The mission of IZCALLI is to transform the lives of Chicana/o and Indigenous communities by promoting cultural consciousness through the arts, education, and community dialogue.

Our story

I In 1993, young Chicana/o activists in San Diego founded Izcalli, a Nahuatl word meaning “house of re-awakening.” Our motivation to establish Izcalli focused on the belief that the knowledge of Chicana/o and Indigenous culture is imperative towards changing the attitudes of many Chicana/o youth from self-destruction to self-determination. Given that much of our traditions, culture, and history has been taken from us, Izcalli has since been dedicated to the promotion and preservation of our Chicana/o and Indigenous art, culture, and history.