Saturday, May 2, 2026. El Centro de la Raza—The Center for People of All Races
Our 19th annual Cinco de Mayo celebration brought Plaza Roberto Maestas in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle to life—filled with community joy, laughter, vibrant performances, and delicious cultural food.
To our neighbors, families, and allies: thank you.
What makes this event so special goes far beyond the music and dancing. It’s the community behind it—the families, neighbors, vendors, and supporters who show up, stand together, and keep these traditions alive. Your presence is what makes this meaningful.
As our Executive Director, Estela Ortega, shared from the main stage:
“Your presence is powerful. At a time when outside forces try to divide us, you showing up is an act of resistance.”
Cinco de Mayo is more than a holiday. It is solidarity. It is a reminder that unity among our communities is essential. When we come together and truly know one another, we build the alliances needed to fight for justice for all.
Your energy keeps this movement alive. Thank you for showing up with pride and reminding us that our collective joy is our greatest strength. We are honored to walk this path alongside you.
As we continue to support local creatives in The City of Seattle, we thank young professional Guillermo Gallareta Olivares (@filmillo_ ) for volunteering his time as a photographer and helping capture the spirit of this celebration.
La lucha sigue, y la cultura vive.
Gracias por celebrar con nosotros.
El Día del Niño
April 30, 2026, we celebrated El Día del Niño across all El Centro de la Raza José Martí Child Development Center locations—honoring our children, their voices, and their futures.
From Beacon Pacific Village and Plaza Roberto Maestas (Beacon Hill) to Hirabayashi Place (International District), Cedar Crossing (Roosevelt), and Four Amigos Beloved Community (Columbia City), every classroom came alive with joy, culture, and learning.
As a dual-language, bicultural program, our classrooms reflected the richness of our communities—through storytelling, music, art, and shared traditions. Rooted in El Centro’s values of justice, dignity, equity, and community, we celebrate not just who our children are today, but who they are becoming.
“Children have the right to be loved and to receive unconditional care and nurturing. They have the right to education, nutritious food, safe housing, clothing, and medical care. It is also essential that they have access to their language and affirmation of their culture.” — Hilda Magaña, Senior Director of the José Martí Child Development Center
El Día del Niño reminds us that every child deserves access to education, culture, and a safe, nurturing environment—and we are proud to stand with families to make that a reality every day.
Our children are our future—and our present.
Big news for South King County
A powerful new partnership between Comcast and El Centro de la Raza is creating more access, opportunity, and connection for families in Federal Way.
Together, we’ve launched a new Lift Zone — a community space designed to support students, families, entrepreneurs, and job seekers with the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital world.
With a $350,000 investment, this new hub offers:
Free high-speed WiFi
Digital Navigators for 1:1 tech support
Public workstations + community resources
Tech-enabled spaces for youth and families
Hybrid workshops for digital skills, workforce development, and small business growth
The launch brought together community leaders including Mayor Jim Ferrell of the City of Federal Way, Consulado de México en Seattle, Victor Hugo Lopez Ortega, Estela Ortega of El Centro de la Raza, Carl Gipson of Comcast, Victor Cerdeneta, Director of El Centro de la Raza’s Business Opportunity Center and Mimi Santoa + Maria Casarez, Co-Directors of Youth Services at El Centro de la Raza— all united around a shared commitment to digital equity and opportunity for South King County families.
This is what’s possible when community, corporate, and civic partners come together with purpose. 
Spring Into Wellness Benefits Fair 2026
At El Centro de la Raza, caring for our staff is part of how we live our values. Our Human Resources team recently hosted the Spring Into Wellness Benefits Fair at our Centilia Cultural Center, creating space for employees to connect with benefits providers, explore resources, and feel supported—not just at work, but in every aspect of their lives.
From healthcare to financial wellness and community-based services, this event reflects our commitment to access, understanding, and building a workplace rooted in the Beloved Community. We’re proud to invest in our people—and we’re always looking for others who share that commitment.
Interested in joining our team? Visit our employment opportunities page to explore current open positions.
Visit www.elcentrodelaraza.org, click on About Us Tab > Employment Opportunities
Event Date: April 23, 2026
On May 5, 2026 — Teacher Appreciation Day — we came together across our José Martí Child Development Centers to honor the educators who show up every day with care, intention, and deep commitment to our children and community.
At El Centro de la Raza, this moment of recognition is grounded in our values—social justice, education, and building the Beloved Community. Our teachers are more than educators; they are advocates, mentors, and culture bearers shaping the next generation with dignity and respect.
