Board Member Mónica García and Board of Education Allocate $26 Million to Build Woodrow Wilson Senior High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Center “It is time to finish the “W” – Tomas Benitez (11-16-21)

News Release 

For Immediate Release                                             Date: November 16, 2021

Contact: Jennifer Valdivia 

(213) 414-4812, j.valdivia@lausd.net                                     

Board Member Mónica García and Board of Education Allocate $26 Million

to Build Woodrow Wilson Senior High School’s Visual

and Performing Arts Center

“It is time to finish the “W” – Tomas Benitez

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 16, 2021) – Today, the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education authorized Woodrow Wilson Senior High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Facilities Project, adding a $26M investment for Eastside students and the community. The authorization includes the development of a new 14,000 square foot performing arts facility, including specialized classroom spaces to support small student performances and visual and performing arts learning. Led by community force, the enhancement to the visual and performing arts program will support educational pathways and opportunities for students within the El Sereno, University Hills, City Terrace and Ramona Gardens communities. Investing in the academic wellness and aspirations of this community is critical to fulfilling the promise for educational justice from the 1968 Walkouts. 

“The beautiful new Visual and Performing Arts building at Woodrow Wilson High School will nurture the creativity of our students and employees by providing specialized classrooms for instruction and performances,” Interim Superintendent Megan K. Reilly said.

“Congratulations Wilson High School on demanding & securing funding for a performance space to showcase student talent,” Board Member Mónica García said. “The arts are a wonderful way to support voice and expression and continue to celebrate the pride of the El Sereno community.”

“Local District East and the Wilson High School community are overjoyed about the Visual and Performing Arts Facilities Project for Wilson High School,” Local District East Superintendent Jose P. Huerta said. “This project will support and enhance the school’s visual and performing arts program, and will also support the visual and performing arts instructional pathway between Wilson High School and its feeder middle school El Sereno. Thank you to all involved for making this much-needed Visual and Performing Arts Project for the Wilson High School community a reality.”

“That arts are such an integral component in education, it behooves us to provide spaces where student talent can flourish,” Gilberto Martinez, Principal for Woodrow Wilson High School said. “Wilson High School students are extremely talented and need a space for their creativity to be created, developed, and showcased.” 

“As the former President of the Wilson Mules Alumni Association and current WMAA Board Member, I wish to convey my sincere gratitude for your remarkable efforts to maintain a robust academic and extracurricular educational program for all Los Angeles area students, especially during these difficult pandemic years,” Peter Cabrera, Board Member for the Wilson Mules Alumni Association said. “For more than 50 years, countless aspiring Wilson musicians and theatrical students have had a subpar facility from which to showcase their many wonderful talents, skills and creative abilities. A new, modern facility, equipped with proper sound, lighting, and dressing room accommodations will surely enhance their confidence and performances. The current and future students of Woodrow Wilson High School are deserving of this facility investment.”

“Fifty-one years later, we are still waiting for the completed brilliant design by the late great architect, Paul Williams,” Tomas Benitez, a 1970 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School said. “It is time to finish the “W”. Arts education fosters physical, cognitive and learning skills. Arts education teaches students to develop interpersonal skills, collaborative skills, and social skills. Arts education teaches discipline, and self-awareness, communication and problem solving, Arts Education teaches students cultural awareness, self-knowledge, and self-respect. Wilson has a stellar legacy of arts achievement, from Luis Alfaro, prize winning playwright and McCarthur Fellow Award Winner, Dolores Chavez, an icon of the Los Angeles stage for her career in directing and producing, and myself; I’ve written a few things over the past 50 years. We are asking you to invest in the students and the children who needs arts education now, and invest in the future generations; invest in the community, and invest in the arts.”

“We are once again grateful to Board Member Mónica García for her outstanding leadership in advancing community investments that will impact future generations of Eastside of Los Angeles students,” Maria Brenes, Executive Director of InnerCity Struggle said. “InnerCity Struggle is proud to support the Garfield High School Major Modernization Project and the Wilson High School VAPA project. These projects address educational equity and uplift greater learning opportunities for highest need students. The projects will amplify academic achievement and enhance the positive school climate that our students truly deserve.”

We thank our voters for supporting bond measures that make these projects possible and bring quality jobs to our areas. We are equally grateful to the Facilities Services Division Leadership that work to meet the needs in our communities.  

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