Community Power in Action Clean Air, Environmental Justice, and What’s Next
On January 22, El Centro de la Raza welcomed 40+ community members and volunteers to the Centilia Cultural Center for a powerful gathering focused on air quality and environmental justice.
Led by our Weatherization & Environmental Justice Coordinator, Gabby, the evening created space for learning, dialogue, and shared leadership. Together, we explored how air quality impacts our health, our homes, and our neighborhoods—and why community-driven solutions are key to lasting change.
This event reflected what El Centro does best: bringing people together across generations and experiences to build knowledge, strengthen relationships, and move environmental justice forward. The conversations, collaboration, and energy in the room made one thing clear—our communities are ready to lead.
What’s Next 🌱
January 22 marked the first workshop in our Community Air Quality Workshop Series—a five-part, community-led effort continuing through 2026.
Each workshop will feature:
• Free food
• Practical resources
• Community-centered conversations
We’re excited to keep building alongside our community—because clean air is a right, and real change starts locally.
Stay tuned for what’s next.
Commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: An All-Staff Day of Learning
Commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: An All-Staff Day of Learning
On Monday, January 19, in observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, El Centro de la Raza staff came together for a morning dedicated to learning, reflection, and collective responsibility.
Staff from our Beacon Hill Historic Building and locations across Columbia City, Roosevelt, the International District, Federal Way, and Beacon Pacific Village—including educators and teachers—gathered in community to engage with the documentary Harvest of Empire. Through guided discussion and small-group reflection, we explored the historical and present-day forces shaping migration, power, and justice.
The morning also included a Whistle Workshop, reinforcing the importance of accountability, transparency, and speaking up in defense of civil rights and democracy.
At El Centro de la Raza, our work for the community begins within. We invest in educating and supporting our staff so they are equipped to advocate for justice, dignity, and democratic values—today and every day.
The 12s showed up at El Centro de la Raza for Blue Friday!
From community pride to playoff energy, we’re repping the Seahawks and getting ready for tomorrow’s game-together. This is what it looks like when culture, community, and Seattle spirit come together. ¡Viva Seahawks!
Rooted in Advocacy: El Centro de la Raza at the January 26 Solidarity Rally
On January 26, 2026, El Centro de la Raza proudly participated in the ICE Out for Good: Don’t Fund ICE peaceful solidarity rally at the Federal Building in downtown Seattle. Rooted in our long-standing commitment to advocacy and justice, we stood alongside a multigenerational, multicultural community united in calling for dignity, safety, and accountability for immigrant families.
El Centro de la Raza was represented by Co-Founder and Executive Director Estela Ortega, Associate Director Miguel Maestass, and Director of Human Services Marcos Martinez, reflecting our organization’s leadership and continued presence in moments that demand moral clarity and collective action.
This nonviolent gathering brought together elders, youth, families, and allies from across cultures to stand in solidarity with communities in Minnesota and nationwide, and to call for an end to continued funding for ICE. With peacekeepers present and community care at the center, the rally embodied the values that guide our work: solidarity, respect, and shared responsibility.
El Centro de la Raza Joins Seattle’s 43rd Annual MLK Jr. Celebration
El Centro de la Raza proudly participated in Seattle’s 43rd Annual MLK Jr. Celebration, marching alongside community members in solidarity, reflection, and collective purpose. Gathering at Garfield High School, our team joined a multigenerational, multicultural crowd united by a shared commitment to justice, dignity, and belonging.
Organized by the Seattle MLK Coalition, this year’s celebration centered the theme “Where do we go from here?”—a powerful call to action that invited our community to not only honor Dr. King’s legacy, but to continue organizing and moving forward together. The march served as a reminder that the work toward equity and justice is ongoing, and that collective action remains essential to building a more just future for all.
