THE CASE FOR EAST SAN JOSÉ AS A CULTURAL DISTRICT

East San José is a gem. Our unique neighborhoods are filled with people who dream big, fight hard, and embody grit. It’s no wonder we have many movers and shakers. If you ignore the often-painted desolate narratives, you can see a beautiful underdog story that is hard not to root for. To see the rich history of activism, look to Cesar Chavez’s upbringing in the Mayfair neighborhood, which led to one of his first boycotts for farmworker rights in the 1960s against a Safeway grocery store where SOAC currently stands. To see a unique marriage of cultures, you might experience our cuisine, such as Tealyfe’s VietChata boba or King’s Burger, a one-stop shop where you can grab burgers, spam musubi, and nail polish. We’re also home to some of the best Pho in the world and are proudly three generations deep in low-rider culture.

East San José has resilience in its DNA despite challenges that include a lack of walkability, limited access to high-quality education and medical care, and a sticker-shock-high cost of living. So it’s more important than ever to prevent displacement and resist cultural erasure. We'll need a coordinated ‘ground-up’ effort led by a coalition of residents and other community stakeholders to inform and represent the eclectic perspectives and shared needs of our community.

LA AVENIDA

Cultural districts are essential for fostering local economies, improving quality of life, and strengthening communities. La Avenida is a multi-phased project designed to revitalize the Alum Rock Avenue Corridor located in the Mayfair region of East San José. Learn about our capital campaign.

CULTURAL DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CDAC)

Over the past two years, SOAC has engaged in a comprehensive discovery process, with over seventy meetings and Cafecitos with our neighbors, local businesses, creatives, students, and colleagues within the Si Se Puede Collective. This ground-up approach has been a big part of identifying initial concerns, ideas, and feedback.

SOAC is now convening a coalition of the following residents, creatives, and other community stakeholders to serve as a part of our newly formed CDAC. The purpose of the committee will be to provide guidance, advice, and expertise to SOAC and inform its cultural district priorities on behalf of the community.

Community Partners

  • Connie Alvarez, President Business Association

  • Elma Arredondo, Resident/ARUVA

  • Helen Masamori, Business Owner

  • Monica Rodriguez, Business Owner

  • Davide Vieira, Property Owner

  • Danny Garza, Neighborhood President Plato Arroyo

  • Jess Morales, Resident/Business Manager

  • Pedro Perez, Business Owner

  • Gabriel Hernandez, SSPC Manager

  • Sam Cortez, CEP Partner + Artistic Director

    Equity Partners

  • Maribel Montanez, Gardner Health Services Director

  • Shreya Shanker, CAST Manager

    City of San Jose

  • Nanci Klein, Director of Economic Development SJ

  • Angel Madero, Chief of Staff - District 5

  • Kerry Adams-Hapner, Office of Cultural Affairs Director

  • Nelly Torres, Office of Cultural Affairs Team

  • Melina Iglesias, Office of Cultural Affairs Team

PARTNERS

Our network of strong partnerships and relationships with shared values is key to our success. Together we mobilize and collaborate on initiatives that support the health and economic viability of East San José and its residents from an arts and cultural perspective. This includes the City of San José, County of Santa Clara, Sí Se Puede Collective, and most importantly our community and allies.