Plaza De La Raza Cultural Center

Pacific Telesis has awarded a $20,000 grant to Plaza de la Raza Cultural Center to support its School of Performing and Visual Arts. The school, established in 1978, enrolls 350 to 600 students a week in dance, theater arts and music classes, said executive director Gema Sandoval. The students attend classes after school, from 3:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Gabriel Jimenez-Torres, a 13-year-old middle school student and basketball fanatic, knew little about Rodney G. King before last October. In fact, he searched Google Images to get a look at King's face. "I had to do a lot of research," said Gabriel, who hadn't been born when King was beaten in 1991 by four white Los Angeles Police Department officers whose acquittals led to riots in 1992.

The fourth summer of Con Sabor Latino, a bilingual lineup of cultural, theatrical, musical and performance events at Plaza de la Raza in Lincoln Park, continues through August. "This is to bring talent into the community," said Rose Cano, director of programming at the plaza. "There is nothing like this in the community, so because we have the venue we have it here. We built the outdoor stage four years ago and so we started this then."

Hoisting posters, waving banners and shouting "La lucha sigue"--the struggle continues--more than 150 people paraded downtown Sunday to commemorate the life of Mexican revolutionary hero Emiliano Zapata. "Zapata, listen to us, your people continue to fight!" blared in Spanish from loudspeakers during the march. Mexican Americans and other Latinos today are facing the same problems Zapata fought against decades ago, said Jaime Cruz, one of the event's coordinators.

It is a unique institution located in a most unlikely setting. Nestled on the banks of the lake at Lincoln Park, its whitewashed walls and tiled floor sharing the space with the ducks and the boathouse, Plaza de la Raza looks like an oasis.

Gabriel Jimenez-Torres, a 13-year-old middle school student and basketball fanatic, knew little about Rodney G. King before last October. In fact, he searched Google Images to get a look at King's face. "I had to do a lot of research," said Gabriel, who hadn't been born when King was beaten in 1991 by four white Los Angeles Police Department officers whose acquittals led to riots in 1992.

Hoisting posters, waving banners and shouting "La lucha sigue"--the struggle continues--more than 150 people paraded downtown Sunday to commemorate the life of Mexican revolutionary hero Emiliano Zapata. "Zapata, listen to us, your people continue to fight!" blared in Spanish from loudspeakers during the march. Mexican Americans and other Latinos today are facing the same problems Zapata fought against decades ago, said Jaime Cruz, one of the event's coordinators.

A federal mediator has been asked to help employees of the nonprofit Plaza de la Raza performing arts center and its board of directors reach a contract agreement after several months of failed negotiations. The employees, who voted to join the California Professional Employees Union last December, have been working without a contract since then and fear for their job security, said union representative Chris Graeber.

Williamson's 'Night on the Town': Nicol Williamson will appear in the solo show "Jack: A Night on the Town With John Barrymore" at the Geffen Playhouse, March 13-April 7, before the show heads for Broadway. Devised by Williamson and director Leslie Megahey, it played in London in 1994. * Plaza Renovations: Plaza de La Raza cultural center has begun work on a $100,000 renovation of its Margo Albert Theatre that will expand seating from 168 to more than 200.

Councilman Mike Hernandez donned a Santa Claus suit last week at Plaza de la Raza and gave out toys to 600 elementary school children from his district. Monday's Christmas giveaway, the third hosted by Hernandez, included 19 elementary schools in the 1st Council District, from the northeast Los Angeles area to Pico-Union. Plaza de la Raza Cultural Center is at 3540 N. Mission Road. "This is one event that stays with you the whole year," Hernandez said.

It is a unique institution located in a most unlikely setting. Nestled on the banks of the lake at Lincoln Park, its whitewashed walls and tiled floor sharing the space with the ducks and the boathouse, Plaza de la Raza looks like an oasis.

A federal mediator has been asked to help employees of the nonprofit Plaza de la Raza performing arts center and its board of directors reach a contract agreement after several months of failed negotiations. The employees, who voted to join the California Professional Employees Union last December, have been working without a contract since then and fear for their job security, said union representative Chris Graeber.

The fourth summer of Con Sabor Latino, a bilingual lineup of cultural, theatrical, musical and performance events at Plaza de la Raza in Lincoln Park, continues through August. "This is to bring talent into the community," said Rose Cano, director of programming at the plaza. "There is nothing like this in the community, so because we have the venue we have it here. We built the outdoor stage four years ago and so we started this then."

Pacific Telesis has awarded a $20,000 grant to Plaza de la Raza Cultural Center to support its School of Performing and Visual Arts. The school, established in 1978, enrolls 350 to 600 students a week in dance, theater arts and music classes, said executive director Gema Sandoval. The students attend classes after school, from 3:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

I, as well as other leading members of our Hispanic community were dismayed about the reference to Margo Albert in the article about Latinos and Hollywood films (Nuestro Tiempo, Feb. 7). We were dismayed because of the frivolous and unfair profile it presented of her. Margo Albert was one of the outstanding humanitarians and doers of good our community ever had. She was beloved by the Hispanic community, as well as other segments of our society, because she gave her life, time, and purse to help those not fortunate enough to help themselves.