Commitment to Legacy

Loco Bloco (LB) promotes the healthy transition into adulthood for San Francisco youth by engaging them in the creation and performance of music, dance, and theater rooted in Afro-Latinx traditions. Founded by community-based artists and activists in 1994, Loco Bloco provides BIPOC youth with transformational arts experiences to foster dialogue, engagement and unity between diverse cultures in Bay Area communities. Based on frameworks that emerged in Latin America of artistic creation as an emancipatory process, we empower youth to embrace the cultural legacies of their ancestors, overcome discrimination and create positive change. For 30 years thousands of young people and their families have participated in LB programs and annual productions, strengthening their connections to cultural traditions, wellness, and becoming leaders/culture-bearers for their communities.

We commit to supporting the revitalization of the core qualities that defined Loco Bloco’s legacy:  

• High quality arts programming for Latina/o, Black, Indigenous and other young  people of color most impacted by institutional racism with focused attention  working with middle and high school aged youth, including Spanish speaking  newcomer youth. 

• A dynamic, creative space where young people can thrive together regardless of  gender, gender identity, orientation, class, ability, mobility, spiritual practice and  migration status. 

• An intergenerational environment where adults role model and promote positive  behaviors and guidance to youth participants. 

• Acknowledgment and honoring of the cultural history and spiritual aspects from  which the music and dance originates. 

• Building solidarity with communities world-wide in our struggles for dignity,  social justice and care for our Mother Earth. 
  

LOco Bloco is a fiscal project of Brava! For Women in the Arts and is supported by the Loco Bloco Historic Concilio Advisory Board.

STAFF & TEACHING ARTISTS
Mayela Carrasco, Artistic Director e. mayela@locoblocosf.org
Jose Carrasco, Managing Director e. jose@locoblocosf.org
Will Martins, Percussion Instructor
Tiombe Wiley, Dance Instructor / Principal Dancer
Chris Aschman, Steel Pan Instructor

We are deeply grateful to our funders!

Hewlett Foundation
Zellerbach Family Foundation
San Francisco Grants for the Arts
San Francisco Department of Children Youth and their Families
San Francisco Arts Commission