El Centro Cultural de Mexico is an alternative space in Santa Ana where the community can find cultural, educational, and artistic activities that strengthen their identities, develop their talents and develop a sense of leadership in their community. By engaging Orange County residents and communities through community outreach efforts, it supports inter and intra-cultural interaction and dialogue among Orange County’s residents by creating a variety of programs which enable all people to explore their own heritage and culture. Through educational programming, which includes workshops in dance, music, art, and literacy, it promotes understanding and appreciation of the contributions of the many cultures in our region by sharing knowledge of Mexico’s rich cultural, and educational, and social legacy. It seeks to be at the forefront of creating a strong ideological and cultural bridge to support bringing together a variety of cultural projects from Mexico and other parts of Mexico, Central and South America.
El Centro brings together our diverse community of workers, families, and students, in order to support community-based organizing and initiatives that collectively move towards making Orange County a more just place for everyone. Today, we have trained generations of community-based organizers working in health, housing justice, youth organizing, immigrant rights, and worker organizations. Our building, located in the heart of downtown Santa Ana continues to be a central social justice organizing hub for Orange County.
Since it’s inception, el Centro has worked to grow the immigrant worker rights movement bringing together labor, community organizing, and immigrant and housing justice.