Gilberto Martinez was an active supporter of establishing a new political party in Crystal City, Texas, the "Spinach Capital." In a town where Chicanos were the majority, an alternate party, La Raza Unida, gained force quickly in the late 1960s and took control of town and school government in the early 1970s. Martinez also researched and wrote reports assisting community organizations in Texas and elsewhere in acquiring free cable, radio, and television broadcast time and the requirements for establishing a television and audio production facility. In Michigan, Martinez's activities included work as a newspaper publisher (Sol de Aztlan) and as a community leader and organizer helping to establish radio and television programming through Michigan State University to the mid-Michigan Latino population. He was involved not only with mentoring and counseling Latino prison population and civil rights causes, but also with running a business and supporting community groups.