COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM

The School of Arts and Culture at MHP (SOAC)  is a vibrant, cultural institution in East San Jose. Founded in 2011, SOAC activates a vital local asset – the Mexican Heritage Plaza; a 6-acre, $35M City facility with an expansive plaza and theatre. Annually, SOAC hosts over 100,000 people. Through our core programming, we catalyze creativity and empower community.

Holding and providing space for cultural expression in marginalized communities is critical. Through SOAC’s Community Engagement Program (CEP), our community’s culture is practiced, affirmed, and celebrated in a way that is not happening in mainstream America. At SOAC, we uplift our community’s heritage through authentic placemaking and relevant  multicultural productions.

Signature annual events that SOAC presents, include:

  1. Fiesta del Mariachi: Fiesta del Mariachi is a community-friendly event that inspires families to gather and celebrate San José's Mexican heritage through mariachi music.

  2. Chile Mole Pozole: A celebration of Mexican Independence Day featuring traditional food, unique family recipes, and art that bridges the traditions of Mexico and East San Jose.

  3. Tres Vinos Dinner: The School’s annual fundraiser that convenes 300 people to celebrate the Schools accomplishments and (this year) to honor the founders of the Plaza.

  4. La Avenida De Altares: A celebration that features altars and other art installations at many local businesses in the three blocks surrounding the Plaza. On this day, we showcase the vibrancy of our heritage through the collection of cultural festivities, dances, and musical performances that honor the living and the dead.

  5. Fiesta Navideña: The Eastside's holiday festival that brings over 1,500 people to the Plaza to celebrate Christmas through performances, food, and our tree lighting ceremony.   

  6. Cafecitos: A pop-up coffee shop where community members hang out, meet-greet, are connected to resources, and learn about our community’s rich history and culture.

Annually, SOAC:

  1. Convenes 100,000 people.

  2. Presents — in collaboration with 60 community partners — relevant, multicultural programming that celebrates our diverse community.

  3. Provides technical assistance (including organizational development, fiscal sponsorship, project budget management, and production development) to local artists, multicultural institutions, and non-profit agencies.

  4. Subsidizes the cost of 156 productions; approximately $500,000 in subsidies.

Core partners include:

  1. Bloco Do Sol San José: is a percussion and dance ensemble dedicated to the development and performance of samba from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

  2. Cashion Cultural Legacy: is a foundation dedicated to sustaining the preservation, presentation, and education of Mexican folk culture through dance.

  3. Colectivo ALA: is a space for non-hetero conforming Latinos and Latinas who speak Spanish. ALA is an an incubator for new Latino leaders.

  4. Ensamble Folclórico Colibrí: is a Mexican folklore dance group with the mission to promote the pride of identifying as an LGBTQ+ Latinx through the art of Mexican Folklórico dance. They seek to preserve costumes and traditions through cultural and educational projects as well as staged performances.

  5. Los Lupeños de San José: is a Mexican folk dance company that was founded in 1969. They provide programming to youth and adults throughout San Jose.

  6. Ópera Cultura: Ópera Cultura gives voice to the Latino/x/a/é community through opera, providing opportunities for the San José community to participate as creators, learners, and performers. They present the works of composer Héctor Armienta and other Hispanic composers.

  7. South Bay Cantonese Opera: South Bay Cantonese Musical Arts was founded in 1992 by individuals who love the art of Cantonese Opera. They meet twice a month to sing, practice, and keep this traditional art form alive.

  8. SV Creates: is a network of leaders who care about the cultural and aesthetic quality of life in Silicon Valley. They are conveners, promoters, incubators, and investors in Silicon Valley’s creative ecosystem. 

  9. Teatro Alebrijes: is a theater ensemble that seeks to amplify the voices of Spanish speaking LGBTQ Latinx individuals in the Santa Clara Valley. They perform original work with a distinctive style where humor is the main star.

  10. Teatro Visión: is a Chicanx theater company with more than three decades of service to the community. Their work amplifies the voices of Latinxs, creates a dignified and empowering sense of identity, inspires action, builds respect and understanding, and explores the social and psychological experiences of Latinxs.

  11. Works / San José: Works/San José is an all-volunteer, non-profit, alternative art and performance center founded by local artists in 1977.