Ayudando Latinos A Soñar Purchases Building to Open the First Coastal Latino Cultural Arts Center

ALAS Secures a Permanent Home for Cultural Arts Programs in Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay, CA – October 15, 2024 – Ayudando Latinos A Soñar (ALAS) is thrilled to announce a major milestone in its history with the purchase of a 3,628 sq. ft. building in downtown Half Moon Bay, located at 507 Purissima Street. This purchase is a pivotal step towards creating a lasting home for the community-based arts and cultural programs that have defined ALAS for over a decade.

The First Coastal Latino Cultural Arts Center: This newly acquired space will house the ALAS Community Arts Center, the founding program of ALAS since 2011 and the first of its kind on the San Mateo County coast. Located just two blocks from its current headquarters, the new center will serve as the cornerstone of ALAS’s mission to empower Latino children, youth, families and seniors through creative expression, while preserving cultural heritage. Positioned in the heart of the community, the center will stand alongside other cultural institutions, such as the Portuguese Half Moon Bay I.D.E.S. Society, celebrating the region’s rich cultural diversity.

A New Era for ALAS: For ALAS, this acquisition goes beyond mere real estate—it’s about securing a permanent cultural and community hub for Latino residents, many of whom face economic challenges. “Securing this building is a game changer for ALAS,” said Dr. Belinda Hernandez Arriaga, Founder and Executive Director of ALAS. “As a leader, I don’t have to worry about a landlord selling or raising rent. We can plan for the long term, building the first Latino Cultural Arts Center on the coast. This is especially significant given the history of Latinos in California, where our contributions to coastal areas have often been overlooked, even though we’ve been part of this landscape for centuries.”

A Space for Creativity and Growth: The new cultural arts center will centralize and consolidate some of the current offices and rented practice spaces while continuing to offer a wide range of beloved programs, including youth mariachi, baile folklórico, art classes, educational initiatives, entrepreneurship workshops, and healing retreats. ALAS also plans to expand its afterschool arts programs and host more weekend cultural events in this new space.

Building Roots for the Future: The purchase of 507 Purissima represents more than just additional space—it symbolizes ALAS’s right to a secure future. It will serve as a foundation for the organization’s continued growth and its commitment to providing vital services to the Latino community on the Coastside.

“ALAS, founded with a vision to uplift Latino identity and amplify community voices, began as a cultural arts program in 2011,” said Lilli Rey, Board President of ALAS. “Today, with the purchase of this building, ALAS takes a monumental step toward fulfilling its long-held dream of establishing a permanent Latino Cultural Arts Center that will inspire creativity, healing, and community-building for generations to come.”

About Ayudando Latinos a Soñar (ALAS): ALAS is a nonprofit, 501c3, based in Half Moon Bay,California that offers free programs of cultural arts, mental health, education, basic needs and social justice programs for Latino families, essential workers, and farmworkers of the Coastside. The vision of the organization was born from the desire to help children and their families to feel proud of their identity and culture and amplify their voices. For more information, please visit: www.alasdreams.com

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