Form 990 for tax year 2022

Totals

Total revenue

$7,401,726

Total expenses

$5,300,634

Contributions and grants received

$6,061,661

Grants paid

$304,000

Program service revenue

$1,410,157

Investment income

$2,713

Other revenue

-$72,805

Total assets, end of year

$17,970,055

Total liabilities, end of year

$2,718,223

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$15,251,832

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$4,132,780

Management and general expenses

$855,246

Fundraising expenses

$312,608

Program service expenses (Part III)

$4,132,780

Program services were 78.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2022

• SPECIAL INITIATIVESDURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2022, THE SCHOOL LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THAT SEEKS TO INFORM AND INFLUENCE WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SURROUNDING THE PLAZA CAN BECOME. THE SCHOOL LEVERAGES A CULTURAL DISTRICT STRATEGY TO PRESERVE THE CULTURES, TRADITIONS, AND IDENTITIES THAT ARE UNIQUELY SAN JOSE TO ESTABLISH THE CITY'S FIRST CULTURAL DISTRICT WITH THE PLAZA AT ITS CENTER. THE ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1751 ALUM ROCK AVENUE IS THE FIRST STEP TO REALIZING LA AVENIDA, THE VISION OF A CULTURAL DISTRICT IN EAST SAN JOSE WITH THE PLAZA AT ITS CENTER. THE SCHOOL WILL EXPAND SOME OF ITS CURRENT PROGRAMS TO THIS BUILDING, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY HOUSE A BLACK BOX THEATER, A CAF, A FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER OPERATED BY GARDNER HEALTH SERVICES, AS WELL AS LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES.

  Expenses $873,518 · Grants $304,000

• EVENTS - COMMUNITY ACCESS AND ENGAGEMENTTHE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES LOCAL ARTISTS, ARTS, AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES ACCESS TO THE PLAZA, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON USING THE SPACE, AND ACCESS TO AUDIENCE NETWORKS. ACTIVATING AND CURATING THE SIX-ACRE, $35 MILLION, CITY-OWNED FACILITY AS A PROGRAMMABLE ARTS AND CULTURAL DESTINATION AND COMMUNITY HUB, THE SCHOOL PROVIDES EAST SAN JOSE RESIDENTS WITH A SAFE, ACTIVE, FAMILY VENUE FOR DIVERSE ARTS ACTIVITIES THAT SPEAK TO ITS UNIQUE CULTURAL HERITAGE. IN THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2020, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM WORKED WITH 60 COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PRESENT RELEVANT, MULTICULTURAL PROGRAMMING THAT CELEBRATED THE LOCAL COMMUNITY'S DIVERSITY AND SUBSIDIZED THE COST OF 156 PRODUCTIONS. IN 2023, THE SCHOOL WORKED WITH 70 COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HOST AND PRESENT 153 EVENTS. THIS ACTIVATION CONTINUES TO INCREASE STEADILY AS THE ARTS AND CULTURAL SECTOR AND THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.THE SCHOOL'S COMMUNITY ACCESS POLICY IS DEFINED PRIMARILY BY THE SPIRIT OF THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR COMMUNITY ACCESS AND ENGAGEMENT:CREATE WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE AND AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AND CULTURAL OFFERINGS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ARTISTS, ARTS SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-FOCUSED NONPROFITS THAT CAPITALIZE ON THE STRENGTHS OF THIS UNIQUE FACILITY AND LOCATION IN EAST SAN JOSE.DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS WITH A NETWORK OF ARTISTS, ARTS, AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TO LEVERAGE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS AND CAPACITY WHILE ADVANCING AND GROWING COLLECTIVE IMPACT.BUILD COMMUNITY CONFIDENCE, ENTHUSIASM, AND TRUST OVER TIME THROUGH CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION, RESPONSIVENESS, AND A RELIABLE MENU OF OPPORTUNITIES.DEVELOP A BROAD MIX OF PROGRAMMING FOCUSING ON MEXICAN CULTURE WHILE ACTIVATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL INTEGRATION WITH THE WIDER MULTICULTURAL ARTISTIC COMMUNITY PRESENT IN SAN JOSE.FACILITATE MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARTNER SCHOOLS, AND PRIVATE CLIENTS.CREATE A RELATIONSHIP OF RECIPROCITY WITH SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH "MISSION COMPATIBLE" ACTIVATION OF SPACES.EMBRACE GRASSROOTS PARTICIPATION AS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHOOLS' VISION AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.EVENTS - MARKET RATE RENTALTHE SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN A BEAUTIFUL, MULTI-USE VENUE IN A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT LOCATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SITE IS THE SAME PLACE WHERE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST CESAR CHAVEZ ORGANIZED THE FIRST GRAPE BOYCOTT WITH THE FARMWORKER MOVEMENT. THE HOUSE HE LIVED IN IS LOCATED A QUARTER OF A MILE AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL.THE BUSINESS PLAN WRITTEN BY THE SCHOOL STEERING COMMITTEE IN 2011 IDENTIFIES RENTAL INCOME FROM THE FACILITY AS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE SCHOOL. AT ITS INCEPTION, THE SCHOOL HAS PARTNERED WITH A FOR-PROFIT COMPANY, GIANT CREATIVE SERVICES, TO ENSURE A CAREFUL, CREATIVE, AND ATTENTIVE APPROACH TO MARKET RATE RENTALS.THIS CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL STAFF RESULTED IN THE INCREASED USAGE OF THE FACILITY BY SEVERAL ART SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE EVENTS IN A MANNER NEVER BEFORE SEEN UNDER PREVIOUS OPERATORS. HOWEVER, IN FY22, THE SCHOOL DECIDED TO BRING THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MARKET RATE RENTALS IN-HOUSE AND HIRED ITS OWN TEAM TO MANAGE THE DEPARTMENT. THE SCHOOL'S MARKET RATE RENTAL PROGRAM GENERATES REVENUE THAT THEN DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE SCHOOL'S PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, 98% OF ALL EVENTS AT THE PLAZA, THROUGH THE MARKET RATE RENTAL PROGRAM, ARE ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY. IN 2023, THE PLAZA HOSTED OVER 80 PERSONAL CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS. AS BEFORE, THESE EVENTS ARE DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY.

