Signature Annual Programs

For the past 28 years, Watts Century Latino Organization (WCLO) has hosted the Multicultural Cinco de Mayo Celebration, a large-scale, community festival that  highlights and celebrates the diverse cultures of Latino, Black, and Asian communities. This lively event honors Cinco de Mayo by noting its multicultural underpinnings with Mexican leaders who championed their own rights while also standing in solidarity with Africans to decry enslavement in Mexico. The event includes a mix of cultural performances, delicious food, and community engagement.

Featuring a variety of entertainment, including traditional West African dance, Korean cultural performances, and mariachi music, the Cinco De Mayo Celebration affirms the cross-cultural connections of the three groups that have been most prominent in Watts, , making it a key part of WCLO’s effort to bridge the multicultural divide and support the community. The festival also provides valuable community resources, with several organizations offering information on family stability resources like utility bill payment assistance, free solar panel systems and energy efficiency retrofits, as well as, education and health services. 

Beyond the cultural festivities, the celebration often includes scholarships for local youth, raffles of household appliances and goods for families, and exciting new initiatives and partnerships such as the launch of the East Side Riders Bicycle Club and L.A. Cleantech Incubator’s E-Bike Program launch featured at the 2023 event.

Cinco de Mayo has been enjoyed by thousands of residents and neighbors over its 30-year history. Click here to view news articles and photos from our 30 years of Cinco de Mayo Celebrations!

For 30 years, WCLO has hosted Navidad en el Barrio, or “Christmas in the Neighborhood,” an annual event that brings holiday cheer, nourishment, and critical resources to the community. This widely-lauded program has provided over 60,000 families in the Watts area with essential help during the holiday season. 

The event features food baskets packed with over two weeks’ worth of hearty perishable and non-perishable items, including eggs and potatoes, which are staples for a variety of meals like eggs and potatoes. The baskets also come with valuable resources on tenants’ rights, health and educational services, and more, to help families maintain housing stability, access financial protections, and obtain wellness resources. 

WCLO’s signature events have been accomplished by WCLO’s effective collaboration and coordination of various partners and funders, including Watts Life Car Club, Kaiser Permanente, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Altamed, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-43), L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, L.A. Councilmember Tim McOsker (Council District 15), Kinecta, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, volunteers and friends over our 30-year history.

Navidad en el Barrio is more than just a holiday event; it’s a celebration of community resilience and solidarity, and we’re proud to continue this cherished tradition every year.