Reflecting on 2024, it was a successful and busy year for us. We have much to be proud of regarding our accomplishments: the daily classes at our Center, our fifteen school-based residency programs serving hundreds of youth across the Bay, and over thirty educational performances reaching thousands more young people. Additionally, we had our CIGARRA and Cuba Caribe stage productions, expanded our artist staff, implemented our extended-stay artist-in-residence program, and so much more.
As we move into 2025, we anticipate new challenges and successes. By remaining true to our mission of uplifting and uniting diverse populations through capoeira arts, I am confident we can make a positive impact and help keep our society connected, healthy, and engaged.
I invite everyone to join us in using art to make a difference in people’s lives. Let’s build acceptance for our differences, engage in meaningful dialogue, create spaces for the underrepresented members of our communities to be seen and heard, and for all in the community to celebrate and learn together.
We recognize that the coming years may be difficult for our organization and for other artists and arts organizations. It is crucial that we remain committed to our practice and work even harder to build our community. This commitment is essential for sustaining our organization financially during these challenging times and for expanding our positive impact on communities, fostering safe, welcoming, and supportive environments for all.
Let us step into 2025 together with LOVE, RESPECT, and INTEGRITY.
Axé,
Mestra Márcia Cigarra