HistoryLos Cenzontles began as a California Arts Council artist in residency in 1989 by Eugene Rodriguez and Berenice Zuniga-Yap. Their goal was to create a family-like environment for young people to learn and explore traditional Mexican music and dance.. In 1994, Eugene Rodriguez incorporated Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center as a non-profit, responding to spiraling social problems among local youth. That year two dramatic events occurred:
Rodriguez felt strongly that the time-tested strength of our traditions could be used as a vehicle to express the grief that many youth in the community felt for Cecy's death. Eugene recruited local community activist Alicia Marines to join him in establishing the Center. On In June, 1994 the new Mexican Arts Center opened its doors at Maple Hall, a San Pablo Civic Center community center. Within its first week Los Cenzontles had an enrollment of 175 students! What began as a performing group with two teachers and visiting artists now became a program with a growing faculty operating five days a week. In 1998, the City Manager of San Pablo, Rory Robinson, and landlord Al Dias generously made a storefront available to Los Cenzontles at Dias Plaza. Scores of community volunteers spent hundreds of hours to make the space the beautiful little jewel that it is today. Today, Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center continues to deepen and strengthen its programming. We are most proud that most of our staff and half of our faculty is comprised of local young people who have grown up in the program. Awards and RecognitionOur organization and faculty members have been recognized with a number of awards. Click here for more details. More about LCMAC:
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