A hub for partners working towards social justice

This common space of el Centro has also fostered trust with other groups and organizations by providing other groups and organizations space to meet, plan for campaigns, host workshops, symposiums, fundraisers, and cultural activities, free of charge, but only after approval from volunteers. The routine presence of groups and organizations in our weekly volunteer meetings and through use of our space also allows these groups to partner with other like-minded organizations, recruit, build and grow together. In many respects, El Centro’s impact and enduring presence in the community can be measured by the extent it continues to serve as an organic “cluster” or “hub” organization.

Furthermore, El Centro has helped incubate several organizations including Breath of Fire Theatre, Educacion Sin Fronteras, Orange County Dream Team, and RAIZ (now Resilience Orange County). Organizers from El Centro grow with the principle of community solidarity, where these organizations all work and are housed under common social justice principles. El Centro largely subsidized these organizations in order to grow a local social justice movement where ideas and individuals could support and learn from one another.

El Centro is also home to organizations doing important social justice work in Southern California.

This includes partners who have been working with us for over a decade like Colectivo Tonantzin or newer organizations like Proyecto Tenayuca.

Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development (SACReD)

Nuestras Manos

University of California Irvine Student Law Clinics

It all started when…

El Centro didn’t always have its own space but had, like many other organizations, to borrow and ask for space to host its events and classes. We recognize the importance of space for community gatherings, celebrations, and meetings of all types in order to grow, learn, and share with one another.