ThePlaza de la Raza (Place of the People) is a multidisciplinary cultural arts and educational center located inLincoln Park inEast Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1970 by actressMargo Albert and trade union activist Frank S. López.[1][2][3] The center was originally divided into two arms, one providing educational classes for children and adults and the other a professional theater training group.[4] By the twenty-first century a full curriculum in theater, dance, music and arts was provided to hundreds of students yearly.[5]
Foundation of the center prompted enthusiasm from both sides of the border. Mexicanmasons fromTijuana constructed and donated a children'splayground inAztec motifs.[3] Speaking before a joint hearing of theUnited States Congress concerning a possibleWhite House Conference on the Arts, Margo Albert testified that the Plaza de la Raza had thoroughly revitalized the Lincoln Park area and stated that it had served 36,000 community members in 1977 alone.[6]
^Blaine, John; Baker, Decia, eds. (1973). "Cultural Complexes". Community Arts of Los Angeles (Report). Los Angeles Community Art Alliance. p. 41.hdl:10139/2728.OCLC912321031.
