El Centro Cultural de México Grand Re-Opening
Where: 837 N Ross St., Santa Ana
When: 2-9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29
Since 1994, El Centro Cultural de México has brought vital services to Santa Ana, and from the beginning it has practiced the philosophy that the arts are intrinsic to a vibrant and healthy community.
It’s a busy place where cultural, educational and artistic activities strengthen identities, develop talents and instill a sense of purpose and leadership. “Art isn’t just a means to an end here,” said volunteer Carolina Sarmiento. “It’s an integral part of everything we do. We believe that arts and social justice are intertwined, and understanding (one’s) culture is crucial to understanding (one’s) identity.”
El Centro’s large army of volunteers offers music, dance and art classes for kids and adults. It also organizes and hosts events such as Noche de Altares, which draws more than 40,000 people every year, and the increasingly popular Día de los Niños.
In March 2017, el Centro Cultural moved into its own building, sharing the new space with community-based organizations such as SACReD ( Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development ), which has focused on efforts to get rent control on the ballot for this election. The media are part of the mix, too. Voice of OC has an office there. An in-house community radio station, “Radio Santa Ana,” recently began broadcasting at 104.7 FM. El Centro Cultural de México is celebrating a grand re-opening this Saturday, Sept. 29, from 2 to 9 p.m. The public is invited to the free event, which will celebrate and showcase the facility’s capabilities with demonstrations and performances.
We talked recently with Sarmiento about the facility, its services and its cultural significance. Voice of OC: How did this organization get its start? Carolina Sarmiento: It was founded by four […]
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