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ORAL HISTORIES ✦ ART & CULTURE ✦ NEIGHBORHOOD LEGACIES ✦ ARIZONA VOICES ✦
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what we do
Today, ABS serves as a platform for preserving and sharing the voices, memories, and experiences of our gente, honoring the generations whose lives and contributions helped build Arizona.
We are committed to:
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Historical and cultural preservation
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Intergenerational storytelling
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Digital archiving
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Education and lifelong learning
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Community engagement
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Latino arts and cultural programming
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Our members are the heart of everything we do. Their stories, photographs, family histories, research, interviews, artifacts, and personal experiences are essential to preserving Arizona's Latino and Chicano heritage for future generations.
our home
Since 2020, Arizona Barrio Stories has been proud to partner with the Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center (ALAC), which serves as the home for the production and taping of many of our programs and events.
Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix at 147 E. Adams Street, ALAC is a gathering place for Latino and Chicano arts, culture, education, and community engagement.
Learn more about ALAC:
board of directors
Arizona Barrio Stories is guided by a dedicated, all-volunteer Board of Directors who share a commitment to preserving, celebrating, and advancing the history, culture, and traditions of Arizona's barrios. Drawing on their professional experience, community involvement, and personal connections to the communities they serve, board members help strengthen the organization's mission and expand its impact. Through their leadership and service, they work to ensure that the stories, contributions, and enduring legacy of Latino and Chicano communities are preserved and shared with current and future generations.
Dr. José Leyba
Co-Chair
Host, “La Platica”
Dr. José Leyba is a nationally recognized educational leader and Chief Search Officer at JG Consulting, specializing in executive leadership development, equity, and organizational excellence. Throughout his career, he has partnered with institutions nationwide to cultivate talent, elevate organizational culture, and drive student success.
Deeply committed to community advocacy and Chicano history, Dr. Leyba champions the work of Arizona Barrio Stories. As host of La Plática, he leverages his platform to elevate diverse voices, share essential knowledge, and inspire meaningful conversation across communities.
Joseph Losada
Co-Chair and Treasurer
Joseph Losada is the Chief Financial Officer of the Phoenix IDA, backed by more than 25 years of executive finance experience. A CPA with an MBA from Arizona State University, he has held senior financial leadership roles across Arizona's top non-profit and community institutions. In addition to his corporate career, Joseph is a retired U.S. Navy Reserve Lieutenant Commander and active civic leader. He brings his executive expertise to Arizona Barrio Stories (ABS), advancing its mission to honor and preserve the history, heritage, and stories of Arizona’s barrios for future generations.
Francisco “Frank” Luna
Director of Advocacy
Host, Making Space
With more than 30 years of experience in higher education and social services, resource development, and public relations, Francisco “Frank” Luna has spent his career creating opportunities, building partnerships, and strengthening communities. Raised in Phoenix's historic barrios, he carries forward the values, resilience, and sense of community rooted in his Mexican heritage. As Director of Advocacy, he works to expand awareness of and support for the ABS mission while fostering meaningful connections that preserve and celebrate Latino and Chicano history.
Irma Payan
Community Archivist
Host, Irma Payan Show
Irma Payan brings more than four decades of experience as an educator, mentor, and community advocate. A lifelong servant leader, she has dedicated herself to helping individuals and organizations since her youth. As ABS Community Archivist, she champions the preservation of cultural history through storytelling and community engagement. Irma has earned national recognition for hosting more than 100 episodes of the Irma Payan Show since 2020, amplifying community voices and preserving stories for future generations.
Ray Martinez
Historian
Ray Martinez has more than 30 years of leadership experience in law enforcement, corrections, and investigations. Raised in the Marcos de Niza housing projects in central Phoenix, he was part of the student group that created the historic MEChA Mural at Phoenix College in 1981. A graduate of Arizona State University, Ray has dedicated his life to public service, strengthening communities, and promoting higher education. His deep knowledge and appreciation of Chicano and Mexican American history provide invaluable perspective and help guide ABS in its mission to preserve and share our community's stories.
