About Us

MISSION STATEMENT Loco Bloco is a youth development organization with the mission of promoting San Francisco youth's healthy transition into adulthood by engaging them in the creation and performance of music, dance and theater traditions reflecting the cultural diversity of the Americas. Loco Bloco encourages its youth to use multicultural art forms as a tool for their own empowerment and as a catalyst to help them overcome discrimination and bring about change in their communities.

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND  Central to the Loco Bloco's purpose and programming is the use of the arts as a tool for the empowerment of youth of color to overcome injustice, to adopt healthy, active lifestyles, to contribute positively to and serve as leaders in their communities, and to embrace ethnic and cultural diversity. Our programs incorporate social, artistic and physical goals, encouraging youth to perceive themselves as direct contributors to their neighborhood's cultural-wellness and social vitality.

Loco Bloco was founded in 1994 by artists and activists of color as a response to the ever-growing funding cuts of arts programs in schools. Loco Blocoís goal then and now is to provide low-income, minority and immigrant families, access to professional level arts education at no cost. Our programs address an enormous need in disadvantaged communities for culturally relevant arts education. Annual reductions in State funding for education have had a deep and destructive impact on the arts and music programs in California schools. Most inner city public schools have long ago lost funding to continue quality performing arts departments

Since our inception, Loco Bloco has served over 6000 youth and their families. Each year, approximately 500 youth aged 4-18 participate in Loco Blocoís programs at San Francisco schools and community centers. Each year, through Loco Bloco's afterschool programs, these youth are provided with free, high-quality percussion, dance, visual arts, theater arts, stilt walking, civic engagement, youth leadership training and physical and mental health education.

Through our special events, many more youth are exposed to Loco Bloco's philosophy of youth empowerment through the arts and thereby reach more communities and audiences. Loco Bloco's major events include:

· NEW WORKS CONCERT - December
· INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATION - March
· SF CARNAVAL PARADE, SF PRIDE PARADE - May and July
· SUMMER CULTURAL EXCHANGE - July and August

COLLABORATORS Mission Girls Services, Leonard Flynn Elementary, Precita Center, Windsor Bloco, Bayview Beacon Center, Mission Beacon Center, The Women's Building, HIFY, Youth Movement Records, Southern Exposure, Community Response Network

PROGRAM SITES Columbia Park Boys and Girls Club, Everett Middle School, Bret Hart Elementary, Willie Brown Academy, GASA, George Washington Carver Elementary