HISTORICAL LEGACY

The Mexican Heritage Plaza: A Cultural Landmark in East San José 

Located in the heart of East San José’s historic Mayfair neighborhood, the Mexican Heritage Plaza (La Plaza) stands as a vibrant symbol of cultural pride and community resilience. Since the mid-20th century, Mayfair has been home to a predominantly Mexican American community—one that has shaped movements, inspired art, and fought for justice.

Built by the City of San José in 1999, La Plaza sits on sacred ground—the site of one of César Chávez’s earliest farmworker boycotts in the 1960s, a pivotal moment in the fight for labor rights.

By 2007, community members envisioned a new chapter for La Plaza—one that would nurture creativity, preserve culture, and empower future generations. Through a grassroots assessment and strategic planning process, the vision for a School of Arts and Culture emerged. In 2010, the San José City Council unanimously approved this transformation.

The School of Arts and Culture at MHP (SOAC) was officially incorporated as a nonprofit in 2011, and in 2013, entrusted with full operational leadership of La Plaza. Since then, SOAC has activated this beloved space as a dynamic hub for arts education, cultural celebration, and community power.