About
Our Mission
The mission of the Corralitos Valley Research and Education Association (CVREA) is to provide and maintain a community cultural center where Corralitos residents and members of the extended Corralitos area may find fellowship through the arts and a welcoming place for community gatherings, celebrations, learning, education and entertainment.
Our goals are to accomplish this mission in the following ways:
Provide a regular low cost or free venue for Musicians, Artists, Craftspeople and all who wish to display and share their creativity.
Provide a safe, clean and positive meeting space for community members to gather for private and public events.
Provide classroom and outdoor space for community members who would like to share their talent by teaching others.
Our History
The Corralitos Valley Community Council (CVCC) and the Corralitos Valley Research and Education Association (CVREA) were founded in 1990. The CVREA was the non-profit fundraising association related to the parent CVCC. These groups were formed partly in response to the 1989 earthquake and the passage of Santa Cruz County Measure C in 1990 which was mostly an environmental policy initiative.
This community organization effort included the establishment of Aldridge Park with the support of a Packard Grant. Also included was the purchase of the Grace Baptist Church, the site we now call the Corralitos Cultural Center. Over time and through usage we are commonly known as the “CCC”, the Corralitos Cultural Center, although we are still formerly the CVREA.
The three main activities of the CVREA were established as:
A Community Library
A Community Art Center
A Community Performance Hall
A fourth focus that developed and is still going strong is the Farm to Garden Market that we host in our parking lot every Sunday.
Over the ensuing years all of these elements of the Corralitos Cultural Center have served our community. However, owing to the onset of internet focused communication, reading and researching, plus the universal use of smart phones, our once complete and well used library has faded to nonuse and is being repurposed.
The other aspects of our program are strong and growing. We have featured a variety of concerts, and other musical programs in recent years. We established a weekly Open Mic in 2016 and it’s still going strong. Our art classes continue as does the children’s summer art camp. The Farm and Garden Market has become a relied upon weekly bounty.
We have recently developed our outdoor venue and gathering space we call “The Backyard.”
We’re looking forward to the many ways that this space can contribute to our community mission. To become a supporter, donate here.
The CVREA was, and still is directed by a volunteer board.
Board Members
Ed Kaufman
Thomas Tatum
Susan Gliner
Justin Hambly
Wayne Glass
Cat Miller
Ken Konviser
Brad Darbro
Become a Volunteer
Fill out this form to tell us about your skills, interests, and availabilities.