Guided by a twenty-two-month community planning process designed to re-imagine the Mexican Heritage Plaza’s future, a new vision for a School of Arts and Culture at MHP (SOAC) was created, embraced by the community, and adopted by the City of San Jose in Spring 2011. SOAC was formally launched in July 2011. In January 2014, SOAC was named the permanent operator of the Mexican Heritage Plaza (La Plaza) and entered into a long-term agreement of 35 years with the City of San Jose to operate their facility. SOAC’s mission is to catalyze creativity and empower community. It does this through the application of its values of creativity, heritage, inclusion, place, and service. SOAC is guided by a vision that creativity inspires compassion and vibrant communities. The organization’s programs before, during, and post-pandemic demonstrate what an invaluable asset SOAC is for the region; it is a landmark for anyone seeking to build a healthy and thriving community.

Over the last ten years, SOAC has defined itself as a destination for cross-cultural collaborations between ethnic-led and multicultural groups across the Bay Area. The content and programs showcased at La Plaza speak to the important role that art and culture play in identities and cultural transmission. La Plaza hosts audiences and artists for Indian classical music and dance; Aztec drum and dance; Mexican folkloric dance; taiko; mariachi; community-based theater; local visual arts; and LGBTQ programming. Partnerships with over 60 arts and cultural groups, artists, and community agencies ensure that this community hub is open year-round. Ultimately, SOAC reinforces the purpose of the Mexican Heritage Plaza as a center designed to inspire and nurture generations of artists and activists.