ABOUT US
Center for the Arts and Social Action (C.A.S.A.) encourages connection through the arts, participatory education, ancestral knowledge, & social justice to transform our relationships with ourselves & the world. We do so by strengthening the well-being of multi-generational, multicultural, and diasporic communities in Los Angeles County.
Native fusion food - We learn and reflect on the native foodways of this land. We prioritize our collective wellness by avoiding pesticides and highly processed foods.
Art space: We create a multigenerational arts space that is accessible, engaging, and offers a broader perspective on our lived experiences.
Spoken word - We see spoken word as a transformative vehicle that honors people’s agency to express their inner world.
Storytelling - We offer a space for multicultural and diasporic communities to share stories, educate, and build understanding of how we view the world and our place in it.
Ancestral knowledge - We decolonize ourselves by using herbal remedios and holistic alternatives to address our spirituality, well-being, & connection to the land.
Our vision is a world that moves towards collective wellness and liberation for Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (QTBIPOC) by weaving networks of autonomy via the following:
Values and Principles of Unity
Access to Art and Culture
We ensure art and culture through community events, workshops, and exhibitions. We create a space to celebrate and encourage different forms of art and culture.
Building Reciprocal Relationships
Through active listening and respect, we intend to foster mutual exchange of trust and vulnerability. Our events and relationships are built through the cultivation of reciprocal support, leading to shared growth.
Transformative Justice
We take community approaches to address and understand the root causes of harm through violence prevention and intervention programming. We build alternatives to carceral punishment in accountability processes. We consider the healing and transformation at individual and community levels.
Healing & Wellness
We reject Western standards of health and wellness that prioritize profit over people. We draw holistic models for caring for the earth, ourselves, and each other, which nourish the spirit, body, mind, and connection to the land.
Community
At the heart of CASA is our community. We are guided by the community’s needs and aspirations. By building strong community relations, we commit to a collective effort in our events, programming, and activities.