Welcome to La Peña! Promoting social justice & intercultural understanding through the arts since 1975.
Saturdays, 10am-12pm
In-person at La Peña Cultural Center
1. Peruvian Cajón, Cajita & Zapateó
Cost per class: $15
Starts at 10am
2. Peruvian Dance Marinera Limeña/Norteña-Tondero-Valse-Zamacueca & Festejo
Cost per class: $15
Starts at 11 am
Instructors: Peta Robles & Gabriela Shiroma
More information at: lunderomio@yahoo.com | 510-688-9147
PLEASE NOTE: This class follows current City of Berkeley and CDC guidelines regarding Covid-19 safety measures. Ask Peta and Gabriela for details.
Here you will find photos and videos of some of the events that have been part of La Peña’s Programming over the years. Thank you to all of you who continue to support us and enjoy the best of our local Latin American & Caribbean culture!
2021
We held a sold out opening reception for “The Light that Shines through the Cracks” art exhibition on December 3rd. The exhibition (still available to view during our gallery hours through January 2022) features the new work of seven BIPOC artists, activists, and collectives that display acts of collective care and responsiveness within almost two years of unprecedented challenges. See more photos of the event here.
Photo credit: Pancho Pescador | Consuelo Tupper
Photo credit: Angélica Vásquez
Photo credit: Bethanie Hines
Photo credit: Bethanie Hines
En la foto: mural “Canción de unidad” frente al Centro Cultural La Peña. El mural de 5 x 12 metros incluye símbolos y figuras icónicas; el más prominente es el cantante popular chileno Víctor Jara, quien fue ejecutado por la junta militar chilena en 1973. Otros representados en el mural son el líder sindical mexicano-estadounidense César Chávez, El arzobispo Oscar Romero de El Salvador, los cantantes folk Woody Guthrie y Malvina Reynolds y el activista nativo americano Bill Wahpepah.
Nuestra historia
La Peña se estableció en Berkeley, California en 1975 como un espacio comunitario inspirado en las “peñas” de Chile, que son reuniones comunitarias centradas en la música, la comida, la bebida y la cultura donde los miembros de la comunidad dialogan entre sí sobre temas de actualidad.
La Peña fue fundada por un grupo de aliados latinoamericanos y californianos como respuesta directa al golpe militar en Chile que derrocó al gobierno socialista democráticamente elegido del Dr. Salvador Allende el 11 de septiembre de 1973. Como resultado, se estima que al menos 30.000 chilenos fueron asesinados o desaparecidos, y muchos más fueron torturados y exiliados en todo el mundo.
En 1975, La Peña abrió sus puertas y se convirtió en el centro del movimiento anti-Pinochet en los Estados Unidos, un espacio para reuniones comunitarias, activismo artístico y solidaridad multicultural.
Desde entonces, La Peña se ha convertido en el hogar, centro y catalizador de cientos de comunidades diaspóricas que promueven la justicia social y el entendimiento cultural a través de las artes, la educación y la acción comunitaria.
Nuestra Misión
Enraizado en la diáspora de América Latina y el Caribe, el Centro Cultural La Peña colabora y une a las comunidades preservando y celebrando sus tradiciones culturales; produciendo nuevas obras creativas; y fomentando los movimientos comunitarios de justicia social con artistas, activistas y aliados.
Qué hacemos
Con el apoyo de la comunidad, La Peña presenta más de 100 eventos especiales por año, los cuales incluyen conciertos, reuniones comunitarias, paneles de discusión, representaciones teatrales, proyecciones de películas, exhibiciones de arte, eventos para recaudar fondos y más. La Peña también encarga y produce proyectos especiales de artistas locales y presenta artistas de renombre internacional. La Peña también cuenta con espacios para clases y talleres diarios para niñes y adultos, como el Son Jarocho mexicano; Cajón y danza Afroperuana; Capoeira Angola brasileña; Bomba y plena puertorriqueña; Salsa cubana, timba y danzón; así como yoga comunitario.
