The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated the vulnerabilities and inequities that have long been present in marginalized communities. Despite its affluent reputation, Santa Barbara is no exception to the issues many immigrants, domestic workers, and people of color face in impoverished neighborhoods.
Prior to the pandemic, members of our community were already under constant attacks, being displaced, and pushed out of our neighborhoods. Now with the current health crisis, it is more critical than ever to stand together as a community and persist.
La Casa de la Raza was founded in 1971 to provide a nonprofit community center in Santa Barbara. The mission of La Casa de la Raza is to develop and empower the Latino and marginalized community members by affirming and preserving cultural heritage, providing an umbrella for services and by advocating for participation in the larger community.