Sydney Gallegos was born in northern New Mexico. His family roots in that area go back to 16th Century. He graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1967 and went to the University of Northern New Mexico where he became socially and politically active. In 1969, Gallegos came to Seattle to finish his degree at the University of Washington.

At UW Gallegos helped create a chapter of MEChA, was active in the struggle for farm workers’ rights and recruiting students of Hispanic decent. He was also a member of El Teatro del Piojo, a guerrilla theater group that performed plays and skits both in Seattle and in the Yakima Valley.

After receiving his dentistry degree in the late 1970s, Dr. Gallegos helped found the Seattle chapter of the National Chicano Health Organization in order to serve the needs of those without access to health care.

Today, Gallegos remains active in issues affecting Washington’s Hispanic community and practices pediatric dentistry in Seattle.

Dr. Gallegos shared memories of his life and activism in a videotaped interview conducted by Edgar Flores June 5, 2006. Video editing by Steven Beda.  Work on this interview was made possible by a grant from 4Culture/King County Lodging Tax.