Clases en La Peña
La Peña es un hogar cultural donde cada semana, niñes, adolescentes y adultos estudian las tradiciones musicales y de interpretación que han alimentado luchas de resistencia, sostenido culturas y contribuido al bienestar de las comunidades. Estas tradiciones han logrado florecer a pesar de largas y complejas historias vinculadas al colonialismo en las Américas que llevaron a la censura y el abandono. A menudo han sido excluidas del reconocimiento general por las historias oficiales, la radio pública y los planes de estudio de música escolar. Las clases de Roots Arts (Artes enraizadas culturalmente) nos animan a pensar más allá de los enfoques de rendimiento consumista para convertirnos en productores y creadores de nuestra propia cultura. Estas tradiciones heredadas a menudo han prosperado durante siglos por fuera de la cultura mediática. También suelen ser revolucionarias, estimulantes, sanadoras e inspiradoras.
Nuestra selección de clases a lo largo de los años revela la extensión de las comunidades a las que servimos, incluidas las clases de: Jazz, Folk, Nueva Canción, Blues, Flamenco, Tango, Plena, Rumba, Son Jarocho, Danza de África Occidental, Capoeira Angola, Salsa, Bomba, Samba, Forro, Cajón Afroperuano y Hip-hop.
Eventos en La Peña
La Peña siempre ha sido un centro de espectáculos conocido internacionalmente. Cada año, organizamos o presentamos más de 100 eventos de música, danza, teatro y oratoria; exhibiciones de arte; charlas de libros; y diálogos públicos. Centrándonos principalmente en las artes y los movimientos progresistas de las Américas, hemos presentado a artistas locales emergentes, así como a figuras conocidas internacionalmente como Pete Seeger, Lila Downs, Pablo Milanes, Roy Brown, Mercedes Sosa, Paco de Lucia, Atuahalpa Yupanqui, Taj Majal, Holly Near, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Grupo Raíz, Quilapayún, Inti-Illimani, Los Folkloristas, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Ana Tijoux, Muñequitos de Matanza, Eddie Palmieri, Bomba Estereo, Rebel Díaz y Quetzal.
[Haga clic aquí para ver nuestro calendario de clases y eventos actuales]
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.
With your continuous support over the past year we have undergone extensive behind the scenes work and we are becoming a more resilient organization.
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.
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 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.
Image credit: Obrayan Calderón
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.
Image credit: Wall of Money
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.
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!
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.
Donate directly on our website.
Just click here!
Share this link: https://lapena.org/46years/
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
Art by Consuelo Tupper @consu.tupper
WE ARE ON UNCEDED INDIGENOUS LAND. This zine provides language, historic context and educational resources to be a better ally when it comes to acknowledging and fighting for Ohlone's rights and self-determination. It was made by the folks of Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (www.acorn.wiki). Check it out and share widely! >>> ohlone solidarity
FIGHT AGAINST NATIVE INVISIBILITY AND ERASURE. You are critical to this movement. Accurate information, authentic representation, and narrative disruption are essential to ending racism, bias, and discrimination against Native peoples. Click here to find tools that will enable you to join the movement of movements working to amplify a new narrative about Native peoples in media, pop culture, k-12 education, and other critical sectors.
Here we have an ongoing list of resources for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Communities:
The BIPOC Project
offers resources, custom support, and workshops for BIPOC leaders, organizations, movements, and groups seeking to integrate an intersectional analysis within BIPOC racial justice organizing.
The Summit Wellness Group's Top 61 BIPOC Addiction & Mental Health Resources is an amazing repository of information and resources made to support BIPOC groups and individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental health problems.
What so many get wrong about racism in the workplace
is an great repository of various compelling statistics on instances of racism in the workplace, which includes data from Glassdoor, SHRM, and other organizations. It also includes simple steps you can take to fight racism and promote equity in your own workplace.
