EXPANDING CULTURAL IMPACT
EXPANDING CULTURAL IMPACT
By Sendy Tapia
For a small group of thoughtful and committed individuals in the Mayfair neighborhood, el amanacer brings to light the implementation phase of bringing a shared vision to life. In less than two years from now, La Placita –across the street from the Mexican Heritage Plaza (La Plaza)– will be opening its doors to welcome the community with live events, delicious food, seating for cafecito, and most importantly, hyper-local employment opportunities artistically and operationally.
The dedicated team at the School of Arts and Culture (SOAC) is fully committed to becoming San José’s first cultural district by revitalizing the Alum Rock Corridor as La Avenida, just minutes away from Downtown San José, the upcoming Google campus, and the new BART station at 28th Street and Little Portugal.
“In less than two years from now, La Placita will be opening its doors to welcome the community with live events, delicious food, seating for cafecito, and most importantly, hyper-local employment opportunities artistically and operationally. ”
Plans for La Placita within La Avenida include the Alum Rock Theatre and Café: “The Café will be located adjacent to SOAC's 150-200 seat Theater and will operate independently to serve food and beverages during morning and afternoon hours and will contract with SOAC or directly with the Theater users to provide food and beverages for performances and events at the Theater.“
Community leader, Danny Garza, has lived in the Plata Arroyo neighborhood for 67 years, a couple of streets north of the Mayfair neighborhood. “East of 17th Street, we don’t exist in the city,” Garza emphasizes, as he passionately explains East Valley's history. As we walk along the Alum Rock corridor, he emphasizes, “We have a history of being made invisible. I want to see true accountability through the city with La Avenida –lighting fixtures for our streets, stamped pavement for the blind, and the city promoting our businesses and schools.”
“We have a history of being made invisible. I want to see true accountability through the city with La Avenida –lighting fixtures for our streets, stamped pavement for the blind, and the city promoting our businesses and schools.”
Toward that end, SOAC aims to keep our history alive, while remaining committed to Eastside residents by revitalizing the corridor into La Avenida Cultural District. From the first boycotts organized by Cesar Chavez to the accessibility of programming and its open and inviting spaces, the Mexican Heritage Plaza will continue honoring the heritage and stories by creating local opportunities, which include connection and pride.
San José’s first cultural district, in the heart of East San José, where creativity and social action continue to merge for the local community's well-being: supporting hyper-local community organizing, celebrating people and honoring place, and collaboratively creating. Each day, building on the legacy of “Sal Si Puedes'' as the fertile soil of activism and creativity of La Avenida's collective harvest of “Si Se Puede.”
“...the Mexican Heritage Plaza will continue honoring the heritage and stories by creating local opportunities, which include connection and pride. ”