Founded in 1981, volunteers from El Tecolote, New College of California and Bay Area musicians combined to produce a two-day music festival featuring local interpreters of the "New Song Movement," music tradition associated with the progressive cultural and political movements of the 1960's and 1970's which generated a rich legacy of songs expressing the joys, aspirations, and struggles of the peoples of the Caribbean and Latin America. The Encuentro has served to promote a musical expression that speaks to our hopes for social, economic and political justice, as well as our deep-rooted cultural traditions.

Now recognized as a San Francisco tradition, our festival continues to preserve and promote local and international Latino music and performance arts that represents non-commercial, humanitarian values and highlights issues of social justice. The festival also features a free concert for children that includes sing-alongs and instrumental demonstrations.

Through the Encuentro, we've witnessed a renaissance of sorts, the coming together of musical artists locally and internationally expressing through song and dance the music of hope and struggle.

Artists have come from far and wide to share the stage in solidarity with us. They have included international stars such as Andres Jimenez (Puerto Rico), Ismael Duran (Chile), Gabino Palomares (Mexico), Isabel Aldunate from Chile, Amparo Ochoa (Mexico), Los Morales (Mexico), Oscar Chavez (Mexico), Tania Libertad (Peru), Roy Brown (Puerto Rico), Luis Enrique Mejia Godoy (Nicaragua), Los Olimarenos (Uruguay), Carlos Mejia Godoy y Los de Palacaguina (Nicaragua), Mono Blanco (Mexico), Leon Chavez -ÐTeixero (Mexico), Marquinos Sata (Brazil), Boukman Eksperyans (Haiti), Lazaro Ros (Cuba), Mezcla (Cuba), Mutabaruka (Jamaica), Jose Luis "Changuito" Quintana (Cuba), Carlos "Patato" Valdez (Cuba), Ballet Folclorico do Brasil (Brazil), Cecilia Toussaint (Mexico), Los Papines (Cuba), Plena Libre (Puerto Rico), Yomo Toro (Puerto Rico), Susana Baca (Peru), Manolin/El Medico de la Salsa (Cuba), ), Buffy Sainte-Marie (U.S.), Tish Hinojosa (U.S.), Carlos Santana (U.S.), Mercedes Sosa (Argentina), Irene Farrera (Venezuela), Los Folkloristas (Mexico), Canto General (Guatemala), Soul Vibrations (Nicaragua), and Grupo Mez Me (Mexico).

We have also continued to stay true to our mission to showcase the musical talent found in our comminity. Local artists who have participated are Altazor, Grupo Raiz, Altamira, Agustin Lira & Teatro de la Tierra, Flor de Cana, Sabia, Grupo Muy Muy, Los Peludos, Los Compas, Markahuasi, Dr. Loco & the Rockn' Jalapeno Band, Casindio, Charanga Tumbao y Cuerdas, Conjunto Cespedes, Claudia Gomez, Danza Xitlalli, Mango Jam, Silvia Galvez, Orquesta Gitano, Konkolon, Bobi Cespedes & Siguaralla, De Colores, Kamanchaka, Jackeline Rago & Grupo Campana, Erica Luckett, Azucar y Crema, Desborde, Mili Bermejo Quartet, and Mango Jam.

On behalf of dozens of non-profits across the country, the Encuentro filed a lawsuit against the U. S. State Department challenging the law that abridges our rights to share in cultural exchanges with Cuba.