Martha Brown
“My time at Valley helped me to determine my goals to pursue higher education,” said Brown. “I had very special professors that encouraged me to continue my studies in science. My advice would be to determine your short and long range goals and how that will impact your job opportunities later.” – Marta Macías Brown

Marta Macías Brown was a lifelong community activist and San Bernardino native who is best remembered for her advocacy work in politics and for co-founding the “El Chicano” newspaper. After attending San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC), she earned her Bachelor of Arts from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). At CSUSB, Marta Macías Brown was a founding member of the first United Mexican American Student chapter, a precursor to the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, or MEChA. MeChA is an organization that advocates for Chicano empowerment and unity. Macías Brown continued her educational trajectory as a graduate student at University of California, Riverside (UCR). During graduate school, she taught history at SBVC and Chaffey College.  

In 1968, Macías Brown helped establish the “El Chicano” newspaper under the sponsorship of University of California, Riverside with a Ford Foundation grant. Macías Brown was one of the first editors at the volunteer-driven newspaper. “El Chicano” is a free, public-service communication platform which features articles on local news, achievements, and educational issues within the Inland Empire community.  

Macías Brown’s career in activism has included local coordination of the Robert Kennedy campaign as well as assistance in organizing regional interaction civil rights activist Cesar Chavez. Moreover, she has served as a community education specialist for the County of San Bernardino, as a Director of Information and Referral Services, as well as a student affirmative action officer at UCR. Macías Brown also helped to facilitate the preservation of the congressional papers of her husband, California congressman George Brown, through the Brown Legacy Project at UCR. 

Prior to her retirement, Macías Brown led the George and Marta Brown Foundation for Science. She has also been active on the board of directors for the U.S.-Mexico Foundation for Science, the Casa Ramona Community Center, and the Ramona K-12 Charter School and Rotary. In addition, Macías Brown served the State of California as a member of the Medical Quality Review Board, the Judicial Nominees Commission, and the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California.