Tag Archives: el centro de la raza

Local Events

El Centro invites you to Día de los Muertos event tonight

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This banner was displayed at El Centro de la Raza’s Día de los Muertos event in 2010. Photo by Leslie Seaton via Creative Commons/Flickr.

The community is invited to “honor the ancient ones” at El Centro de la Raza’s Día de los Muertos Opening Night tonight, November 1, from 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. at El Centro, 2524 16th Ave. S. Admission, dinner, and parking are all free.

Tonight’s event will include dinner served from 5:30 to 7, and the ofrenda (memorial) exhibit from 5 until 8:30. Ofrendas in the exhibit were made by groups including Ameyaltonal Danza Azteca, From Hiroshima to Hope, Infant Mortality Prevention Network, Las Poetas del Monton, Youth in Focus, and more.

The ofrenda exhibit will be open through November 15, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on weekdays, except for Thursdays, when the hours will be 12 noon to 8 p.m.

El Centro is hosting other Día de los Muertos events this month. On Thursday, November 8 from 6 – 7:30 p.m., there is a two-part work shop on “The Symbolism and History of La Calavera ‘Catrina'” by Araceli Jaime, and “Analysis of the Aztec and Mayan Calendars” by Esmael Lopez. The following Thursday, November 15, poet Raúl Sánchez will read in English and Spanish from his debut book, All Our Brown-Skinned Angels.

To RSVP or for more information, call 206-957-4605 or visit the El Centro Facebook page.

Local Events, Volunteering and Giving

El Centro to celebrate 40 year anniversary this weekend; volunteers needed

Local non-profit group El Centro de la Raza‘s 40th anniversary celebration is this Saturday, September 29 at the Seattle Westin Hotel. There will be a reception, historical art walk, live and silent auctions, awards, and more.

The keynote speaker will be New Mexico Congressman Ben Ray Luján, the second Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Co-chair of the bipartisan Technology Transfer Caucus.

Volunteers in multiple areas are still needed to help the event run smoothly. The most help is needed between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.; dinner will be provided for volunteers. If you’re interested, contact Taylor Skoglund, volunteer coordinator, at volunteer@elcentrodelaraza.org or call (206) 957-4602.

To register, donate, or find out more about this event, see the website here.

Local Events

Save the date: El Centro 40th Anniversary Celebration, 9/29

El Centro de la Raza is 40 years old this year. To celebrate, the local non-profit organization has planned a 40th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, September 29 at the Seattle Westin Hotel, including a reception, historical art walk, live and silent auctions, awards, and more.

The keynote speaker will be New Mexico Congressman Ben Ray Luján, the second Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Co-chair of the bipartisan Technology Transfer Caucus.

Seating is limited. To register, donate, or find out more about this upcoming event, see the website here.

Meetings, Urban Planning

Presentation on Plaza Roberto Maestas project planned for Saturday

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This preliminary design shows a possible plaza in the PRM development project.

After the Beacon Hill Merchants Association annual meeting this Saturday, July 21, there will be a presentation about the Plaza Roberto Maestas – Beloved Community (PRM) development being planned for the south lot at El Centro de la Raza. The presentation will include time to give feedback and ask questions about the project, as well as to discuss the retail spaces and business opportunities that the project will provide. The meeting is at Kusina Filipina (3201 Beacon Ave. S.), and the presentation, which is open to the public, is expected to start about 1 p.m.

El Centro de la Raza and the North Beacon Hill Council co-hosted a public meeting on June 19 to discuss preliminary designs for the project. Over 60 people came out to the meeting to ask questions and give feedback about the early design ideas (see photos of the meeting here). You can read notes from the meeting here (PDF) and see a PowerPoint presentation about the project here.

The images shown on this page give an idea of the type of development that is being considered, but the project is very early in the design process and still subject to much potential change. Community feedback is vital at this stage to shape the future of the development.

This preliminary view is from Beacon Avenue on the southwest side of the project.
This preliminary view is from the corner of 17th and Roberto Maestas Festival Street on the southeast side of the project.
Meetings, Urban Planning

Further community input wanted for El Centro south lot

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The community is invited to discuss plans for the future redevelopment of this parking lot. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.

El Centro de la Raza and the North Beacon Hill Council have announced another community engagement event about the planned redevelopment in El Centro’s south lot. The event is next Tuesday, June 19 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at El Centro’s room 307.

At the event, El Centro will report on the current status of the project, and present more design ideas for community feedback. There will be round table discussions to examine various aspects of the project such as amenities, housing, sustainability, and more.

All are welcome; childcare, translation, and snacks will be provided. El Centro de la Raza is located at 2524 16th Ave. S.

