SoMa Pilipinas and Little Tokyo receive special status in California

Students from the Filipino Education Center perform.

TWO ASIAN/AMERICAN communities have been included in California's inaugural state-designated Cultural Districts.

Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and SoMa Pilipinas - Filipino Cultural Heritage District in San Franciso along with 12 other districts throughout the state will serve as Cultural Districts, as outlined by the program, is a well-defined geographic area with a high concentration of cultural resources and activities. Each of the 14 districts will receive the designation for a period of five years, per state legislation. 

"State-level designation of Cultural Districts, with California's diverse geography and regional variety, allowed for an entirely new and comprehensive look at our deeply valued cultural assets," said Donn K. Harris, California Arts Council Chair.

Each of the 14 districts will receive the designation for a period of five years, per state legislation.

Designation, under this pilot launch of the program, includes benefits such as technical assistance, peer-to-peer exchanges, and branding materials and promotional strategy. The Council has partnered with Visit California and Caltrans for strategic statewide marketing and resource support.

Los Angeles' Little Tokyo

"These Cultural Districts showcase California's cultural diversity and vibrant experiences," said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California. "The districts are one more way to highlight the one-of-a-kind places throughout our state that inspire residents and visitors alike."

RELATED: Filipino district proposed for San Francisco

SoMa Pilipinas project manager Raquel Redondiez says that despite this recent recognition by the state, and on the first anniversary of the official recognition of SoMa Pilipinas as a cultural district in San Francisco — there is still much to be done for Filipinos in the city.

“We are facing increase in eviction. We still have a lot of new immigrants being pushed out of our homeland and making their home here. They need services. They need support. They need jobs…and SoMa Pilipinas is part of a stable community — where we can continue to practice our values of bayanihan.”

###