Hello La Peña Community,
FINAL. 1975. La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley. La Peña Archive. 22 Jun. 2015.
My name is Devenni, and I am new member to the community, working as an intern for La Peña. Like many who have come before me, I can say that my experience here so far has been nothing less than invigorating. What do I mean by that? I mean my time here has introduced me to a new world; a place where people from all walks of life and many different backgrounds come together and share ideas and experiences. The space here feels safe. I see all kinds of artists and performers come in and out, expressing themselves, sharing their stories, giving us all a piece of their inner talent. I look forward to the days I come into the center, I like and admire the people I work alongside. The obvious conclusion is that the cultural center represents exactly what it stands for: inclusion.
I recently read a report written by one of La Peña’s former interns, in the report she describes the history and founding of the cultural center. Built after the coup in Chile, this center has been a refuge for political asylum. From its foundation the center has been a place of inclusion, turning no one away, and upholding those standards to this day. What a beautiful thing. It’s rare to see places like this, rich in its history and political activism, still thriving. The center is small gem in the heart Berkeley, CA.
Of course, I cannot continue without giving credit to the former intern who wrote the report. What she captured in that report shed a light on the continual progress and effort La Peña makes in reaching out to communities of all kinds, no boundaries, no limits. And it is evident not only in her words but in her dedication to create it. I encourage you all to read it. Inside you will find Jocie’s (La Peña’s very own Operations and Programming manager) own experience and story of inclusion:
https://lapena.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Case-Study-on-La-Pena.pdf
