CALEXICO — A well-known advocate of the arts will be honored tonight as the Calexico Cultural Arts Center is renamed in honor of former City Councilwoman Carmen Durazo.
Durazo was instrumental in opening the city’s cultural arts center in 2008, and Mayor Pro Tem Bill Hodge said he believes it’s important to recognize her decades of service to the community.
“I just think if there’s anybody who deserves to have her name at the Calexico Cultural Arts Center, then it’s Carmen Durazo,” Hodge said. “She took the lead in getting a cultural arts center, and she has a strong passion for the arts.”
Hodge said he first met Durazo when she was advocating for a mural at Friendship Park, and later worked with Durazo while she was a part of the Associated Calexico Teachers and during his involvement founding the Border Players theater group.
“She’s an influential figure in the community and it all comes from her heart,” Hodge said. “She truly cares. She’s relatively reserved, but the types of things she does is out of passion and love.”
Calexico Arts Commission Chairwoman Hildy Carrillo agreed that Durazo’s dedication to the arts makes her a perfect candidate for the honor.
“I think it’s a good way to thank Calexico’s own and show her some appreciation, because some people always kind of fly under the radar as they go along doing all these things and she’s one of them,” Carrillo said. “She’s never really received her thank you. I think this is perfect and am really grateful for Mr. Hodge for pushing this along.”
Durazo was the second female City Council member in the city’s history and created the arts commission.
The dedication ceremony will be held in conjunction with the fourth annual Black and White art exhibit reception tonight featuring more than 25 local artists.
Imperial County Supervisor and former Calexico Mayor John Renison also hopes to gather numerous former mayors together at the event tonight.
There will be a ribbon-cutting, remarks made by city officials and a plaque unveiling.
Hodge said that Durazo was key in pushing for a resolution years ago that sets aside a portion of project development impact fees for graffiti abatement and the arts.
He believes there’s about $45,000 now available for those efforts and looks forward to using funds for various beautification projects during the next year.
Call 760-768-2170 for more information on the dedication event.
If you go
What — Calexico Cultural Arts Center dedication
When — 6 p.m. today
Where — 421 Heffernan Ave.
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com
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