Education, Food and Drink

Learn how to cook carnitas, pozole, and ceviche at El Centro

Pork carnitas, pozole, and halibut ceviche are on the menu May 20 for a cooking demo at El Centro de la Raza with local chef Vincent Rivera of Jazz Alley. Cost to attend is $40, and for that fee, you’ll observe and learn how to cook a three-course meal along with side dishes. Recipes will be provided.

The demo will include hands-on cooking opportunities, so wear an apron if possible. Be prepared to observe, learn, and take notes.

Tickets are available here. The event is Sunday, May 20, from 1-2:30 p.m. at El Centro’s kitchen, 2524 16th Ave. S. Proceeds from the demo will benefit the El Centro de la Raza Senior Nutrition and Wellness program.

Pork carnitas. Photo by Mike McCune via Creative Commons/Flickr.
Urban Planning

El Centro selects team for south lot development project

El Centro de la Raza has chosen the team of SMR Architects/Glenn and Glenn Architects/DKA Architecture to work on the redevelopment of their south parking lot to mixed-use transit-oriented development with affordable housing.

According to a press release from El Centro, “SMR Architects/Glenn & Glenn Architects/DKA Architecture was selected because of their deep level of experience in multi-family mixed-use affordable housing development, work with non-profit cultural organizations and skill in community-based design and outreach. Their ideas for the site were well received at the community open house attended by more than 50 neighbors on April 28.”

The organization plans to build about 100 units of housing, with childcare, retail, office space, and “flexible multi-cultural performance/community space” on the ground floor. They also promise public open space and pedestrian amenities, as well as underground parking for both residents and light rail commuters to use.

Neighbors look at site possibilities while attending El Centro's open house on April 28. Photo by Ashley Haugen, courtesy of El Centro de la Raza.
Local Events

This weekend: Cinco de Mayo fun at El Centro

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Not sure yet what to do this weekend? Join the celebration as El Centro de la Raza hosts their 7th Annual Cinco de Mayo festival on Saturday (tomorrow!), May 5, from 1-5 p.m. at El Centro, 2524 16th Ave. S. Admission is free and the whole family is welcome. There will be music, children’s activities, prizes, and craft and informational booths. There will also be traditional Mexican food for sale.

Performances will feature Ameyaltonal Danza Azteca, Ofelia Alanis-Torres, Seattle Fandango Project, Mariachi Seattle Azteca and a desfile cultural (cultural parade).

Local Events

Tai chi, soccer, fundraising, and more on this weekend’s events calendar

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Tai chi practitioners in a Wisconsin park. On Saturday, local folks will do tai chi and qigong at Jefferson Park as part of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day. Photo by OnTask via Creative Commons/Flickr.

There are lots of activities on the Hill this weekend to keep you busy, from soccer and tai chi to urban redevelopment and high school fundraising. Here goes:

Today (Friday) from 1-2 p.m. is the unveiling ceremony for the new community tile mosaic mural at Beacon Hill International School. Details are here.

Saturday is a busy day, starting at 9 a.m. at Jefferson Park where neighbors are meeting for a pick-up soccer game. “Bring friends and play some soccer with a great view,” they say. Details are on Facebook.

An hour later at Jefferson Park is a local version of the World Tai Chi and Qigong Day event, from 10-noon and sponsored by Wise Orchid Martial Arts. There will be a free qigong and tai chi class and demonstration, followed by a group lunch. Information is on Facebook.

Also on Saturday from 10-noon, El Centro de la Raza is hosting a community open house to present the finalist design teams for the redevelopment of El Centro’s south lot. The south lot currently contains a parking lot, but is planned to contain a mixed-use transit-oriented project with housing. Details are here.

Then on Saturday night, head over to the South Seattle Community College campus in West Seattle for the Cleveland High School Red and White Night Soaring Eagles Auction from 5:30-9 p.m. and help the high school on the Hill raise $10,000. Information is here.

Urban Planning

El Centro to present redevelopment concepts at open house

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This lot south of the main El Centro building is planned to become mixed-use transit-oriented development. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
On Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to noon, El Centro de la Raza will hold a community open house to present the finalist design teams for the redevelopment of El Centro’s south parking lot into a mixed-use, “transit-oriented development” project. The finalist teams will present their site redevelopment ideas and concepts based on feedback from last year’s community meeting, and also on El Centro’s program needs and desires.

The two finalist teams, SMR Architects/Glenn and Glenn Architects/DKA Architecture and Weinstein A|U/Jones and Jones, were selected from an initial group of five teams. According to El Centro de la Raza, this was due to their “extensive experience in multi-family design, childcare and community facilities, and prior work with diverse organizations and communities.”

All interested neighbors are invited to the open house. Lunch, translation services and childcare will be provided. If you will be eating lunch, RSVP by noon on April 27 to 206-957-4605 or execasst@elcentrodelaraza.org. El Centro de la Raza is located at 2524 16th Ave. S.