EXPERIENCE CASA DE LA CULTURA CENTER
Serving Families in Pajaro Since 1989
Casa de la Cultura Center is a heart that beats for the farm working community. It is a hospital for the sick, a pantry for the hungry, and a haven to empower the weary.
Impact
Farm Worker Advocacy
Free classes on literacy, music, computers, ESL, nutrition, cooking, sewing, and much more are offered to the community.
Health Clinic & Wellness Center
Free clinics run by culturally competent practitioners offering general care, diabetes treatment, counseling, acupuncture, and Healing Touch. Our "Casita de Salud" program offers health education and screenings in the fields and community.
Living Assistance
Free fresh, healthy food donations are made to the harvesting community. Emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, and other basic needs are provided to families who are constantly working hard to be self-sufficient.
History
Casa de la Cultura Center is a high impact, grassroots, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in Pajaro, CA. It was founded in 1989 by Sister Rosa Dolores Rodriguez.
We are the only nonprofit in the area that specializes in comprehensive services for the hundreds of families who migrate through the Watsonville and Salinas Valleys to help grow and harvest the world's multi-billion dollar fresh food supply. Our clients sustain the berry, lettuce, grapes, celery, broccoli, artichoke industries in this region. They are responsible for harvesting crops that reach all of our tables.
Casa de la Cultura Center provides emergency assistance to families grappling with an expensive housing market, the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent fires throughout the area.
Each year we hold a special community event, Casa de la Cultura Center Christmas Posada, where businesses and community members come together to donate toys, food, and celebrate the wonderful and valuable Pajaro community.
Mission
"I want others to be proud of who they are: their culture, their language, and to live their lives to the fullest." - Sister Rosa, Executive Director
When Sister Rosa Dolores was growing up, her family traveled to and from California as migrant workers. In 1966, she joined the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. In 1989, Sister Rosa responded to a call to serve the people of Pajaro after the Loma Prieta earthquake. Sister Rosa began community organizing around infrastructure improvements and offering skills training to women in the community.
To get to know Sister Rosa better, check out the article about her below in our News section or reach out to her in person!
Today, Casa de la Cultura Center operates as an independent nonprofit organization with a variety of programs and services for the community. The vision of Casa de la Cultura Center is to promote culturally sensitive health activities and support the basic economic needs of our community by working collaboratively with all residents and organizations in the Pajaro area.
Contribute
Holiday Giving
3 Ways to Help
1. Become a Secret Santa! Adopt a child or family in Pajaro. Secret Santas receive name/s, gender/s, age/s, and wish list/s.
2. Attend our gift wrapping party to wrap toys donated by the community.
3. Donate funds to purchase toys/gifts.
Health Clinic & Wellness Center
2 Ways to Help
1. Donate funds to expand and stock clinic supplies and resources.
2. Contact our staff to volunteer your time and skills.
Community Outreach
2 Ways to Help
1) If you are a grower, invite us to your farms to offer our free mobile health education and screening services.
2) Donate funds or your skills to enhance any of the programs and services.
Partners
Casa de la Cultura Center is deeply grateful for the continued support of our generous donors and volunteers. Without their time, talents, and funds, our doors could not stay open to serve the growing number of families who reach out to us for support.
There are many ways to partner with us - big and small. We welcome and appreciate all contributions from members of our community who live near and far.
For several years, Whole Foods has generously supported our food pantry and Christmas programs. With their financial support, we purchased 'Casita de Salud' - our mobile health clinic RV, which services farm workers in the fields and community.
Casa de la Cultura Center is a thankful recipient of donor advised funds from Santa Cruz Community Foundation which include Driscoll's, River Valley Farms, and Jal Berry Farms. These generous organizations and their employees also volunteer their valuable time at Casa de la Cultura Center.
Without our volunteer doctor and nurses, our clinic would not exist. For over 20 years, Casa has been blessed by the talents of our dedicated, compassionate, and culturally sensitive medical staff.
News
Contact Casa de la Cultura Center
Get in touch with Casa de la Cultura Center to learn more about our work and find out how to contribute in a way that is meaningful to you and the community. We appreciate your support!
Need a donation acknowledgement letter for tax purposes? Contact hello@casadelaculturacenter.org
225 Salinas Rd
Pajaro, Monterey County 95076
USA
(831) 202-1886