ART
CULTURE
ACTIVISM
The
Save Our Centro Coalition is a member of the National Association of
Latino Arts and Culture.
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About
the 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 in solidarity with the working
class character of our Chican@/Mexican@ community.
ABOUT THE SOCC
The Save Our
Centro Coalition is a coalition of artists, activists, educators, students,
cultural workers, professionals and individuals dedicated to raising
awareness about the the exclusion and censorship of the Chicano/Chicana
arts and social justice communities by the current administration of
Centro Cultural de la Raza in San Diego.
SOCC members
have continued to serve the community and the mission of the Centro
Cultural de la Raza through the RAZAFEST programming series as well
as numerous other projects and programs throughout the region.
The Centrowatch
news source has reported on the Centro situation and also on related
community cultural center issues in other cities throughout the country.
 Since
its inception in July 2000, the SOCC's RAZAFEST series has produced
or co-presented hundreds of events, including Screenings and Discussions,
the "Roots Rock Raza" singer-songwriter series, the "Everything's Aloud"
open mic series, the "Domingos Con Latinos" music series, the "ESO ES:
13 Artists" art exhibit at the San Diego Repertory Theater, the Keep
on Crossin' Awards, a community discussion with Dr. Shifra Goldman,
a local performance by Mexican nuevo canto legend Gabino Palomares and
a dialogue with Roberto Rabin from Vieques. The SOCC is a member of
the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC).
SOCC members
also work closely with the Chicano Park Steering Committee, the Raza
Rights Coalition and other groups focusing on issues of culture, social
justice, human rights, youth, women's issues, police brutality, the
environment, the border, affordable housing, labor and mural restoration.
 Among
the projects originated by Save Our Centro members include the Barrio
Bookfest, Calaca Press, the Chicano Park School of Art, Cuachambiente,
the Graff Creek Project, I.C.E. Gallery, Keep On Crossin', Orquesta
Binacional de Mambo, Tribute to Cesar Chavez, among many others.
Save Our Centro
Coalition members continue to serve as active members of the San Diego/Tijuana
cultural community. In the last three years, Save Our Centro members
have performed and/or exhibited at Chicano Park Day, the San Diego Museum
of Art, the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art downtown, the San Diego
Latino Film Festival, the Adams Avenue Street Fair, the City Heights
International Village Celebration and the San Diego Repertory Theater.
Save Our Centro Coalition members are active in the cultural life of
downtown San Diego, Sherman Heights, Logan Heights, Normal Heights,
City Heights, the College area, National City, Chula Vista and communities
throughout San Diego.
Save Our Centro
Coalition embers have also provided support, consulting and programming
for other venues including Chicano Perk Cafe, the MAAC Project, Bienestar,
Hot Monkey Love Cafe and Voz Alta. Save Our Centro members have also
served on the Boards of Voz Alta, PACTO Latino and on the City-County
HIV Housing Committee.
 Nearly
all artists ousted from the Centro Cultural de la Raza have continued
to teach or work with youth in their professional capacities since the
takeover of the Centro. Most have worked in afterschool arts programs
and many teach or lecture at the college level.
Please do
what you can to help this community of artists, activists and socialjustice
workers return to the Centro Cultural de la Raza to better serve the
cultural needs of the local Chicano / Mexicano / Indigenous community.
To contact the Save Our Centro Coalition, please e-mail community@saveourcentro.org .
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