We are excited to share with you that La Peña is going through a significant period of growth!
Over the last two months alone we have presented:
7 fundraisers for Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Sonoma County
2 fundraisers for Native American resistance
29 cultural events (18 of which were free admission)
104 classes for children & adults
La Peña has been able to address immediate social issues that impact our friends and families here and abroad.
All of this has been done with only two full-time staff members as well as our amazing volunteers, interns and contractors. But this work has been hard with two people and we want it to be sustainable. Which brings us to our second exciting announcement . . .
As of today, La Peña has hiredthree new staff members so that we can help our communities with even more fundraisers and community events!
Meet the new staff members of La Peña:
We are so thrilled with our team and can't wait to see what we can do together!
Please help us sustain the amazing momentum La Peña is experiencing by donating any amount at www.lapena.org/donate.
Your contribution is tax-deductible and is crucial to offset the actual costs of running our beloved cultural center.
Every year La Peña has to raise $55,000 in donations by regular community members like you. In appreciation of supporters like you we are launching a new program called Friends of La Peña! By donating $10 per month (or more) you will be entered into our exclusive Friends of La Peña monthly drawing, where you can win free tickets to La Peña events, gift cards, and more! The first drawing winner will be announced November 30th!
Please help La Peña by donating whatever you are comfortable with at www.lapena.org/donate!As little as $10 per month goes a long way.
Thank you for your support.
In gratitude,
Bianca Torres & Natalia Neira
Co-Executive Directors, on behalf of La Peña Staff, Board, Interns and Volunteers
P.S. Take a look at some of the recent events La Peña has hosted:
Batey Boricua: Fundraiser for Puerto Rico The Bay Area Bomba y Plena Workshop has been holding Bomba classes at La Peña for over 12 years. When disaster hit in Puerto Rico they were one of the first groups to organize a fundraiser in the Bay Area.On October 8th the community raised $5,835 for Puerto Rico at the Batey Boricua Fundraiser! The event featured a community jam of Bomba students, teaching artists and invited guest musicians. Photo by Marina Romani.
Fandango Fundraiser for Mexico & Sonoma County This month's son jarocho music & dance jam was dedicated to raise funds for communities that have been severely affected by recent natural disasters. 100% of donations collected went to:Flooding Disaster Relief in Santiago Tuxtla, Veracruz; Rebuilding Homes After Earthquakes in Zapotec Hidalgo, Morelos; Fire Relief in Sonoma County for Undocumented Workers.
Thangs Taken: Rethinking Thanksgiving Thangs Taken is an annual cultural arts event that brings artists, activists and communities together to explore the complex history of Thanksgiving and to acknowledge the legacy of U.S. colonialism and celebrate Indigenous resilience. Produced in partnership with Native and non-Native artists and activists, this event features live music, dance, film, spoken word poetry, hip hop theater and visual art. Featuring Corrina Gould (Lisjan/Ohlone), Hartman Deetz (Wampanoag), Rupa Marya, Stewie G, Justin Ancheta and more!
Venezuela Tropical y su Bululú As more Venezuelans arrive to the Bay Area, the need for cultural events for this community is increasing. On Oct. 14th La Peña proudly presented a family-friendly evening of Venezuelan music, food and donations to Venezuela via Venezuelans Without Borders. The evening included a Venezuelan Tambor dance class, followed by live music by Bululú and DJ José Ruíz!
Homage to Violeta Parra’s 100 Years La Peña celebrated Chilean folklorist Violeta Parra's 100 years of cultural legacy, featuring live music by the La Peña Community Chorus, Chilean folklore, dances, poetry, an altar by artist Ximena Sosa and a new mural by Los Pobres Artistas. You can see the mural exhibition in La Peña’s theater by coming to an event or class in the theater now through Dec. 31st.
Black in Latin America Film Screenings La Peña screened the award- winning documentary series “Black in Latin America”. Each episode was followed by a community discussion with a special guest speaker. The series documents Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s travels to 6 nations in Latin America and the Caribbean to explore how each nation’s history with colonialism and slavery directly impacts the black experience in those countries today.
Puerto Rico and Cuba: Two Wings of the Same Bird La Peña had the honor to present one of Cuba’s greatest living poets Nancy Morejon and other invited guests who presented on the historical relationship between Cuba and Puerto Rico. How external forces shaped the situations these nations face today in their struggles for genuine national self-determination and integral environmental development, most especially after the recent disastrous Hurricanes that badly damaged both islands. This event raised over $600 for Puerto Rico’s hurricane relief efforts.
2nd Annual Bay Area Mural Festival La Peña Cultural Center produced the 2nd Annual Bay Area Mural Festival through a series of artist residencies and workshops culminating in the painting of 10 environmentally themed murals in Richmond, CA. Pictured: Youth from the Gateway to College program at Contra Costa Community College work as apprentices for this mural directed by Los Pobres Artistas mural collective. You can find this completed mural on 23rd St. / MacDonald Ave.
¡Que Viva La Peña!
La Peña Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley, CA 94705 www.lapena.org 510-849-2568
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