  Expenses $1,859,382 · Revenue $1,410,157

• FACILITYTHE SCHOOL OPERATES THE PLAZA, WHICH THE CITY OF SAN JOSE OWNS. THE SCHOOL LEVERAGES THE $35 MILLION FACILITY TO OFFER ITS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION COURSES TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ITS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM; AN ARTS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR (I.E., THE MULTICULTURAL ARTS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE); AND COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND MARKET RATE PROGRAMS. IN THIS WAY, THE LONG-UNDERUTILIZED FACILITY IS ACTIVATED AND TRANSFORMED INTO A VIBRANT HUB OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITY.

  Expenses $1,206,262 · Revenue $4,200

• ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMTHE SCHOOL PROVIDES A "MULTI-CULTURAL AND INTER-CULTURAL VENUE" FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PROGRAMS THAT EMBRACE ALL CULTURES WHILE EXPLORING THE ARTISTIC TRADITIONS, CULTURAL HISTORY, AND CONTEMPORARY CREATIVE EXPRESSION OF MEXICAN AND LATIN AMERICAN ARTS. THE SCHOOL BELIEVES THAT THE ARTS ARE POWERFUL VEHICLES FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION - BY CREATING NURTURING COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY AT-RISK YOUTH. THE SCHOOL BELIEVES, AS RESEARCH INDICATES, THAT CREATIVE EXPERIENCES IN THE ARTS OFFER STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO "ENVISION AND SET GOALS, DETERMINE A METHOD TO REACH A GOAL, AND TRY IT OUT, IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVES, EVALUATE, REVISE, SOLVE PROBLEMS, IMAGINE, WORK COLLABORATIVELY, AND APPLY SELF-DISCIPLINE" (THE CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS).THE GOALS FOR THE ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM ARE TO ENGAGE YOUTH, AGES 4 TO 18, IN POSITIVE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT, SAFE, AND EMPOWERING LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT WILL INSPIRE AND STRENGTHEN THE YOUTH AND FAMILIES OF SAN JOSE TO BE AGENTS OF POSITIVE CHANGE. TO REACH THESE GOALS, THE SCHOOL SEEKS TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: 1) OFFER EAST SAN JOSE STUDENTS ACCESS TO ARTS EDUCATION; 2) ACTIVATE A COMMUNITY ASSET THE PLAZA, WHERE THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED; AND 3) OFFER QUALITY STUDENT LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN THE ARTS. IN THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021, THE ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM WAS PLACED ON HIATUS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. EVEN SO, THE SCHOOL DISTRIBUTED ABOUT 5,000 ART KITS TO STUDENTS FOR THEM TO CONTINUE ARTS ENGAGEMENT WHILE SHELTERING IN PLACE. THE ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS NOT RETURNED TO ITS PRE-COVID LEVEL OF ACTIVITY. THIS IS PARTLY BECAUSE THE EAST SAN JOSE COMMUNITY THAT THE PROGRAM PRIMARILY SERVES REMAINS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC. EVEN AS OTHER PARTS OF SAN JOSE RECOVER, EAST SAN JOSE'S RECOVERY LAGS, AND RESIDENTS HERE CANNOT PAY FOR ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. AS A RESULT, THE SCHOOL IS REDESIGNING ITS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM TO BE FREE OF CHARGE TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO LIVE IN THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING THE PLAZA. IN 2023, THE SCHOOL OFFERED ALL OF ITS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM ACTIVITIES FOR FREE AND SERVED 682 STUDENTS THROUGH ITS SUMMER CAMPS AND COMMUNITY EVENT WORKSHOPS.MULTICULTURAL ARTS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (MALI)MALI IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERS OF COLOR IN THE ARTS, CULTURAL, AND ENTERTAINMENT SECTORS. THROUGH MALI'S YEAR-LONG TRAINING PROGRAM, THE SCHOOL DEVELOPS LOCAL MULTICULTURAL