Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration
Our Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration brought our community together in a powerful and heartfelt way, drawing over 2,000 attendees! Families, artists, and community members honored their loved ones through altars, cultural performances, and traditional foods, demonstrating the enduring strength of our cultural heritage!
KEXP Radio Presented a Special Live Broadcast during our Día de los Muertos with DJ Albina Cabrera and Mike Ramos
KEXP’s mission is to enrich your life by championing music and discovery. Their vision is a connected and compassionate world embracing curiosity and a shared love of music. On November 2nd, their whole team decended upon our Centilia Cultural Center for our annual Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration. To share El Centro de la Raza’s impact on our community, they interviewed our Business Opportunity Center Director, Victor, the small business vendors that were part of our Pop-Up Mercado, Cultural Events Manger, Veronica as well as the megawatt performers that performed for our event like Luis Cano Mariachi, Cantante Mona, and more!
The Office of Housing’s Visit to El Centro de la Raza
“This month, the Office of Housing (OH) visited El Centro de la Raza as a part of our OH Change Team’s work. Our commitment to ending racial disparities and achieving racial equity in government through the City’s Race and Social Justice Division aligns with that of El Centro de la Raza’s, a longtime community leader in race and social justice issues. We experienced firsthand their mission in action during a guided tour of their historic campus, witnessing the major progress they are making in the community.
Our OH Change Team, made up of individuals from various internal teams, gained substantial insight from El Centro. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and community services, El Centro continues to strengthen its relationships with our staff. During our visit, we were immersed in the lively environment of El Centro, from its culturally-rich artwork celebrating Dia de los Muertos to its bustling senior center and multilingual daycare classes. At the heart of El Centro is its commitment to affordable housing, which we learned more about during our visit. We also got a glimpse into El Centro’s future plans in Federal Way, by not just owning a rolling rink but also maintaining an operational office. Their commitment to the community is evident in their ongoing projects and initiatives.
With 52 years of combatting systemic societal problems like racism, poverty, immigration, affordable housing, education, senior care, and other injustices, El Centro de la Raza showcases their impactful work and founding principles. They serve as a strong voice for those historically sidelined, courageously challenging repressive structures and policies. In partnership with organizations like El Centro de la Raza, the Office of Housing strives to build a more inclusive Seattle.” – Seattle Office of Housing Newsletter
New José Martí Child Development Center at Beacon Pacific Village
We also commemorated a new chapter in early childhood education with the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the José Martí Child Development Center at Beacon Pacific Village. This state-of-the-art facility will serve our youngest learners and their families, creating a foundation for lifelong success.
Housing: Four Amigos Development
Progress continues on the Four Amigos Development project in Columbia City, a mixed-use affordable housing initiative. With scaffolding removed and playground equipment installed, the development is coming to life. We’re thrilled to see this dream materialize, providing vital resources for families and the community.
El Centro Skate Rink
Excitement is in the air at the El Centro Skate Rink, where we’ve launched a dynamic lineup of skating classes! Led by the incredible Linda Sewell and featuring Artistic Skating sessions, the rink is buzzing with energy.
La Cocina Cooking Class
We also recently hosted a La Cocina Cooking Class. Participants learned how to make vegetarian/vegan tamales prepared by Maestra Carmen Cejudo! The class is a fundraiser benefiting our 43 programs and services.
Christmas Tree Sale
We rang in the holiday season with the Grand Opening of our Christmas Tree Sale. Each purchase supports our programs and services, making the season of giving even more impactful.
Kaleidoscope Play & Learn Group
Our Kaleidoscope Play & Learn Group celebrated a milestone as children completed the program with remarkable growth. Families in the program build connections and skills that foster a strong foundation for lifelong learning and relationships.
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El Centro de la Raza Food Bank Turkey Distribution
El Centro de la Raza’s Food Bank, with the help of our beloved volunteers, distributed frozen turkeys, chickens, hams, yams and stuffing mix this week. Approximately 1,500 households used the food bank service’s between the two day distribution. To meet the level of need in the community with out overwhelming our community in our food bank’s relatively small space, we distributed food in the hallway outside the food bank room. Participants were greeted by our team and volunteers and moved through out our lines quickly.
