About Us
What We Do
EPACENTER is an all-ages creative development organization that nurtures participants’ critical, creative, and socio-emotional skills while building a strong sense of belonging.
Our name (pronounced “pronounced “EP-ih-sen-ter “) reflects the energy and creativity of the East Palo Alto (EPA) community.
We offer a wide range of creative and innovation-focused programs in AI, Culinary Arts, Robotics, Architecture, Percussion, Piano, Visual Arts, Content Creation, Music, Environmental Art, Fashion Design, Animation, Digital Painting, and more. Participants can also access internships and training in social media, filmmaking, and audio engineering.
East Palo Alto’s power and potential are evident throughout our community. At EPACENTER, we provide opportunities for people of all ages to realize their potential through creative expression, civic engagement, and community service.
Originally conceived by the youth of East Palo Alto and designed by world-renowned architect Kulapat Yantrasast, EPACENTER has grown into a creative development hub serving the entire East Palo Alto community.
From the home of the Ohlone people, to Japanese American flower growers, to African–American leaders who incorporated the City, to the more recent and growing Latino and Polynesian cultures, EPACENTER celebrates both the place where we are rooted and those who live in it.
“I’ve developed so many different skills socially and emotionally alongside my community. I feel a sense of purpose at EPACENTER.”
– staci edwards, EPACENTER FOUNDING YOUTH MEMBER AND CURRENT BOARD MEMBER
Our Mission
Our mission is to increase opportunities for people of all ages to discover and amplify their talents, realize their potential, and impact the world through art, design, and technology.
For more than a decade, EPACENTER has empowered the youth of East Palo Alto. In Fall 2025, we embraced a bold new chapter—expanding our mission to spark creativity and strengthen community bonds. While youth remain at our heart, EPACENTER now delivers inclusive, high-quality learning, experiences, and career pathways through the arts for people of all ages and abilities.
By welcoming seniors, adults with developmental disabilities, and the broader community, we are widening our reach and deepening our impact for generations to come.
Values
We believe that every person has the right to shape the world they live in and the one future generations will inherit.
We value the right of all people to influence their communities and create civic, social, educational, economic, and environmental conditions that support healthy, creative, and sustainable lives
We engage community members of all ages in organizational decision-making, leadership roles, and opportunities to drive cultural change.
