In 1970, a group of concerned citizens, artists, and community members began attending City council meetings in order to secure the vacant Ford Building in Balboa Park as a center for art and culture. Driven by their vision, the group was eventually awarded an abandoned water tank, which was converted into the Centro Cultural de La Raza. Since its conception, the Centro has become a beloved and sacred space for Chican@, Latin@, and Indigenous art and culture. Today, this space continues to be a platform for expression and creativity, and has seen the rise of some of the most influential artists, such as Los Lobos, Culture Clash, and Lalo Alcaraz.