Explore the Cultural Diversity of San Joaquin County, CA

Grant Taylor

San Joaquin County is a global microcosm: In the county’s 1,400 square miles, Hispanic and Asian individuals comprise approximately 43% and 20% of the entire population, respectively, and it’s easy to find art, events and organizations that celebrate the mix and impact of cultures in the region. 

The Art Lens 

Visitors can’t ignore the many colorful murals splashed across San Joaquin County. 

Ana Vera, board president of the nonprofit Art Expressions of San Joaquin, says that the region has some “very wonderful muralists” in the area. Art Expressions members are behind several murals along downtown Stockton’s “Miracle Mile” business district. 

In addition, University of the Pacific recently unveiled a vibrant mural at its Center for Identity and Inclusion that represents the college’s diversity through a depiction of birds from around the globe congregating on its campus. Another striking piece of downtown art is the six-story mural “Always Lead With Love,” which depicts local activist Jasmine Dellafosse. 

South of Stockton in Manteca, the Manteca Mural Society has partnered with the city, property owners and artists to create over 30 murals since its inception in 2002. Murals like “The Harvest Continues,” “Valley Abundance” and “Bounty in a Basket” depict the area’s rich agricultural roots; others pay homage to military veterans and area history (including creation stories of the indigenous Yokut peoples). 

The Community Lens 

Name a country, culture or religion and chances are there’s an event dedicated to it in San Joaquin County. Check out the Festa Italiana and Obon Festival in Lodi; Diwali and Hispanic Heritage Fest in Mountain House; the Egyptian Festival in Ripon; and a Juneteenth celebration in Lathrop. 

And as the county seat, Stockton is chock-full of cultural events: The Jewish Food Fair, Sikh Parade & Festival, Stockton Flavor Fest, Cinco de Mayo, Essence of Soul International Music and Film Festival, Black Family Day, Greek Festival, Seafood and Soul, and Cambodian, Chinese and Hmong New Year celebrations are just some of the annual events worth a visit. 

The Education Lens 

Other organizations working to shine a light on culture in Stockton include the Cambodian Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple, where nearly 100 brilliantly colored, oversized statues depict scenes from the life of Buddha. The Mexican Heritage Center and Gallery celebrates cultural holidays like Día de los Muertos and the birthday of iconic labor activist César Chávez. 

There’s also the Filipino American National Historical Society Museum. 

Erwin Mina, the museum’s board president, says the organization takes a “grassroots approach” to raise awareness of immigrant history in the U.S. in the city with one of the highest Filipino populations in the country. 

Among the many individuals featured in the museum is Larry Itliong, a foundational member of the American labor movement who immigrated to the U.S. in 1929 and almost immediately began a long and storied career of unionizing agricultural workers across the American West (including cannery workers in Alaska). 

“What came about was this social justice,” Mina says. “His effort was recognized by the California Hall of Fame. Now you have a proclamation that there’s a Larry Itliong Day (October 25, Itliong’s birthday) in California.”