OUR STORY
ALAS began with a heart full of hope—a grassroots vision to honor the hopes and dreams of Latino farmworkers and their families in Half Moon Bay. With our first cultural arts programs—Ballet Folklórico and Mariachi, we sparked pride and belonging in our youth.
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Today, ALAS stands as a nationally recognized, award-winning nonprofit rooted in love and the transformative power of culture. We are honored to have earned the love and trust of our community. Since 2011, we’ve served with a dual focus on immediate needs and long-term transformation. From our food pantry to our innovative Equity Bus, we bring vital health resources directly to the fields while tirelessly advocating for lasting change—dignified housing, educational equity, and real economic opportunity.
We believe that our culture is medicine. Through counseling, group circles, alongside art and music therapy, we create healing spaces that blend the power of tradition with evidence-based care. Our partnerships with Stanford University and the University of San Francisco allow us to pioneer world-class mental health support and lead groundbreaking research. Each year, we gather thousands for Día de Los Muertos, holiday posadas, and pumpkin festivals—celebrating the community and culture that sustain us.
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Our community organizing and advocacy have turned big dreams into reality. We’ve helped secure and design 555 Kelly, the Coastside’s first affordable housing project for farmworker elders. Through immense pain and challenges—from a mass shooting to the global pandemic—ALAS has remained unyielding in our vision and values. We are building a future where no one lives in the shadows—a community where everyone dreams, and everyone belongs. Join us!
We believe that culture inspires and heals the soul, opening doors for community wealth, leadership, activism and engagement to flourish.
OUR MISSION
ALAS is dedicated to working for social wellness through multicultural practices, mental health care, individualized and collective support related to education, immigration processes, and work, and advocating for the wellbeing of the whole community.
OUR VISION
We envision a strong and engaged Latino coastal community, in which its people celebrate their identity and culture with pride and believe in their capacities to pursue their own dreams.