La Casita Cultural Center
| Founded | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Inmaculada Lara-Bonilla, Silvio Torres-Saillant |
| Type | Cultural center |
| Purpose | Cultural engagement, education, community outreach |
| Location |
|
| Coordinates | 43°02′46″N 76°09′33″W / 43.04610678°N 76.15917533°W |
Area served | Syracuse, Central New York |
Key people | Tere Paniagua (Executive Director) |
| Website | lacasita.syr.edu |
La Casita Cultural Center is a cultural center affiliated with Syracuse University. Located in the Near Westside neighborhood of Syracuse, New York, the center focuses on programs and research that highlight the experiences of Latino communities in Central New York.[1]
History
[edit]The concept of La Casita was influenced by José "Chema" Soto's La Casita de Chema, a cultural hub for Puerto Rican and Latino communities in Spanish Harlem and the South Bronx.[1]
Established in 2011, La Casita's facilities underwent extensive renovations with support from Syracuse University and funding from the Round 2 Restore New York Communities Initiative.[2] The renovations were guided by architect Jon Lott of Syracuse University, whose interior design incorporated elements inspired by traditional Spanish architecture.[3]
Latino cultural centers at American universities emerged as formal institutions beginning in the 1970s, starting with La Casa Cultural Latina at the University of Illinois (1974).[4] This trend expanded to universities including Yale University (La Casa Cultural de Julia de Burgos),[5] MIT (Centro Cultural Latino),[6] Indiana University Bloomington (La Casa/Centro Cultural Latino),[7] and the University of Illinois Chicago (Centro Cultural Latino Rafael Cintrón Ortiz).[8]
Programs and Research
[edit]Facilities and Community Programming
[edit]La Casita Cultural Center features a variety of facilities designed to support its mission of cultural engagement and education. The center includes an art gallery, a bilingual library, performance and workshop spaces, and areas for community gatherings.[9]
Additionally, La Casita offers workshops and programs for children, such as art classes and storytelling sessions, emphasizing bilingual and multicultural learning.[10]
Research Collaborations
[edit]La Casita was selected as one of ten institutions nationally to participate in "Latinos and Baseball: In the Barrios and the Big Leagues," a research initiative by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. The project documented the role of baseball as a social and cultural phenomenon within American Latino communities between 2020 and 2021.[11]
Digital Collections
[edit]La Casita maintains a digital archive hosted by the New York Heritage Digital Collections Archive, featuring oral histories, art, and community stories. A goal of this archive is to preserve the cultural memory of Latino communities in New York state[12]
Notable collections include:
- Balcón Criollo: An exhibit documenting Latino and Hispanic history and culture in Central New York.[13]
- Latinos in Baseball: A project exploring the influence of baseball within Latino communities.[14]
- Oral History Project: Recorded narratives from local Latino residents, highlighting individual and collective experiences.[15]
Events
[edit]La Casita Cultural Center hosts events that celebrate Latino culture and heritage. These include annual celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month, art exhibitions, and cultural festivals.[16]
On Spetmber 15, 2023 La Casita hosted "Futurismo Latino – Cultural Memory and Imagined Worlds", an art showcase led by pieces from Chicano artists Cayetano Valenzuela and Zeke Peña.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "About La Casita". Syracuse University. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "Community Partners". Democratizing Knowledge Project. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ Chenxiang Zhu (2021-12-02). "Immersed in culture at La Casita". The NewsHouse. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "La Casa Cultural Latina". University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "La Casa Cultural: Latino Cultural Center". Yale College. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "MIT Latino Cultural Center". Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "La Casa/Latino Cultural Center". Indiana University Bloomington. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "Rafael Cintrón Ortiz Latino Cultural Center". University of Illinois Chicago. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ Linan, Ali (28 September 2016). "La Casita Cultural Center hopes to expand national outreach". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at These 27 Events in New York State". www.iloveny.com. 13 September 2024.
- ^ "Smithsonian Announces "Latinos and Baseball" Collecting Initiative". National Museum of American History. 2020-01-23. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ "New York Digital Collections". Early American Sources.
- ^ "Balcón Criollo 2016-2017". La Casita Cultural Center. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 2024-12-04 – via Issuu.
- ^ Morris, Sophia (17 September 2016). "Former MLB Players Help Kick off Hispanic Heritage Month in Syracuse". WAER. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "Oral History Project". Empire State Library Network.
- ^ "Liliana Porter in Once Upon a Time...A Toy Show at Syracuse University - Syracuse, NY - News - Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino | Art Gallery". www.sicardi.com.
- ^ "Juan Felipe Herrera". Environmental Storytelling Central New York.
External links
[edit]- Buildings and structures in Syracuse, New York
- Hispanic and Latino American culture in New York (state)
- Syracuse University
- 2011 establishments in New York (state)
- Central New York
- Community centers in New York (state)
- Syracuse University research institutes
- Syracuse University buildings
- Cultural centers in the United States
- Cultural centers in North America
- Cultural centers