Our Vision

Our vision is bold, achievable, and helps guide our work. By 2034 La Plaza will:

  • Be a proven and recognized catalyst across the region and State for a city-wide cultural district movement, rooted in Eastside San José, amplifying the story of arts and culture in the South Bay.

  • Establish a replicable model that demonstrates how a cultural district can mitigate gentrification by centering housing and basic needs, small business development, cultural activation, art, and health and mental health resources.

  • Deepen its demonstrated leadership in the development of arts and cultural programming that provides a creative platform for the arts community.

  • Be a recognized leader and collaborator in the policy development arena for arts and culture institutions and community spaces.

Our Mission

The mission of La Plaza is to champion community heritage, strength, and resiliency through the activation of arts and culture as a pathway for community preservation and celebration.

Our Values

LEADERSHIP: We believe in shared leadership, valuing both individual and collective contributions from our team and community.

VOICE: We use our platform and influence to ensure the hopes, needs, and concerns of our family community are seen and recognized.

CREATIVITY: We believe in the transformative power of the arts. Creativity is the foundation of our humanity.

HERITAGE: Heritage encompasses cultural traditions and foundations that groups share. We connect to our collective past experiences as they inform and help to define current contexts and future hopes. We celebrate our heritage even as we create new experiences.

INCLUSION: Inclusion is a state of belonging. The School believes that the equitable access to resources ensures a thriving community. Therefore, the Mexican Heritage Plaza is open and welcoming to everyone.

PLACE: The concept of place is broader than a single facility. As an anchor organization for East San Jose, the School of Arts and Culture activates the vibrancy and celebration of our local community. We take pride in the richness and potential of our Eastside neighborhoods.

SERVICE: The School considers itself a servant of the community. We recognize that in order to inspire leadership, we must approach every interaction from a place of humility and respect.

Our Strategic Priorities

  1. We inspire the creativity of the community to build social cohesion (activates the value of creativity and heritage).

  2. We commit to the local community’s continued access to the Mexican Heritage Plaza and the programs of the School of Arts and Culture at MHP (activates the value of place and inclusion).

  3. We activate the Mexican Heritage Plaza as a creative hub for San Jose (activates the value of place and creativity).

  4. We earn and maintain the respect of everyone we serve (activates the value of service and inclusion).