Our Roots Are Deep,
Now We Seed our
Future
A Letter From Our SHG LEaders
Querida Comunidad,
As many of you know, Self Help Graphics & Art has always been grounded in a powerful belief: that small efforts, when brought together, can create lasting change. Over these past few years, we’ve done just that– securing a home and establishing our permanent roots in Boyle Heights. Every step we've taken has been fueled by passion, perseverance, and the support of individuals like you who believe in what we do.
Today, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment. As SHG has evolved and grown in our 50 years of service to our community, we see a need to plan for a sustainable future. It starts with being sustainable and altering our existing home to support program evolution.
This is why we’ve launched this capital campaign OUR ROOTS ARE DEEP, NOW WE SEED OUR FUTURE. Our current goal is to raise $5 million dollars, which we know is ambitious; as with everything we do, we approach this effort with humility, and with the understanding that we cannot do it alone.
This campaign is not just about raising funds for a building; it’s about building a future for SHG. This facility will serve as a vibrant hub for creativity, collaboration, and innovation, ensuring that BIPOC artists and the broader community has an inclusive space to thrive and make a lasting impact for generations to come.
We believe that when we come together, great things happen. That is why today we ask—not just for your support, but to invite you to be part of something bigger than any one of us.
We know times are tough. We know there are many causes that need attention and resources. However, we also know the incredible potential of this community when we come together with a shared purpose.
Whether you are able to give financially, help spread the word and share SHG's impact on your own life, or simply offer your encouragement, every contribution matters. We have never been a large organization but because of our collective strength of people and creative voice our impact is far greater, and home is where it happens!
So, as we embark on this important journey, we humbly ask that you consider and share with us how you can support us—how we can come together to turn this vision into a reality. It’s not just about what we can do today, but what we can build for the future.
Thank you for your continued belief in our work, and for being part of this transformative moment for SHG.
¡La lucha sigue!
In Community,
Endy Bernal
Board Chair
Paulina M. Flores
Executive Director
COLLECTIVE LEGACIES
OF SELF HELP GRAPHICS
The Deep Roots of Self Help Graphics & Art were planted in 1970, during the height of the Chicano Civil Rights Movement.
A group of young Mexican and Chicana/o artists Carlos Bueno, Antonio Ibáñez, Frank Hernandez, and Sister Karen Boccalero set out to create a space for Chicana/o and Latinx artists. Reflecting the social climate of the time, SHG continues to be a hub for creativity, arts, and social justice.
SELF HELP GRAPHICS TODAY
SHG remains the preeminent center for Latinx art in printmaking, training, and community-based arts. The center’s values of equity, inclusion, and social justice guide all programs and initiatives.
SHG is rooted in the struggle against systemic forms of oppression as we pursue a holistic commitment to equity and inclusion through arts production, exhibitions, and programming that centers Chicana/o and Latinx communities, and includes the diversity of our BIPOC communities.
Renovation
Highlights
Advancing Our Mission
Founded in 1973 in East Los Angeles, Self Help Graphics is dedicated to promoting Chicana/o and Latinx artists. The center’s programs empower the community by providing access to space, tools, and training, making SHG a local and national cultural asset.
50 Years of Equity and Inclusion in the Arts
SHG's programs remain relevant as the arts field recognizes the influence of social practice and creative placemaking that SHG pioneered.
Capital Campaign Goal:
$5 Million
for Renovation
In 2018, Self Help Graphics & Art proudly acquired its 12,507-square-foot, 100+ year-old building in Boyle Heights, along with a 20,510-square-foot property. Now we are embarking on a much-needed renovation to restore and retrofit the building at 1300 E. 1st St. These improvements are essential to preserving the building’s cultural legacy, enhancing accessibility, and ensuring a safer environment for our community programs. With this renovation, we will also fully activate our outdoor space to better serve our mission and meet the evolving needs of the community.
The renovation will bring:
Interior Upgrades; such as HVAC, ADA compliance, new printmaking studio, and improved lighting.
Exterior Renovations; such as seismic retrofitting, new murals, and a wellness garden.
Operating Reserves toward the building maintenance, programs, and support for increased staff capacity.
Ways to give
Donation Opportunities
Support our Capital Campaign with a one-time, recurring, or planned gift(s). Explore naming opportunities within the renovated space.
Recognition
Donors will be honored on SHG’s legacy wall and invited to participate in exclusive campaign events.
Get Involved
Our Capital Campaign is a great way to get involved in our organization. Support by getting informed, becoming a volunteer, or attending SHG’s events celebrating and advancing our work in the community. Learn and share about our capital renovation and our movement to create a community art center on the Eastside that reflects the stellar artistry and caliber of the work created within our space!