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Dear La Peña supporter,

We are writing because La Peña needs your help. We need to raise $20,000 in donations by August 31, 2017 to break even for the fiscal year. Since much of our income goes toward supporting artists and teachers, we rely heavily on individual support from donors like you to offset our true costs of running this beloved cultural center.

Your contribution is crucial and any amount is truly appreciated. You may donate online here by August 31,2017.

By that date we will have hosted 243 events and one-thousand classes since the start of our fiscal year! In fact, tens of thousands of people have come to a class or an event at La Peña in the past 12 months, representing dozens of communities!

Take a look at just a few of the recent community events at La Peña:
Frida Kahlo’s 110th Birthday Celebrations

In honor of Frida Kahlo's 110th birthday we presented two events paying tribute to this important Mexican icon: a day time market supporting women artists, artisans and entrepreneurs called Frida's Birthday Tianguis. A “tianguis” is a traditional open air market and comes from the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs, which means “market”. In the evening we were honored to have Dr. Gloria Arjona and Karin Guerra present their magnetic original theatrical and musical performance Frida Kahlo: Tree of Hope.
Berkeley World Music Festival’s Kick-Off Party
The 14th Annual Berkeley World Music Festival’s official kick-off party was produced and presented by La Peña Cultural Center in June. The party featured the cross-cultural exchange between Spain, Peru and Cuba. Afro-Peruvian master percussionist Peta Robles and world renowned percussionists John Santos and Hector Lugo gave context to African diaspora musical expressions in the Americas. Spanish rumba band La Mandanga fused the elements of Afro-Peruvian Cajón and Afro-Cuban rhythms with flamenco music to wrap up this incredible musical journey.
La Peña’s 42 Year Anniversary Party

In June we celebrated 42 years of community activism, arts and education with live music by the “cumbiacentric” Pasto Seco Band and the funky rhythms of Monreal Latin Jazz. We honored those on whose shoulders we stand, with a special thanks to our President of the Board of Directors, Paul Chin, who was honored for not only dedicating 35 years of his life to La Peña, but also for going above and beyond to support the center today into his retirement.
Son Jarocho Concert & Artist Residency
La Peña had the honor to present internationally renowned artists and members of son jarocho dynasty families, Patricio Hidalgo & Los Hermanos Vega - directly from Mexico! Son jarocho is a lively traditional art form from the southern Mexican state of Veracruz - the concert was the culminating event of an artist residency by Maria de la Rosa to help revive, preserve, and promote the traditions of son jarocho in the Bay Area. Son jarocho students were able to take workshops with these master artists.
Run4Salmon Benefit Concert & Panel
In the spring we held the Run4Salmon Panel & Benefit Concert to support the Winnemem Wintu Tribe raise funds to restore the nearly extinct salmon in the McCloud River. Esteemed panelists included Chief Caleen Sisk (Spiritual Leader and Tribal Chief of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe), Corrina Gould (Chochenyo Ohlone tribal lands protector) sat on the panel, moderated by Lyla June, about their struggles to protect their lands and the environment.
2nd Annual Bay Area Mural Festival

La Peña Cultural Center is producing the 2nd Annual Bay Area Mural Festival October 2-8, 2017. The festival will bring together 10 master muralists and 2 East Bay youth groups through a series of artist residencies and workshops culminating in the painting of 10 environmentally themed murals in Richmond. The festival supports local youth and artists and brings beauty and awareness to the community in Richmond! More information here.

As you can see, La Peña is an important organization to many communities! 

Community events and classes at La Peña are special; they are more than just cultural or artistic experiences. A secondary outcome is the creation of community to preserve cultural traditions through artistic expressions. And when strong communities are formed, they create social change.

It’s been a wonderfully busy year and we look forward to continuing to create incredible cultural experiences and social change through the arts with your contribution.

Please help La Peña continue for generations to come by donating at www.lapena.org/donate. It is crucial that we raise $20,000 by August 31.

¡La gente unida jamas sera vencida!
 

In solidarity,
 

La Peña Staff, Board, Interns and Volunteers
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