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SOCC Mission

The SOCC seeks to re-establish the Centro Cultural de la Raza as a relevant and dynamic community cultural Center that is open and responsive to the aspirations of the Chican@ / Mexican@ / Indigena community; that supports the free expression and liberating qualities of our culture; and that embraces all races, ages, genders and sexual preferences.

The Save Our Centro Coalition is a member of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture

 
Save Our Centro Coalition

ART

CULTURE

ACTIVISM

The Save Our Centro Coalition is a member of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture.

San Diego City Beat
January 8, 2003

"Perhaps SOCC's strongest argument against the Centro is its current lack of programming - a reality that becomes even more striking considering the sheer volume of work created there in the past."

- San Diego City Beat

 

Proposed Changes and Formalization of Centro Structure and Procedures (SOCC Revision)

Presented to Centro Board: 09/19/05

  1. Diversify Board representation (Goal: accomplish in 1-2 months)
    1. Create Joint SOCC-Centro "Board Development Transition Team" to participate in the review and selection of Board members in a real and meaningful way. (14 days)
    2. Post list of Board members and emails on website (14 days)
    3. Provide a list of categories Centro needs to have filled and specify both categories Board fills and is missing; post on website. (i.e., fulfills: artists, legal, accounting, graphic design, educator, self-employed, small business owner, Native American, Central American, Mexican American; missing: homemaker, student, laborer, Asian American) (14 days)
    4. Provide on website a list of Board categories we would like to fulfill (14 days)
    5. Post on website openings in Board membership (full Board – 16 seats), description of requirements for Board membership (including officers), and timeline for filling such positions (14 days)
    6. Post on website community application/nomination forms (for folks outside the Board to nominate themselves or others)
    7. Create formal joint SOCC-Board interface with various community organizations (arts, non-profit, Chicano, Latino and Indigenous) to formally to recruit Board members (14 days)
    8. Identify Committees (Outreach, Fundraising, Etc.) on website and the names of contacts for people to get involved in such committees. (1 month)
    9. Present and vote on Board nominees at open public Centro Annual Meeting. (14 days)
  1. Reinstatement of Arts Advisory Committees (Goal: accomplish in 1-2 months)

    1. Restore formal structure of Arts Advisory Committee (Visual Arts and Performing Arts) that existed prior to 2000. Augment Commttees to include additional disciplines (i.e. Multimedia, Literary, etc.).Restore role of Arts Advisory Committees to review, recommend and program events, exhibits, fundraisers and performances at Centro.
    2. Restore voting Board seats for each Arts Advisory Committee Chair (Visual Arts and Performing Arts), effective immediately upon the reinstatement of the Arts Advisory Committee.
    3. Arts Advisory Committee Chairs will be selected by members of respective Arts Advisory Committees.

  2. Formal Structure for Hiring of all Staff Positions (Goal: accomplish in 1-2 months)


    3.
    1. Create Joint SOCC-Centro Staff Development Transition Team for selection of Executive Director and Key Staff Positions (14 days)
    2. Provide SOCC with all press releases, timelines, criteria and salary other information regarding open positions, vacancies and pending openings. (1 month)
    3. Post open positions on website along with detailed criteria (1 month)
    4. Identify and post (on web) the 15-20 venues (periodicals, websites, etc.) where Centro will consistently post any job openings
    5. Distribute a press release for all positions (1 month)
    6. Have a website button for ‘Opportunities’ (incl. Board, Committee and other volunteer opportunities) (1 month)
    7. Performance review of all current staff.

  3. Policies (Goal: accomplish in 1-2 months)

    1. Post Centro policies and Bylaws on website (1 month)
    2. Abolish by Board vote the Affirmation of Conduct Values (1 month)

  4. Provide More Transparency of Centro Activities (Goal: accomplish in 1-2 months)

    1. Restore Open Public Board Meetings with public comment period at beginning of meeting. (14 days)
    2. Post dates, times, agendas and locations of Board meetings on website at least two weeks prior to meetings.(14 days)
    3. Post minutes on website (within 7 days of being approved) (1 month)
    4. Work with SOCC and Community Review Board to announce widely and post on website the date and time of the Centro Annual Meeting. Allow public to attend this meeting. (14 days)
    5. Host a quarterly open forum for public met and comment to representatives of Centro Board and staff (1 month)
    6. Provide a ‘comment card’ section on website
    7. Post Centro bylaws on Website. (14 days)
    8. Post governance structure of Centro on website. (14 days)
    9. Provide access to annual financial information (990 forms for past five years) on website. (14 days)
    10. Post mission on website. (14 days)
    11. List accomplishments on website (2 months)
    12. List formal relationships (sponsors, funders, organizations with whom collaborate, etc.) on website). (14 days)

  5. Establish formal complaint structure (Goal: accomplish in 1-2 months)

    1. Establish a Community Review Committee with SOCC representation to address complaints (14 days)
    2. Delegate an individual (rotating) to fill a position of ‘community relations’ (14 days)
    3. Establish formal grievance process for unsatisfactorily reviewed complaints (14 days)
    4. Report progress and results of complaints to Communittee Review Committee on a monthly basis. (14 days)
    5. Work with SOCC and Community Review Committee to draft formal complaint structure. (14 days)

  6. Formal Process for Guest Artists (Goal: accomplish in 1-2 months)

    1. Post formal process for submitting a program, exhibition or event on website (1 month)
    2. Formulate application package for submission process (1 month)
    3. Post names of committee and/or contact person to ask about process on website (1 month)

  7. Community services (Goal: accomplish in 1-2 months)

    1. Post calendar on website (1 month)
    2. Make available to public mail received of interest to community (2 months)

 

Please do what you can to help this community of artists, activists and social justice workers in their efforts to return the Centro Cultural de la Raza to its mission of serving the cultural needs of the local Chicano / Mexicano / Indigenous community. To contact the Save Our Centro Coalition, please e-mail community@saveourcentro.org.