memories of el monte
peoples’ cafe

we are a community arts space that provides native fusion food, coffee, teas, and educational programming for el monte and the san gabriel valley area

memories of el monte fosters community rooted in solidarity and mutual aid as we collectively live, learn, and create together.

learn more

Peoples’ Café at the Memories of El Monte Community Arts Space is a multifaceted community hub addressing food insecurity and providing educational resources in El Monte and the San Gabriel Valley, and Greater East Los Angeles.

Prioritizing economic and environmental justice, our work focuses on food distributions, reintroducing Native foods to combat hunger, and promoting healthy eating through education and advocacy.

Our food services complement and provide an economic base for our culturally relevant and trauma-informed programming. 

"One of the most vital ways we sustain ourselves is by building communities of resistance, places where we know we are not alone."

— Bell Hooks.

A drummer and a keyboardist perform at an outdoor event or party during the night, with colorful lights and a canopy overhead. In the background, there is a screen displaying lights, and a quote in red text overlays the scene.
A group of people gathered around a whiteboard with colorful writing, standing indoors in front of a window with beige curtains. The group appears to be at an event or workshop, smiling at the camera.
Smiling young woman with curly hair and glasses standing at a vendor booth with various handmade crafts and artwork on display, during an event supporting vendors and sharing creative visions.
Four people inside a café, two wearing masks and two with traditional Mexican attire, with a promotional text overlay about challenging perceptions and welcoming conversations from all walks of life.
A group of people at an outdoor food stand, with a woman serving food wearing a black face mask and blue gloves, while a woman with orange hair and a black shirt is holding a phone and a bowl of food, and two men in the background wait in line, all w
A whiteboard with handwritten text about El Mantel de Pláticas, displaying today's reading topics, with several people sitting on chairs reading papers in a room with a tiled floor and curtains on the window.
A woman with glasses and long dark hair, smiling and posing with her hands under her chin at a jewelry booth. The booth displays necklaces, bracelets, and other accessories, with a sign reading "Madame Muerte" and other items like QR codes on the tab