\u201cIt\u2019s not about money.\u201d This is a phrase not often heard in our modern, high-tech, fast-
\npaced world of today, even in our little town of Sayulita because of its massive
\ngrowth over the years from a sleepy little fishing village to a bustling tourist destination.
\nHowever, when talking with Nick and Sebastian, the owners and leaders of El Centro
\nCreativo (the Community Center for Sayulita), I hear this phrase genuinely articulated
\nseveral times. And I know they mean it.<\/p>\n
El Centro Creativo is a non-profit community center located on the land where festival
\nSayulita\u00a0usually occurs. For the last five years they have been raising funds through the
\nfestival to support their ideas and vision for this center. Their first official event was in
\nOctober of 2017, so they are just under a year old in terms of being up and running.
\nAs I arrive at El Centro, I am struck by the peacefulness and beauty of the center; it is
\nsurrounded by open land, brilliant flowers, and large palm trees. We go into one of the
\nsimple palapas to talk, and the instant impression I receive of these men is that they are
\nauthentic, compassionate, caring, devoted, visionary, and sincere. These are people who
\ntruly want to make a difference in our community of Sayulita, and they are doing exactly
\nthat.<\/p>\n
I talk to Nick and Sebastian about how they started this program, what their goals and
\nvisions are, and what El Centro can offer Sayulita.<\/p>\n
Where are both you originally from? When did you come to Sayulita, and what<\/strong> How do you two know each other, and how did you come up with the idea for El<\/strong> How did you make opening El Centro possible?<\/strong> Can you tell us a bit about what you do at El Centro and what it has to offer to the<\/strong> It is amazing that you offer these events and classes not only for free, but to all age<\/strong>
\nbrought you here?<\/strong>
\nNick: \u201cMy wife and my daughter, Treva and Astrid, and I, left the United States and moved to Sayulita in 2008.
\nWe moved because we were looking for a better life and we saw the community of Sayulita as a
\nvibrant, safe, and welcoming home. Sebasti\u00e1n and Tania moved from Uruguay in 2007 to Mexico
\nCity, and after that to Sayulita to live a life near the sea and in a more natural environment.
\nSebasti\u00e1n is an architect specializing in alternative and ecological materials and Tania is an
\neconomist who worked in Mexico City for social causes. Both were committed to helping
\ncommunities with serious scarcities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nCentro?<\/strong>
\nNick: \u201cWe are all \u201cmakers\u201d and we wanted to strengthen our community through shared activities-
\nmovies, language classes, puppet classes, graffiti and stencil workshops, sewing classes,
\nmotorcycle safety classes, etc. Sayulita is a unique place, full of independent creators.
\nEntrepreneurs, artists, chefs, carpenters, jewelers, etc. Creativity is integral in everyone\u2019s activities
\nhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFestival Sayulita founders joined together to make funding El Centro the goal of the Festival.
\nManuel and Adrianna Rodriguez, and the entire family behind Quintas Trujillo were generous
\nenough to share their home and make possible our current space. Festival Sayulita and personal
\ndonations made it possible to build out the structures we currently have operating. We are funded
\nin part by Festival Sayulita and the contributions of our generous donors.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ncommunity of Sayulita?<\/strong>
\n\u201cWe have been giving workshops for several years during Festival Sayulita, and now that we have
\nour first real home at Quintas Trujillo, we have been able to offer so many more workshops\u2014 even
\ninside the end product of our Bamboo Workshop from last October. We offer puppet making, moto
\nsafety, and art classes three times a week, an English class for kids starting soon, a sewing
\nworkshop, a history of maiz class and its importance in our lives in Mexico, and on and on. We are
\na fully registered and active Mexican Asociacion Civil. We try to have as many workshops and
\nclasses free as possible. In the case that someone wants to attend a workshop but lacks the funds,
\nwe also gladly accept volunteer hours in trade. We always need extra eyes during art classes or an
\nextra hand at the popcorn stand for movies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nranges, including adults. Where can the community of Sayulita find out more\u00a0<\/strong>information regarding classes and schedules?<\/strong><\/p>\n