æz ɐn ˈæktɪv mˈɛmbɚɹ ʌvðə sˌæn dɪˈeɪɡoʊˈɛɹiə ʃᵻkˈeɪnoʊ mˈuːvmənt, jˈʊɹɹɪstə wʌz ˌɪnstɹəmˈɛntəl ɪnðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti tˈeɪkoʊvɚɹ ʌv ʃᵻkˈeɪnoʊ pˈɑːɹk ænd ɪnðə faʊndˈeɪʃən ʌvðə sˈɛntɹoʊ kˈʌltʃɚɹəl də lˌæ ɹˈɑːzə, ɐ kˈʌltʃɚɹəl sˈɛntɚ.
As an active member of the San Diego-area Chicano Movement, Urista was instrumental in the 1970 takeover of Chicano Park and in the foundation of the Centro Cultural de la Raza, a cultural center.