The pastel yellow house with the pink doors at 636 Purissima St. in Half Moon Bay stands out for its unique look as well as its use. The building is the new home to the nonprofit Ayudando Latinos A Soñar. And it was given to ALAS as a gift: free and a complete surprise.
At a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, ALAS Executive Director Belinda Hernadez-Arriaga recalled the organization’s beginnings before a sparse and distanced crowd of staff, volunteers and local officials. The organization started as a cultural arts program in 2011 and grew to encompass mental health services and social justice advocacy. In that time, it went from operating out of a local church to tutoring in trucks to teaching ballet folklorico classes in parking lots. ALAS turned community spaces into its roving offices.
“We’re still true to that because we believe in being out in the community,” Hernandez-Arriaga said. “But we always wished for a home.”
The new home was donated by a group represented by Leagrey Dimond, a San Francisco-based philanthropist. Dimond was motivated to act after seeing ALAS’ work on the Coastside at a time when President Donald Trump started campaigning against Latino immigrants, she said.
“This is the kind of organization you want to support because you can see what they’re doing,” Diamond said. “It was an honor.”
Juana Ruano first got involved with ALAS through her son, who was 7 at the time he started dancing ballet folklorico. Now her son is 14. In that time, she assisted with food delivery and is now the organization's COVID-19 sanitation specialist.
“I’m very happy,” said Ruano, smiling through watery eyes. “People say COVID is bad. It’s not bad because it is bringing families together, bringing groups together like this. Maybe, then, it’s OK.”
The new home for the nonprofit continues a legacy of generous donors, like benefactors Joe Cotchett and Sharlene Cardoni, who helped ensure ALAS had a place to operate. Through them, ALAS secured its previous office at La Piazza on Main Street and counseling offices on Miramotes Street.
However, the organization’s need for space has grown as the pandemic created a demand for ALAS services. At Purissima Street, the supplies currently crammed in the Main Street office can be stored in the barn at the back of the property, leaving plenty of space for offices and meeting rooms.
Much about the building makes it feel like a home. Outside there are lime and orange trees. The living room has two sofas and several framed photographs of ALAS’ youth. The space immediately outside the director’s office is a children’s nook, complete with toys. Washer and dryer machines will be added soon for people who need to clean their clothes.
Stella Dominguez, ALAS board member, looked down the long, wide driveway next to the yellow house and imagined children dancing and afterschool programs. She admits because the surprise came in October, ALAS staff haven’t thought much about how to maximize the space.
“We’re just processing this house, let alone talking about all the things we’ll be able to do,” she said.
Dominguez used to work with Hernandez-Arriaga at Santa Clara County juvenile hall 20 years ago. She remembered how Hernandez-Arriaga used to dream of a community center that served as a one-stop shop for all social services as well as music, art and dance.
“When you hear those dreams you go, ‘Maybe one day,’” she said. “Then to see it come to fruition and for it to be donated—it’s just incredible."
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I have to disagree with "You can call them "undocumented" all you want, but pretendng they're not criminals doesn't make it so." I would reverse that and say you can call them criminals all you want but pretending they are not Undocumented does not make it so. I personally know at least 10 people in their 30's who were brought here by their parents when they were under 10 yrs old with no documentation. They are not criminals. I also read a story of a young women in her teens who fled a village in Honduras while it was under siege from violent criminals. It took her weeks to get to the American border where she applied for asylum but was sent to Mexico to await her fate. Her family's murderers found her and killed her on the streets. Not all people who risk their lives to enter this country are criminals by intent (if by "criminal" you mean entering the country without permission).I would like to think we are a compassionate people here in America and considering individual circumstances is a way to show that.
Great story. Belinda and ALAS's long efforts on behalf of the community being recognized and amplified by the extraordinary generosity of Leagrey Dimond. Good read on the day before Thanksgiving!
The people that Orange mistreated at the southern border were asylum seekers and not illegal immigrants and they were not seeking or attempting illegal entry into the United States.
Is seeking asylum legal in the United States?
Yes, seeking asylum is legal. Asylum seekers must be in the U.S. or at a port of entry (an airport or an official land crossing) to apply for, or request the opportunity to apply for, asylum.
According to U.S. immigration law, a person granted asylum is legally allowed to remain in the U.S. without fear of deportation. They qualify to work, travel abroad, and apply for their spouse or children under the age of 21 to join them.
uffish is mostly right on this one though I am not sure she/he gets all of the implications.
In his first four years, Obama, the Democrat, deported more of the types uffish dislikes than Trump. Trump on the other hand has imported all kinds of Hispanics to work minimum wage jobs at his clubs and the Winter White House.
And does anybody remember how Democrats were telling us that if they allowed in more immigrants those immigrants would vote Democrat? How did that work out? I seem to recall how uffish pointed that canard out in may posts.
Finally we have the cages. Obama built them. Not Trump. Obama.
Like Trump said:
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
Beautiful story.
"at a time when President Donald Trump started campaigning against Latino immigrants"
Balderdash. Stop twisting his words. He is against *illegal* immigration. Everyone who has listened to one speech hears him say, "They have to come LEGALLY." How can anyone disagree with that unless they have some kind of subversive agenda?
An illegal alien is not an immigrant. You can call them "undocumented" all you want, but pretendng they're not criminals doesn't make it so.
Trump has always supported Hispanics who follow the law by immigrating LEGALLY like everyone else. That's why huge number of Hispanics (the decent, law abiding kind) switched to Republican to vote for Trump, as did Blacks.
Get it straight, please.
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