When Long Beach established its first-ever Latino Cultural Center in downtown’s Jenny Oropeza Community Center, Centro CHA was more than ready to step in.
The nonprofit has been pursuing the improvement and advancement of Long Beach’s Latino community since 1992. Their work extends from immigration services and one-on-one youth career development to reentry and diversion programs and business counseling.
As the Latino population has grown over the years (Latinos now make up almost half of the city’s residents), the organization has expanded its services.
So when Long Beach approved a Latino Cultural Center in May, it meant Centro CHA could finally fully spread its wings. In the months since taking over as the official operator of the center, Centro CHA has hosted arts and cultural workshops, heritage celebrations, youth programming and family events, all for free for the community.
Being appointed the official operator of the space has eased bureaucratic hurdles, such as fewer permits needed for events and more space for workshops. But more than that, the organization can focus on making Latino residents feel at home.
“Latinos need to have a space in the city to maybe make it their own,” said Centro CHA’s Community Health Justice Manager Ariana Sahagun. “To have a safe space, to make sure they’re advocating for what type of programs or resources that they need, especially here in the area. Our goal is to ensure we’re meeting community needs, providing these opportunities and resources, but also making sure community members feel acknowledged and to feel represented in the city.”
As a Long Beach native and first-generation Mexican-American, Sahagun has the perspective that many locals have: craving a connection with their culture while still desiring to feel at home in their community.
It’s with this mindset that Centro CHA is planning its next few months of gatherings in the downtown space, from its first-ever exhibit honoring Latino veterans and their stories to a monthly mercado highlighting local artists and makers. They also plan on teaching residents about Día de los Muertos in October and creating a community altar for the holiday so Latino families and friends can honor their ancestors together.
Residents will be a part of these events from their inception, Sahagun emphasized. Centro CHA will host multiple workshops about the mercados to see what the community wants them to look like, how they want to participate and how often they want the markets to occur, among other details. Families will also be invited to participate in the historical Latino veterans exhibit by contributing oral histories, letters, uniforms, photos and more to give the city an accurate depiction of Latinos who have served this country.
The Latino Cultural Center’s current focus (other than repainting the interior) is to let residents choose a logo for the space. Centro CHA has already hosted multiple workshops where residents were invited to present what they thought represented them as a Latino, through oral history or items like pottery and rosaries.
“I think definitely what’s missing is just a connection to a Latino community space where they [residents] can fully just feel like it’s their own, right?” Sahagun said. “And our goal is to ensure that the Latino Cultural Center is representative of the community, created by the community and reaching their needs, and making sure it’s a safe space that they can participate in.”
Residents will be able to vote on a logo design for the cultural center at the 4th Annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Oct. 3 at Cesar Chavez Park. Along with live musical performances from Soto Band, Miriah Avila, Danza Yoliztly, Oropeza Folklorico and Mariachi los Santaneros, there will also be a lowrider exhibit, art activations, resources, food vendors and community awards.
Centro CHA will also have more information about the upcoming mercados at the Hispanic Heritage Celebration.
Despite the struggles the Latino community has been facing the last few years, Sahagun said it’s important for Latinos to keep celebrating their heritage and things that make their culture special.
She also acknowledged that one of the struggles many Latinos are facing recently revolves around financial issues, which can quickly compound into mental and emotional issues. While Centro CHA will keep its mission alive to provide invaluable resources, they also want to give Latinos a place to leave their worries behind.
“I think just now our community is being attacked by our federal government, and we want to make sure that we’re addressing their needs, but again, that they have a welcoming space to just live life eventually, right?” Sahagun said. “I think that’s what’s important for us and meaningful, that we want to uplift its community space to be [about] learning and creativity, but [about] the connection as well.”
The 4th Annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration will take place at Cesar Chavez Park (401 Golden Ave.) on Oct. 3 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is free to the public.
