An East San Jose collective has stepped in to save the Mexican American Community Services Agency youth center from demolition.
The effort to repurpose the building is lead by the School of Arts and Culture and SOMOS Mayfair, representing the Si Se Puede Collective. At an Alum Rock Union School District board meeting Thursday night, trustees voted unanimously to instruct the district to investigate costs for liability, security, maintenance and upkeep of the youth center and report back in April. The board acknowledged the importance the center would have on the community, but also raised budgetary concerns since the district is confronting a $20 million budget deficit and closing six schools in the upcoming 2025-26 school year.
Following a community outcry last year, the school district halted its plans to demolish the property in the hopes of finding a local partner. This month, the nonprofit organizations offered to renovate and lease the facility.
The Collective envisions MACSA as a vibrant, multi-use community asset, offering education, sports and community services. The facility holds historical and cultural significance as a symbol of innovation, hope, and resilience, Victor Vasquez, co-executive director of SOMOS Mayfair and Jessica Paz-Cedillos, co-executive director of the School of Arts and Culture, said in a statement.
“We believe that East San Jose deserves a space that reflects the resilience and aspirations of its people,” Paz-Cedillos told San José Spotlight. “Our organizations envision MACSA as a space where students can access after-school programs that foster creativity and leadership, where parents can find support services that promote stability and where residents can engage in workforce training programs that create pathways to financial security.”
An assessment will be conducted to determine the cost of renovating the 30,000-square-foot building, Paz-Cedillos said. Previous assessments ranged from $10 million to $30 million, she added. The School of Arts and Culture and SOMOS Mayfair are asking the district for a long-term lease and in-kind rent and plan to pursue private funding, state and federal grants and launch a capital campaign. The renovation is slated for March 2026 to December 2027.
San Jose Councilmember Peter Ortiz said MACSA is a cornerstone of East Side’s history and development.
“In its heyday, MACSA provided a comprehensive network of support for our Latino youth and families,” Ortiz said at the meeting. “Whether it was food, education, health care, child care or sports programs, MACSA stood as a beacon of hope.”
San Jose Deputy City Manager Angel Rios, Jr. urged the board to support restoring MACSA for the neighborhood’s youth.
“We’re aware of the fiscal crisis,” he said. “But I think there’s an even greater crisis here and that’s the crisis of hopelessness. Too many of our young people are feeling hopeless. Work together and do something.”
Community supporters showed up en masse following a call to action on social media by the Si Se Puede Collective. Clapping, the audience broke out in a chant of “Si Se Puedes.” “For our youth! For our Future!” added an audience member.
Parent Dilza Gonzalez urged the board to consider the needs of the East Side community suffering anxiety due to ICE raids.
“We’re living in a moment where we have a federal administration telling our community and our kids that they are not welcome, that they are not enough,” she said. “They are creating a war against our community. The same community you are here to serve. Show them that you care and this is a safe place for them. That was what MACSA was for me … and what we want to continue.”
Vasquez and Paz-Cedillos say they are committed to restoring MACSA as a hub for youth development, workforce training and family support services.
“There’s a great need in our community and a great sense of hope that we’re going to create something that’s will benefit the next generations and honor those that came before us,” Vasquez told San José Spotlight. “We hope the district continues to partner with us. This is a way for them to get additional investment for their students.”
Contact Lorraine Gabbert at [email protected].
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