RCNV's 50th Anniversary Fundraising Celebration
About this Event
On Saturday, November 14th, 2026, from 5-10 PM, the Resource Center for Nonviolence will transform into a sacred space as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary during our Annual Fundraising Dinner & Community Celebration.
We’d love to have you with us as we look back on our history of local, regional, and global nonviolent activism and cultivate renewed energy for the loving justice-centered work that lies ahead.
As inspiration for this shared work, we are deeply honored to welcome educator, community organizer, theologian, and former presidential candidate as our keynote speaker. Claudia’s visionary strategy emphasizes our shared right to live healthy, free lives and our shared responsibility to show up in ways that make this shared freedom possible.
Why This Night Matters:
- Your participation funds RCNV's critical programs
- Connects you to a living legacy of Santa Cruz changemakers
- Transforms remembrance into solidarity and renewed commitment shared action
We're so grateful that RCNV Board Member Andrés Ortiz has agreed be our Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Andres received rave reviews for his July 2026 performance as John Leguizamo in The Western Stage production of Latin History for Morons.
We are also thrilled to announce that will once again grace our stage and and will be serving another delectable meal. Stay tuned for the full lineup of wonderful performers who will join us in celebration and scroll down for this year's menu!
Join us. Let's rise together... and harness energy for the world we're co-creating.
Your Presence is Power
Your presence at our annual fundraiser directly sustains RCNV's vital work when the world needs courageous hope more than ever. We are committed to being as inclusive as possible while ensuring we have the resources to sustain our vital work.
To that end, we are offering a range of ticket donation levels and sponsorships. We invite you to give at the highest level comfortable to you—every contribution keeps our work alive and strengthens our collective ability to organize, resist, and build.
Join us as a sponsor for RCNV's 50th Anniversary Fundraising Celebration!
You contribution directly sustains our vital work when our world needs courageous hope and nonviolent social change more than ever. View our 2026 Sponsorship Packet.
Questions? Contact [email protected].
We'd love your help before, after, or during the event!
Thank you for helping to make our 50th Anniversary Fundraising Celebration as meaningful and memorable as possible! All volunteers working 2+ hours are invited to attend the Good Harmony After Party for FREE from 8:00 to 10:00 PM. View volunteer opportunities.
We'll be hosting a silent auction this year and would love your help!
If you are interested in donating an item or volunteering to help make the auction a success—whether by soliciting donations, setting up, or assisting during the event—we would love to have you on the team. All volunteers working 2+ hours are invited to attend the Good Harmony After Party for FREE from 8:00 to 10:00 PM. Please email [email protected] if you would like to help in this way!
About Our Keynote Speaker
Born in the South Bronx to immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic, Claudia De la Cruz was nourished by the Black and Caribbean working class communities of the Bronx and Washington Heights in the 1980s and 90s. At an early age, she was already questioning the conditions of poverty, violence, and oppression in her neighborhood. Her childhood experiences were her first entry point to understanding working class consciousness.
Claudia's evolving legacy lives in the coalitions she's built, the curricula she's designed, and the movements she's mobilized across the U.S. and Latin America. She holds an Mdiv/MSW from Columbia and Union Theological Seminary. She served as Pastor to her home church, San Romero de Las Americas Church- UCC; a congregation committed to faith based organizing and social justice for 5 years. After that she co-founded The People's Forum.
In 2024, she ran for President of the United States with the Party for Socialism and Liberation—a campaign rooted in her unshakable belief that through education, organizing, mobilizing and direct action, we can tear down the systems of oppression that stifle human flourishing and build a transformed future in their place. As a mother, she's working to build that future for her own child, and for everyone else's.
Claudia now serves as Executive Director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace. Founded in 1967 by progressive church leaders and activists, IFCO is the first national foundation led by people of color. For over 40 years, IFCO has supported community organizations and public policy groups to advance the struggles for justice and self determination of the oppressed.
Coastal Mexican Garden Buffet
by The Free Spirit Kitchen
Cabbage, Jicama & Citrus Salad — Shredded cabbage, crisp jicama, carrots, oranges, cilantro, toasted pepitas, and a light lime vinaigrette.
Enchiladas de Espinaca y Queso — Soft corn tortillas filled with sautéed spinach, roasted onions, and Oaxaca cheese, topped with a mild roasted tomatillo sauce
Frijoles de la Olla — Slow-simmered pinto beans with onion, garlic, and epazote.
Cilantro-Lime Rice with Roasted Corn — Fragrant long-grain rice tossed with sweet fire-roasted corn, fresh cilantro, and a bright squeeze of lime, creating a light, vibrant side dish that perfectly complements bold Mexican flavors.
Served with: Pickled onions • Fresh cilantro • Tortilla chips and fresh made salsa
Agenda
🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Registration, Mingling with Drinks & Appetizers, & Silent Auction
Info: Join us for registration, mingling, drinks and appetizers while gathering in community and bidding on your favorite items in our silent auction!
🕑: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Main Program featuring Dinner, Music, Keynote, & Awards
Info: An inspiring evening highlighting RCNV's past and present work with a defining keynote address by educator, organizer, theologian, and former presidential candidate Claudia De La Cruz, who will be joining us in person.
🕑: 08:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Good Harmony - After Party with Dancing, Drinks, & Socializing
Info: Join us as we keep the loving justice energy going at our first ever Good Harmony After Party!
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 535.38
