Almost a decade after its doors closed, a youth center formerly operated by the Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA) may revive its legacy and positive impact under a partnership between the Si Se Puede Collective and Alum Rock Union School District.
Photos taken by Alison Cingolani during a November 2019 tour of the building by the ARUSD Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee
March 13th, 2025 – The Alum Rock Union School District (ARUSD) voted unanimously to enter into discussions with the School of Arts and Culture and SOMOS Mayfair to renovate and lease a large, long-vacant youth center on the District’s property, returning it to service as a multi-use community asset. The School of Arts and Culture and SOMOS Mayfair, representing the Si Se Puede Collective, envision the building as a space offering education, sports and community services.
The building was previously operated by the Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA), but has sat vacant and deteriorating for more than a decade since that nonprofit shuttered in the aftermath of the Great Recession. The facility holds deep historical and cultural significance for the community as a symbol of innovation, hope, and resilience, with many of these stories reflected in the still-intact murals gracing the building’s walls. Following a community outcry last year, the school district halted its plans to demolish the property in the hopes of finding a local partner.
The District’s and Collective’s partnership would serve the children, youth, and families of ARUSD and East San Jose by preserving the building’s legacy and transforming it into a Community Empowerment Hub, an inclusive space where underserved populations can thrive. It would preserve the building’s historical legacy while adapting it for current and future community needs, and align with the City of San Jose’s Youth Master Plan: prioritizing safe spaces, educational opportunities, and economic mobility for Alum Rock and Eastside youth and families.
MACSA was originally established as the first Community Development Corporation (CDC) in San Jose, and its closure left a huge gap in the South Bay. Community-based development is a holistic model rooted in meeting needs identified by the community, and done in collaboration with the community. Community members are in the central role, creating their own vibrant, resilient and thriving communities, instead of a top-down approach.
To help grow this capacity for nonprofit organizations in the South Bay to engage in community-based development, SV@Home formed the Community Roots Collaborative in 2024 with local partners. The School of Arts and Culture and SOMOS Mayfair are part of the Collaborative, and we are delighted to see organizations that have been such strong partners to both ARUSD and the community engage in this work. Although SV@Home’s team was present at the discussion to speak in support of the Collective’s proposal, the Board President limited public comment to the first 20 speakers, and we chose to defer to the many young people who spoke in passionate support.
ARUSD trustees acknowledged the importance of the center to the community, and the need to assess potential costs in the face of a budget deficit and school closures. The Board voted unanimously to instruct the district to enter discussions with the Collective and investigate costs for liability, security, maintenance, and upkeep of the building, and report back in April. SV@Home will continue to support the Collective’s community development work, and will share opportunities to engage as the work progresses.