A Guide on Racism, Inequality, and Health Care for African Americans offers timely and accurate information around healthcare in the black community, arguing that African Americans and other people of color have been disproportionately underserved and denied access to quality healthcare – a disparity that continues today. This is a great resource to use for education and equity advocacy purposes! Made and shared by "The Derm".
A Guide On Black Mental Health – Treatment Over Incarceration
. This guide provides some context for how Black people are disproportionately targeted and incarcerated instead of receiving the support and resources they need to overcome addiction. It also provides a short list of Substance Use and Mental Health Resources for the Black Community. [Image by Peer Support Space]
This article
is an educational piece that explores the historic impacts of racial discrimination in housing and is for people who are trying to be better allies. Some points it includes are: Historical Discriminatory Practices and Policies; Contemporary Forms of Discrimination and Inequality; Policy Solutions to Advance Racial Equity in Housing; What To Do If You Experience Housing Discrimination, and Resources and Advocacy Groups. Check it out here!
Financial Literacy in the Black Community
is an article that offers insightful information around the impact that this knowledge gap has on the African American community. Among other things, it discusses socioeconomic and cultural barriers and the role of Black financial advisors. Check it out here and make a step closer to a thriving future!
Broc
hure "Native Peoples in the East Bay" This brochure will take you on a journey through the history of the first peoples of the places now known as Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Click here to download it for FREE and take a look at their amazing maps of local tribes & native languages!
135 RACIAL EQUITY RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH, AND CIVIL RIGHTS: Racial equity is one of the most important issues we face in today’s society. It is not enough to not be racist in order to fight racism — we must be actively anti-racist and promote justice and equality for all people, all the time and in every community, city, and state in the nation. College Consensus has collected 135 resources that promote racial equity in a variety of important ways. Check them out here!
Anti-Racism Resources for Students and Professionals in Healthcare. For health providers, “not being racist” is simply not enough to counter the history of mistreatment and discrimination in healthcare that has disadvantaged communities of color for centuries. Taking daily, concrete steps to eliminate racial disparities in healthcare is critical—in their communities and nationally. Through these resources, health professionals and students can learn more about anti-racism and equip themselves to eliminate inequities wherever they see them.
Indigenous organizations to follow and support:
Segorea Te' Land Trust
is a Bay Area-based urban Indigenous women-led land trust that facilitates the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people. It cultivates the rematriation of land, and it calls on us all to heal and transform the legacies of colonization, genocide, and patriarchy and to do the work our ancestors and future generations are calling us to do. Check out their projects and take action opportunities here!
Indigenous Rising Media
is an Indigenous Environmental Network that is continually working "to protect the Sacredness of, the Territorial Integrity of, and Rights of (Grandmother) Mother Earth; and the Rights of Future Generations." Keep an eye on their calls to action and support them if you can!
Chiapas Support Committee
(CSC) is a grassroots collective based in Oakland, California, that serves since 1998 as a center for education and information about Chiapas, the Indigenous Zapatista communities and Mexico. Support their work by donating any amount on their website!
Indigenous Women Rising
is committed to honoring Native & Indigenous People’s inherent right to equitable and culturally safe health options through accessible health education, resources, and advocacy. Find their resources and support their work here!
Created and led by Native peoples, IllumiNative is a new nonprofit initiative designed to increase the visibility of Natives in American society. Check out and share their beautiful Indigenous Peoples Day Toolkit!
The Indigenous Solidarity Network initially grew out of SURJ, Catalyst and other folks’ work at Standing Rock and following ongoing solidarity efforts with Standing Rock fighting the DAPL pipeline and to protect the water. It has since become a network to share resources, and actions for non-native people to be in solidarity with indigenous struggles.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The Link Between Mental Health and Your Vision.
Follow these organizations to keep fighting for our fundamental rights and protect access to abortion care for everyone! Click on the images below to go to their websites:
Here is a list of some amazing local and national organizations that are fighting for a more equitable and sustainable future for our communities. Follow them to see what they're up to, support them, and get involved in their mission!
AAPI LGBTQ+ Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Support