Throughout National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4–8), gratitude showed up in many ways—from heartfelt notes to acts of classroom support and community recognition—each one a reflection of the impact our educators make every single day.
Join us in celebrating and uplifting our teachers.
May 2026 was GiveBIG—and we at El Centro de la Raza are full of gratitude for our community!
Thank you for showing up for El Centro de la Raza and being part of our Beloved Community.
Because of you, families have essentials and support when they need it most.
Together last year, we:
• Distributed $162,000+ in baby supplies
• Supported 184 families
• Served 675 children
• Saw 93% of children enter kindergarten ready
This is the Power of Neighbors—building a Beloved Community where children thrive and families have a strong foundation.
GIVE TODAY VIA OUR “Donate” BUTTON BELOW 
Mil gracias for being part of this community.
On May 7 we hosted a virtual conversation about the SAVE Act Featuring U.S. Representative Adam Smith (WA-09), Serving Washington’s 9th Congressional District on Zoom.
We’re honored to welcome Representative Adam Smith, who will give a 30-minute presentation breaking down the SAVE Act, why it’s receiving so much attention, and what it could mean moving forward. There will also be time for questions, and you can submit your questions in advance through the registration form.
This is an opportunity to get clear, accessible information and stay connected to what’s shaping our communities right now.
May 1, we recognize May Day—International Workers’ Day, a global moment rooted in the historic fight for the 8-hour workday and carried forward by today’s movements for worker and immigrant justice.
May Day is a reminder that progress is built through collective action. It is about people coming together to demand fair wages, safe working conditions, dignity, and the right for all communities to thrive.
At El Centro de la Raza, we stand in solidarity with workers, immigrants, and families across our region. Today, we marched alongside our community—led by Executive Director Estela Ortega, joined by our staff, educators from the José Martí Child Development Centers, children, families, and neighbors from our Beacon Hill campus—to uplift our shared commitment to equity and justice.
We were also honored to welcome Mayor Katie Wilson and State Senator Rebecca Saldaña, who stopped by for conversation and stood in solidarity with our community—reinforcing the importance of partnership and shared accountability in advancing worker justice.
By raising our voices, we aim to advance a future where all workers are respected, protected, and valued—where policies reflect the needs of our communities, and where opportunity is accessible to all.
Our presence today is both a continuation of a long legacy and a call to action. We march to be heard. We march for dignity. We march for change.
We celebrated National Volunteer Week (April 19–25)
To our volunteers: thank you for showing up, again and again. Because of you, El Centro de la Raza continues to serve 21,000+ community members across 43 programs and services.
From food bank distribution lines that stretch down the block, to packed legal clinics, to pet care for families who otherwise couldn’t afford it—you’ve been there. Supporting youth, uplifting small business owners, and helping bring our community events to life. This work doesn’t happen without you.
In 2025 alone, 867 volunteers contributed over 12,000 hours of service—representing more than $422K in community impact. That’s not just time—that’s care, commitment, and collective power.
And in uncertain times, that power matters even more. Since 1972—when community members first took the keys to an abandoned school building in Beacon Hill—this work has always been rooted in showing up for one another.
We still hold those keys—because of you!
Business Opportunity Cetner: Food Cart Vendors Grand Opening at Plaza Roberto Maestas
El Centro de la Raza’s Food Vendor Incubator Program is back—launching a new season of small businesses rooted in culture, community, and economic empowerment through our Business Opportunity Center.
Located steps from Beacon Hill Light Rail Station at Plaza Roberto Maestas., this program supports entrepreneurs in turning food dreams into sustainable businesses—providing access to training, permits, capital, marketing, and fully equipped carts.
This year’s lineup brings global flavor and local impact:
La Consentida • Pizza Colibrí • Elos Food • Ñam Ñam Truck • Antojitos Lita Rosita (part of the program since 2019 )
From Chilean and Oaxacan dishes to pizza and upcoming concepts like sushi, burgers, and more—this is more than food. It’s economic opportunity in action.
April–October
Food, culture, and community all in one place
Support small businesses. Invest in community.
Vendors are also available for catering—connect with our team to learn more.
We celebrated Feliz Día de la Tierra This past weekend, we hosted our CLEAN AIR FAIR at our Centilia Cultural Center—bringing our community together in celebration of Earth Month, grounded in our values of equity and collective action.
On this Earth Day (April 22, 2026), we reflect on the space we created to learn, share, and uplift the voices of South Seattle and South King County. As we continue exploring the air quality challenges impacting our neighborhoods, we remain committed to building connections with organizations advancing environmental justice—and to doing this work, together.
