The council evolved from the Cross Cultural Task Force established by the city to forge a bridge to the Hispanic community in Laguna at a time when tensions were strained by workers gathering on city streets aggressively seeking jobs.
"It started some living-room dialogues," Peck said.
La Playa was founded in lieu of a more elaborate program because money was tight, he said.
"We had some really good people like Alice Graves and Evelyn Munro," said Peck.
Both women are dead, but their efforts on behalf of what used to be the lower class have not been forgotten. The affordable housing on Glenneyre Street is named Alice's Place in her honor.
