Blog - La Peña Cultural Center

July 25, 2021

“Batey Boricua in the Pandemic”

“Batey Boricua in the Pandemic” is the pilot episode of our new digital program “La Peña Community Stories.” In this short film, we hear amazing songs & testimonies from cultural workers of Puerto Rican Bomba 15 months after La Peña—and most cultural venues in the world—had to physically close its doors due to the pandemic.

The protagonists, Shefali Shah, Héctor Lugo, and Ito Carrillo are pillars of the Puerto Rican culture in the Bay Area. Lugo & Shah co-founded the Bay Area Bomba y Plena Workshop years ago, and have been gathering and collaborating at La Peña to serve the community with classes, workshops, community jams, performances, fundraisers and more.

The focus of this video is the energy of the Batey Boricua Community Jam, which has been held at La Peña for many years. The intention is to honor this community-lead gathering practice which brings together Bomba practitioners, teaching artists, students, families, and enthusiasts to celebrate and preserve this over 400 hundred year old Puerto Rican tradition.

Watch the TRAILER:

Watch the FULL LENGTH VIDEO:

Produced by Jeremy Allen and Bianca Torres

Special thanks to:
Aguacero – Bomba y Plena Workshop | https://bomba-aguacero.org
Gavin Jones, Duvateen Sound
Raul Varela, camera
Marina Romani, photography
Bethanie Hines, photography | www.bethaniehines.com
Preservation Park, Oakland
William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

May 28, 2021

La Peña’s Turning 46!

La Peña is celebrating 46 years! Throughout the pandemic, our communities have been so resilient and prioritizing each other’s safety. Now that vaccines are more available, we are excited to announce that we’re preparing to reopen in a limited capacity in September with proper COVID-19 safety protocols and equipment set in place. Stay tuned for reopening details in upcoming newsletters (sign up here)!

We plan to present programs that will have both in-person and online components so that everyone can participate in the safest way possible.

Sneak peak of the *Batey Boricua* Community Jam performance and interviews – broadcast coming this summer!

With your continuous support over the past year we have undergone extensive behind the scenes work and we are becoming a more resilient organization.

What We’ve Done Thanks To Your Support

We piloted new programming models

We piloted online classes for kids, digital town halls, an online September 11, 1973 Memorial & Día De Muertos, our first hybrid event! This will allow us to have long-term sustainable programs in the future.

We increased our staff capacity

Hiring new staff has allowed us to make improvements to our website and other communication channels, as well as being more responsive to community questions and feedback.

We supported artists

We connected artists with COVID-19 relief grants & artistic project grants. We also provided paid opportunities for artists, created a free artist listing & regularly promote featured artists on our plaforms.
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We advocated for racial & cultural equity

We have uplifted social justice movements through our communications platforms. We have also partnered with the city, foundations and artists to bridge equity gaps in philanthropy.
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We prepared for building renovations

We have been working to address the deferred maintenance in the building which will be broken up into phases. We are also preparing for reopening safely with improved ventilation.

We updated our mission statement

Our new Mission Statement is the culmination of more than a year’s work, incorporating feedback from the community, board members, staff members and consultants.

As you can see, there’s much to celebrate for our 46th Anniversary – and with your support, there’s even more to look forward to!

Here’s How You Can Support Us Now

We are excited to reopen in the safest way possible this fall and to continue to build out the infrastructure we need to be the organization our communities can depend on, but we can’t do this without your support!

We are launching our 46th Year Anniversary Campaign with a goal of $20,000, which we need to raise by August 31, 2021.

Here are 4 ways you can help us reach this goal:

1. Donate Directly

Donate directly on our website.

2. Start a Facebook fundraiser for La Peña

Just click here!

3. Share this campaign with your friends

Share this link: https://lapena.org/46years/

4. Become a “Friend of La Peña”

Friends of La Peña are our sustained monthly donors! Visit Lapena.org/Friends to learn more.

Donate any amount during this campaign and you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing to win prizes!

Thank you for your support during these challenging yet inspiring times!

In solidarity and gratitude,

The LP Team

April 1, 2021

Mundos Musicales Kids Class Series Returns in May!

Due to the success of our first online kids classes, La Peña’s Mundos Musicales will return in May!

Please read the class descriptions and click the links below to learn more about each class, enroll, and apply for scholarships.

Scholarship deadline: Saturday, April 24th, 2021
Scholarships are first come, first served and need-based.
Enrollment deadline: Saturday, May 1st, 2021
Dates: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in May 2021 (4 Week Series)
Ages: 7 – 11 years old
Language: Intermediate English & Spanish language listening skills required. The classes are taught using a combination of English & Spanish and require that the children understand both languages (while one may be stronger than the other).

Each 4-week class series requires separate registration.

Class Line Up:

Read reviews from our past kids programs!

Read Testimonials on ActivityHero