On any given day at CreArte Latino Cultural Center, a child might be learning a new dance step while a parent joins a bilingual book club nearby. A teenager rehearses for a performance as grandparents gather for a community celebration. Different generations, life experiences and languages come together through a shared sense of culture, creativity and connection.

Thanks to a $20,000 Community Impact Grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, CreArte Latino Cultural Center will expand these opportunities for hundreds of children, parents and caregivers across Sarasota and Manatee counties. The grant, which was made possible by the Community Foundation’s Zella I. and Junius F. Allen Fund and Leslie and Margaret Weller Fund, supports "Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Performing Arts & Education for Community Connection," a bilingual initiative designed to strengthen family bonds, celebrate cultural identity and foster a deeper sense of belonging through the arts.

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