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

Important SOCC Documents

SOCC's 17 Point Audit Petition
(09/09/05) Download PDF file

SOCC Proposed Changes and Formalization of Centro Structure and Procedures
(09/19/05) Download PDF file

We Support the SOCC!

Join the following individuals, artists, activists, Centro founders, former Centro Board members and groups in their efforts to return the Centro Culltural de la Raza to the community.

Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez
Richard Lou
Robert Sanchez
Lalo Lopez Alcaraz
Tomasa "Tommie" Camarillo
Corky Gonzales Presente!
Irene Mena
Carmen Kalo
Valerie Aranda
Javier Francisco
Patricio Chavez
Eloise de Leon
Carmela Castejon
David Rico
endy
Leticia Talvera
Sal Barajas
Teresa Caballero
Bill Caballero
Victor Ochoa
Nuvia Crisol Guerra
Isaac Artenstein
Jorge Mariscal
Christina Ruiz Goldberg
Carlos C. de Baca
Perry Vasquez
Mario Torero
Victor Payan
Pocha Peña
Ernesto Bustillos
Andi Brandenburg
Irene Castruita
Mariajulia Urias
Monica Hernandez
Theresa Mill
Brent Beltran
Luz Camacho
Richard Gomez
Kathy Espitia
Marco Anguiano Presente!
Alma Felan
Rick Felan
Ricardo Pozos
Daniel Pozos
Bob Rob Medina
Elsa Velarde
Howard Hollman
Laura Irene Arvizu
Rebecca Romani
Ryan Trammel
Carlos Pelayo
Roberto Rodriguez
...and many more!

The following groups also support the boycott and the effort to return the Centro to the community:

Able Minded Poets
Activist San Diego
Arabs Anonymous/No Hay Moros
Besos Not Bombs
Brown Berets de Aztlan
Chicano Park Steering Committee
Chicano Perk Cafe
Calaca Press
Cuachambiente
Evolution of the Brown
FUERZA
Hot Monkey Love Cafe
Keep on Crossin'
Loko Artz Collective
Pocharte
Peace and Freedom Party
Radioactive Future
Raza Rights Coalition
Red Calaca Arts Collective
Teatro Izcalli
Union del Barrio
Voz Alta

Contact the SOCC!

If you are interested in contacting SOCC members, learning about our various programs in the community or helping with the effort to return the Centro Cultural de la Raza to the community, please email us.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

Email us your comments regarding the Centro's hiring of armed of duty police officers for community meeting.

community@saveourcentro.org

2006 SOCC Year in Review

Hummingbird Newsletter

Join Our MySpace Page

Lizz Huerta
Click here for video | audio podcast

Univision Covers Nov. 6 Centro Letdown

Click here for video | audio podcast

NATIONAL REACTION

"NALAC will not participate in a meeting with an organization such as Centro Cultural that treats another organization, artists and the community in this manner... (We) do not condone armed meetings with our communities."

Maria de Leon
Exec. Dir., National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, San Antonio

"Their underhanded ways of doing things behind the community's interest certainly is not what we had in mind when we belonged to the Concilio de Arte Popular...It was for the ennoblement and empowerment of our communities."

Jose Montoya
Royal Chicano Air Force, Sacramento

"Cesar Chavez said non-violence is our strength. What are they doing bringing guns against people with that philosophy?"

Chunky Sanchez
Los Alacranes, San Diego

"To arrange for armed security when you are reaching out to the community is a good example of the CCR's leadership being out of touch with the history of its community and serves as an example that the board operates out of an unfounded fear of its own community that they are mandated to represent. 

It further illustrates that the current leadership believes it is above it's own stated policy of the prohibition of firearms on the premises."

Richard Lou, Former Centro Board Member, Chair, Dept. of Art, GCSU, Millidgeville, GA

COMMUNITY EFFORT ENDS CENTRO BOYCOTT

THANK YOU!

For supporting the mediation process and the community's request for the Proposed Changes to restore transparency, fair hiring practices and fiscal accountability at the Centro.

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2006 SOCC Year In Review

Click Here to read about our Groundbreaking Exhibits, Critically-Acclaimed Performances, Expanded New Programming, Fundraisers, the Chicano Park Steering Committee's New Mural Restoration Manual and more cool SOCC events.

* Click Here *

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Artists Helping Their Own
A Silent Art Auction Fundraiser for Berenice Badillo

Update: Over $7,000 raised in four hours!

Saturday, May 12, 2007
Noon - 4 pm

1616 National Ave. @ 16th in Logan Heights

Click Here For More Info and A Sneak Peak of the Art

Thanks to Everyone Who Made

The Red CalacArts Collective's
7th Annual Int'l Women's Day
Celebration A Smashing Success

Click Here to See Photos of Pistolera's Incredible Performance

37th Annual
Chicano Park Day
Sat., April 21, 2007
10am - 5pm

The 37th annual Chicano Park Day will feature great live music, incredible food and merchandise vendors and great community organizations. Be a part of the biggest Chicano cultural celebration in the country!

Visit The Chicano Park Day Website

VIVA MARCO ANGUIANO!1952 - 2005

Our Dear Friend and Compañero

Marco was a great friend, a talented organizer and an articulate SOCC member, who dedicated his life to the empowerment of the community through activism, principled struggle and the arts. Click here to read his obituary in the San Diego Union Tribune.

News Archive

SOCC Artists Work In the Community

November 11, 2005
LA PRENSA EDITORIAL BLASTS CENTRO BOARD
Centro Cultural de la Raza Board Calls for Armed Guards ofr Public Meeting
Click Here

September 16, 2005
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
The SOCC demonstrate outside the Centro Cultural de la Raza to demand a response
Click Here

July 8, 2005
THE SELF-HELP GRAPHICS CRISIS: LESSONS FROM SAN DIEGO
Click Here

June 7, 2005
SOCC MEETS WITH BOARD TO PLAN COMMUNITY MEETING
Click Here

June 3, 2005
LALO ALCARAZ PULLS HIS ARTWORK FROM CENTRO EXHIBIT
Click Here

April 26, 2005
SOCC MAKES PRESENTATION TO CENTRO BOARD
Click Here

ROOTS OF THE BOYCOTT

The boycott of the Centro Cultural de la Raza has been in continuous effect since May, 2000, when the current administration of the Centro broke off dialog with the excluded Centro arts community by reporting artists, activists and students to the police.

Please respect the boycott of the Centro Cultural de la Raza and demand that the current administration be held accountable for these actions, which include the destruction of art, censorship and the forced removal of Chicana artist Valerie Aranda from the Board. No Se Olvide. La Lucha continua.

THE CENTRO BOYCOTT ENDED
ON APRIL 21, 2007

DEMAND DIALOG NOT DENIAL

A heartfelt thank you to all the artists, activists, Centro founders, former Board members, individuals and groups who supported the Save Our Centro Coalition in the boycott and the demand for an mutually-agreed upon open community meeting to discuss the five-year exclusion of the community. Always demand dialogue not denial.

Learn How You Can Get Involved!

SAN DIEGO CITY BEAT COVERS CENTRO BOYCOTT!