La Casa de la Raza board launches efforts to restore cultural and community services

SANTA BARBARA, California – It’s been over four years since the official nonprofit organization La Casa de la Raza had to temporarily pause all services and programs after more than 50 years of service to Santa Barbara’s community. Now, as legal matters from the past begin to resolve, and thanks to a generous donation given by the Seligman Family Trust, the organization’s board of directors and newly forming advisory board have begun the work of launching the nonprofit founded in 1971 back to its historic local presence once again.

Board members Lisa Valencia Sherratt, Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino, Pete Leyva and Ismael Huerta have worked behind the scenes for the past several years to steer La Casa de la Raza through a complex set of legal and financial challenges. The difficulties, imposed by others, eventually led to an involuntary bankruptcy that resulted in the nonprofit having to leave its long-time Santa Barbara home at 601 E. Montecito Street. The unwanted closure on August 1, 2021 was painful for many and left a great absence in the community, especially as the organization’s core staff, board and volunteer team were still providing critical COVID-19 pandemic services and family resources to the most affected low-income community members at the time. These services included distributing up to 900 meals a week and providing access to financial assistance, eviction prevention, medical and mental health support, case management and much more.

Now, La Casa de la Raza’s legal and debt challenges are nearing final resolution and the organization’s board is setting its sights on the future. Earlier this year, La Casa de la Raza won a case in Santa Barbara Superior Civil Court that proved its good standing as a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit with state and federal agencies including the California Attorney General’s Office, California Secretary of State, Franchise Tax Board, and the IRS. The court also ruled that the organization could receive a $130,000 bequest from Santa Barbara social justice philanthropists Mischa and Brigitte Seligman and use these funds for the organization’s viability.

True local heroes, the Seligmans both originally arrived to the U.S. as refugees of war, pursued the American Dream, and ultimately left their sizable legacy to 15 nonprofits, including La Casa de la Raza, to continue to provide safety and preserve safe spaces for those who need it most.

“We are excited to begin this new chapter for La Casa de la Raza and the community, and so grateful to the Seligmans for entrusting us with their legacy which is literally giving us wings to launch again,” said Board President Valencia Sherratt. “The past few years have been difficult and confusing to say the least, but we’ve never given up hope and we never gave up our dedication to the community. So now, we’re busy getting organized for a strong return to La Caza de la Raza’s mission of uplifting people through high-quality, culturally rooted services and programs that help and empower real people through their toughest challenges, while building community- based on mutual respect, transparency, trust, accountability, good faith and developing deep connections.”

Brief History
Founded in 1971 by a very diverse group of Santa Barbara community members who came together during the Chicano and Civil Rights movements- from Brown Berets and MEChA students to Hispanic business and Chicano Positive Movement- La Casa de la Raza hosted culturally relevant events, programs and services for hundreds to thousands of people each week for over 50 years.

Current Activities
La Casa de la Raza’s board is currently working together with community partner organizations and individuals, guided by its newly forming advisory board members to secure and preserve 601 E. Montecito Street, also with the name La Casa de la Raza since its historical designation from the City of Santa Barbara in 2020. Once the sale is completed and final legal proceedings are done- leaving the organization with a clean slate, the number one goal is to bring back La Casa’s Family Resource Center (FRC) and join partners and volunteers who are working day and night to support the health, safety and dignity of our local immigrant families and residents, and join active networks and coalitions once again.

The Building “La Casa de la Raza” at 601 E. Montecito Street
The building with historic designation as La Casa de la Raza was most recently owned by La Casa Founders Holding Company, which is not affiliated with La Casa de la Raza. The building is currently for sale due to a settlement agreement that was approved by the court on July 16, 2025. The nonprofit organization La Casa de la Raza sees the sale as a fresh opportunity to regain the beloved cultural community center alongside trusted community partners to rebuild the dream in 2025 and this current era as was originally built and intended in 1971.

Bringing Back Services and Programs
La Casa de la Raza efforts also currently include preparing to reopen familiar services and programs as soon as the Chapter 7 bankruptcy case is final- starting with the Family Resource Center to be led once again by FRC Director Marisol Ortiz. To ensure that La Casa de la Raza is recreated with sustainable business plans, transparency, integrity and best practices overall, the organization is working with strategic planning consultants with professional and cultural expertise, and invaluable lived experience. La Casa de la Raza’s other immediate priority is supporting its low-powered community radio station, KZAA LP FM, which is gearing up for its next chapter. The board is also looking forward to working with highly esteemed professionals guiding the way with health, mental health, financial, higher education, and organizational development backgrounds working across disciplines with grounding in deep cultural and indigenous wisdom and leadership.

According to board president Valencia Sherratt, “Just like all of the current volunteers and supporters pouring in their good will to La Casa de la Raza now- we never went away, we’re still here, and we never gave up on the dream of bringing back the best of everything that ever happened in and of La Casa de la Raza. We thank everyone who has been keeping the building alive since we haven’t been able to be there in recently years- and we’ll keep going with others who uphold the true essence of the original La Casa de la Raza for as long as it takes to honor our elders and ancestors who set all of this in motion many years ago, as the house of the people for generations to come.”

---For information or to reach a member of the La Casa de la Raza board, please contact Jennifer Goddard Combs at 805-565-3990 or by email at jennifer@thegoddardcompany.com