Carmela Ramirez
Host, Mas con Carmela
Carmela Ramirez is an award-winning vocalist, producer, and cultural ambassador whose work has enriched Arizona's arts and cultural landscape for decades. As founder of Más Productions and lead vocalist of Carmela y Más, she has built bridges between communities through music, storytelling, and cultural celebration. Carmela hosts Más con Carmela, a program that highlights the people, traditions, and stories that shape our communities. She is passionate about ABS's mission of preserving Latino and Chicano heritage through creative expression, education, and community engagement.
Christina Garrobo
Facebook Navigator
A breast cancer survivor and passionate advocate, Christina Garrobo is the CEO and Founder of My Cancer Warriors Corporation, where she provides crucial fundraising, navigation, and financial assistance to individuals fighting cancer. Bringing her deep passion for community-building to ABS, Christina serves as ABS’s Facebook Navigator. She manages group operations, moderates discussions, and fosters a thriving online platform that connects and empowers our community members every day.
Dr. Ana Lara
Host, Empowered to Heal with Dr. Ana Lara: Doctor. Teacher. Healer.
Dr. Ana Lara is a Phoenix native, licensed Naturopathic Physician, and founder of Raíces Naturopathic Medical Center. Specializing in chronic disease prevention, family medicine, women's health, and metabolic wellness, she is dedicated to empowering families through holistic, patient-centered care. As host of Empowered to Heal with Dr. Ana Lara: Doctor. Teacher. Healer., she brings trusted health education and wellness resources to ABS audiences. Through her program, Dr. Lara helps advance ABS's commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community. Her expertise, leadership, and passion for service help build healthier, better-informed communities.
ORAL HISTORIES ✦ ART & CULTURE ✦ NEIGHBORHOOD LEGACIES ✦ ARIZONA VOICES ✦
join us
Whether you are a community member, educator, student, nonprofit leader, business owner, sponsor, or donor, there is a place for you within ABS.
Together, we can preserve the stories of our gente, celebrate our heritage, and ensure that the legacy of Arizona's barrios continues to inspire future generations.
We invite you to explore the many ways to connect, participate, and support our mission throughout this website.
ORAL HISTORIES ✦ ART & CULTURE ✦ NEIGHBORHOOD LEGACIES ✦ ARIZONA VOICES ✦
COMMUNITY
We cultivate pride and cultural connection throughout the ABS community
By sharing stories of our vanished barrios, we restore collective memory and bridge generational divides—helping new generations connect with their rich cultural heritage. As our membership grows, so does our storytelling vault, expanding with each contribution and deepening the legacy we preserve.
Advocacy
A spirit of advocacy is embedded throughout our digital broadcast content, reflecting ABS’s commitment to delivering accurate, practical information that empowers lives.
Through our diverse programming, we feature professionals and subject-matter experts from all walks of life who serve as dynamic hosts and contributors. Signature shows such as The Irma Payán Show, La Plática, and Salud, Dinero y Amor (AARP Arizona Hispanic Connection) offer timely insights on issues that matter—from health and finance to relationships and community well-being.
Recognition
Arizona Barrio Stories (ABS) reaches a collective monthly audience of nearly 500,000 across multiple digital streaming and social media platforms.
Our content appears on outlets including Latino USA TV and Media, Facebook, Cox, Instagram, Chicano Hollywood, YouTube, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, TikTok, LinkedIn, and others.We welcome inquiries from sponsors, merchants, partners, and organizations interested in tailored marketing collaborations. ABS offers unique opportunities to connect with diverse audiences through purposeful storytelling and cultural engagement.
Educate & Inform
We collect, preserve, and share knowledge about our gente with a global audience.
In addition to historical documentation of barrios, our growing repository features rich, descriptive content on Indigenous traditions, cultural arts, local history, landmarks, and notable buildings and structures. This material is conveyed through compelling personal narratives and insightful dialogue with subject matter experts.To date, we have produced approximately 400 interviews and streaming segments—each contributing to a living archive that elevates community memory, identity, and resilience.