi-ethnic grass root community-based activism. It preserves an important story with vital lessons which must be passed onto future generations. We hope projects like this will foster a more clearly defined sense of Asian-American identity, and contribute towards making America a “more perfect union” for all of its citizens.

CAMPAIGN HISTORY

In 2008, San José State University unveiled the Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice — a powerful monument honoring the United Farm Workers Movement and the leadership of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. While this arch stands as a proud symbol of social justice, it notably omits the vital contributions of Filipino American labor leaders such as Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz, and the many Filipino farmworkers whose courage and organizing paved the way for the Movement’s success.

For years, this absence has reflected a broader erasure of Filipino American history in public spaces — a history that deserves to be seen, taught, and celebrated.

Reignited by student organizations such as Asian American Art in Action (A4) and Students for Filipino Farmworkers, a growing coalition of SJSU students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community partners have come together with one shared goal: to ensure that Filipino American history holds a visible and lasting place on campus.

The Filipino American History Mural Project seeks to correct this omission through a powerful new public artwork — one that honors the leadership and legacy of Filipino farmworkers in the United Farm Workers Movement and highlights the broader Filipino American story of resilience, solidarity, and activism. Once completed, this mural will stand as a permanent reminder of the essential role Filipino Americans have played throughout U.S. history.

As of 2023, the project has gained remarkable momentum. The Filipino American History Mural Committee (FAHMC) was officially formed to lead this historic effort. By Summer 2025, a muralist was selected, draft renderings were proposed, and multiple focus groups were held to ensure the design reflects the voices and stories of the community it represents.

With your support, we can bring this long-overdue mural to life — ensuring that future generations at SJSU and beyond see themselves reflected in the story of America’s fight for dignity, equality, and justice.

MEET THE ARTIST

Competitively selected, Francesca “ChiChai” Mateo (she/her) is proud to serve as the official artist for SJSU’s Filipino American History Mural!

ChiChai (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator born and raised in Occupied Ohlone Land, also known as the Bay Area. She is a proud 2013 SJSU 2013 alumna with a BA in Global Studies and Journalism. She also received her MA in International Studies from USF (2016), in which she was awarded Most Original Thesis for her thesis, “Challenging Filipino Colonial Mentality through Philippine Art.” Her thesis provided that wounds passed down from colonizers’ teachings can heal when we create art or interact with art for us and by us, thus, creating a deeper appreciation of self and cultural identity as well as increase empathy for others.

ChiChai creates with the intent for her work to be part of this collective healing for those from colonized histories. Her murals and teaching offerings are mainly rooted in SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco’s Filipino Heritage District. However, she is ecstatic to make her way back to SJ where her journey as an artist and advocate for Fil-Am histories began.

Learn more about ChiChai’s journey here.

MURAL LOCATION

The location of the mural will be across all four panels at the base of the tower depicted below. This site is located within earshot distance of the Arch of Dignity, and will be located at a main entrance of the Student Union with high visibility. This site is also located between the Student Union Patio and the Subway on campus.

CAMPAIGN LEADS

This mural project is led by a central committee of SJSU students, alumni, staff, faculty, and Filipino community organizations. The committee is called the Filipino American History Mural Committee, or FAHMC for short. Our purpose as a committee is to ensure the stories of our history are properly amplified, preserved, and heard by past, present, and future Spartans and the San Jose community through this permanent mural.