ARTS PRACTITIONERS BY GIVING THEM THE TECHNICAL SKILLS, PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNINGS, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES NECESSARY TO GROW AND SUSTAIN THEIR WORK, SCHOOLS, AND THE ARTS SECTOR IN SILICON VALLEY. SINCE 2008, MALI HAS WORKED WITH OVER 150 LEADERS OF COLOR IN SILICON VALLEY, OF WHICH 25 HOLD DIRECTOR-LEVEL POSITIONS, 22 ARE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, 12 ARE ARTIST LAUREATES, SIX ARE SAN JOSE CULTURAL AMBASSADORS, FIVE ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE LEIGH WEIMERS AWARD, AND SEVEN WORK IN GOVERNMENT. IN ADDITION, SINCE ITS FOUNDING, THE SCHOOL HAS INVESTED OVER $1.5 MILLION IN MALI MEMBERS AND HAS PROVIDED OVER 15,000 HOURS OF DIRECT INSTRUCTION, MENTORSHIP, AND NETWORKING. WITHOUT SUCH INVESTMENTS, THESE ARTISTS AND ARTS GROUPS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATIVE ECONOMY FULLY. MALI IS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT WHEN LEADERS IN THE ARTS REFLECT THE ETHNIC MAKEUP OF THEIR LOCAL POPULATION, THE AGENCIES THEY REPRESENT ARE MORE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TO THEIR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. TO PRIORITIZE AND CLARIFY DIVERSITY IN THE ARTS LEADERSHIP FIELD, MALI BUILDS INTENTIONAL NETWORKS AMONG ARTS LEADERS OF COLOR AND DEVELOPS IN THEM CULTURAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT OVERCOME PAST TOKENISM. AS SUCH, MALI: 1) IDENTIFIES FUTURE AND EMERGING MULTICULTURAL ARTS LEADERS; 2) DEVELOPS AND DELIVERS A TRAINING PROGRAM THAT BUILDS UPON AND ENHANCES THEIR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE SO THEY CAN ADDRESS CHALLENGES TO SUCCESS AND STABILIZE OR GROW THEIR AGENCIES; AND, 3) EQUIPS THEM TO SUCCESSFULLY PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY FORUMS, INITIATIVES, AND TASK FORCES TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC COMMUNITY ISSUES AND ADVOCATE FOR A STRONG, HEALTHY MULTICULTURAL ARTS COMMUNITY.

  Expenses $193,618

As filed on the 2022 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

• MIGUEL SALINAS

  BOARD CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• ALEXANDRA URBANOWSKI

  VICE CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• ITZA SANCHEZ

  SECRETARY

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• SUSAN ACEVEDO

  TREASURER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• DEBRA FIGONE

  BOARD MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• ERNESTO MARTINEZ

  BOARD MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• ANGELINA RAMOS

  BOARD MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• BRENDAN RAWSON

  BOARD MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• ANGEL RIOS JR

  BOARD MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• LINDA SNOOK

  BOARD MEMBER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  1

• JESSICA PAZ-CEDILLOS

  CO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $141,110

  From this org

  $141,110

  From related orgs

  $0

  Other

  $0

  Hours/week

  40

• VANESSA SHIEH

  CO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  Total calculated

  $141,110

  From this org

  $141,110

  From related orgs

  $0

  Other

  $0

  Hours/week

  40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

• TEATRO VISION

  $35,000

  ABIERTO GRANT

• MOSAIC AMERICA

  $35,000

  ABIERTO GRANT

• CASHION CULTURAL LEGACY

  $30,000

  ABIERTO GRANT

• LOCAL COLOR

  $25,000

  ABIERTO GRANT

• CHOPSTICKS ALLEY

  $20,000

  ABIERTO GRANT

• CALPULLI TONALEHQUEH

  $20,000

  ABIERTO GRANT

• MESSENGER EVENTS

  $10,000

  ABIERTO GRANT

• STARTING ARTS

  $7,500

  ABIERTO GRANT

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2022

Filed

14 May 2024

IRS schema version

2022v5.0

Source object

202441369349307289

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.