NEA Announcement

Dear Friends of Plaza de la Raza,

On May 2nd, another alarming wave hit our community. Plaza de la Raza, along with many arts organizations across the country, received notices of funding termination from the National Endowment for the Arts. We were informed that the grant supporting our recent Día del Niño Children’s Day Celebration was terminated. The NEA was an essential partner in our 2025 festival programming, which now presents a significant funding challenge for our center and school.

Our community is undeniably hurting on so many levels, and this is yet another attack on who we are. We know from decades of experience that art and culture have the profound ability to heal, transform lives and bridge communities—it is at the core of who we are at Plaza de la Raza. We take pride in holding space for artistic exploration and presenting culturally relevant, socially conscious work that resonates deeply with our community. Plaza de la Raza’s impact over the last 55 years cannot be overstated—our center is a national cultural treasure, a safe haven for youth and a platform for living traditions that define our community.

This unexpected loss feels like a heavy blow, but our resolve to continue remains unshaken. Plaza de la Raza will not waver in our mission. Our commitment to our students, families, and teaching artists is steadfast. We are moving forward with our public programs, looking forward to our annual Día de los Muertos and Holiday Celebrations later this year. But we will need your help now more than ever!

Today, we ask for your support of our public programming in preparing our students for center stage. Your contribution will fuel our work with local students and teaching artists. As a community, we will continue to celebrate who we are. If you are able, please consider donating today. Your support will help to overcome this setback. Together, let us ensure that the 55-year legacy of Plaza de la Raza continues to thrive, creating opportunities for future generations.

Thank you for standing with us in this critical moment.

Sincerely,

Maria Jimenez-Torres

Executive Director

Plaza de la Raza

P.S. Again, Plaza de la Raza is one of MANY arts organizations throughout the nation that have had their federal funding canceled by the current administration. We also urge you to contact your elected officials, lend your voice and join the efforts of arts advocacy groups from DC to LA fighting to reverse this injustice, like the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, Americans for the Arts,  California Arts Advocates and  Arts for LA. Together, we will continue our important work…Adelante!