Community efforts to save the Mexican American Community Services Agency youth center in East San Jose are paying off.
The Alum Rock Union School District board of trustees on Thursday voted unanimously 4-0, with Trustee Minh Nguyen absent, to extend the deadline for deciding the youth center’s fate. This will allow time for forging a partnership with the Si Se Puede Collective to help manage the facility.
Board Vice President Andres Quintero said liability for the Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA) center is a serious concern for the district, especially as the building is in bad shape.
“We’ve held off … providing an extension to allow this proposal to move forward,” Quintero said. “I see a path forward and the ability for Alum Rock to be able to shed the liability. I’m excited.”
The room was filled with community members as the board heard a presentation by Victor Vasquez, co-executive director of SOMOS Mayfair, and Jessica Paz-Cedillos, co-executive director of the School of Arts and Culture and San José Spotlight columnist. The nonprofits would be responsible for raising funds to renovate the youth center and ongoing operations. The group requested a 60-day extension to continue conversations with the board and create an operating agreement as they await a land and site appraisal.
“This effort is about more than restoring a building,” Vasquez told San Jose Spotlight. “It is about addressing the holistic needs of East Side youth, cultivating collective power and modeling racial solidarity at a time when our communities need it the most.”
San Jose Deputy City Manager Angel Rios, Jr. said between the city and county, they’ve identified $2 million in funding. On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for the facility contingent on the release of federal funds. He said the city is committed to the project and if the grant doesn’t come through, it will find alternative funding.
“What we got today is a downpayment in hope,” Rios, Jr. told San José Spotlight. “Now we gotta dial in on what it’s actually going to cost to revitalize it and raise that money. The best response to poverty is access to opportunity and that’s all this is about.”
District 5 San Jose Councilmember Peter Ortiz said MACSA empowered youth and uplifted families and was a space rooted in community, culture and care. He said his office is proud to have secured the grant to support its revitalization.
“We are working together to bring MACSA back to life,” Ortiz told San José Spotlight. “We envision a future where MACSA is once again a vibrant, community-led hub, a safe, welcoming space where youth thrive, families connect to resources and our culture is celebrated.”
Vasquez envisions creating a place rooted in community where young people can thrive and families feel supported. He is grateful to those who stand with them, including Ha Trieu, president of the United Vietnamese American Community of Northern California, Van Le, vice president of East Side Union High School District, and District 2 County Supervisor Betty Duong.
“The county’s recent Latino Health Assessment has revealed devastating outcomes,” Duong said at the meeting. “So, when we have an opportunity to preserve something that means so much to people … this is an opportunity that I urge you to pursue. I commit to being with you all every step of the way, with this board, with this district and with our residents here to find a solution for a sustainable operations fund.”
Paz-Cedillos said MACSA will focus on cultural, educational and wrap around services. In recognition of the collective’s capital investment and providing long-term community benefit, she requested it not pay rent to the district.
“The district came to the table,” Paz-Cedillos told San José Spotlight. “They are open to a partnership that can be transformative.”
Contact Lorraine Gabbert at [email protected].
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.