Washington Neighborhood Center

The Washington Neighborhood Center was originally founded by the Fremont Presbyterian as an outreach program in 1952. The WNC inception in 1956 has provided residents of Sacramento a wide variety of programs and services for almost 60 years! Offering programs in arts, education, recreational activities, health, culture and an emphasis on the development of youth, the WNC and its programs have served as a refuge for many. In 1969, the Rebel Chicano Art Front (RCAF) formed to express the goals of the Chicano civil rights and labor organizing movements of the United Farm Workers.

Its mission was to make available to the Chicano community a bilingual/bicultural arts center where artist could come together, exchange ideas, provide mutual support, and make available to the public artistic, cultural and educational programs and events. The RCAF utilized the WNC to support many of their activities and founded the Barrio Art program at the WNC, representing an effort to reduce barriers between the CSUS campus and the Alkali Flats community. The program brought young people and senior citizens together with aspiring teachers in the University's teacher training courses to learn to integrate the arts with education.

Barrio Art includes several areas: the Children's Component (grades K-6); the Anciano Component (serving adults and the elderly); and the Cultural Component with the Danza Azteca. Although CSUS is no longer affiliated, the WNC continues to operate the program 40 years strong! Danza Azteca and Ballet Folklorico groups are a strong presents in the WNC and perform the traditional dances and ceremonies and festivals all over the state. In the early 1980's, Don Conley became the first coach of the WNC boxing program -- Loreto Garza won the World Boxing Association's light welterweight world title in 1990. The boxing program closed at WNC six years ago due to a lack of interest and increasing program expenses. The WNC continues to operate and focus on recreation and cultural actives, including the maintenance and cultural preservation of Dia de los Muertos at the St. Mary's Cemetery for nearly 46 years. This traditions honors the ancestors, friends and family who have passed while celebrating life.