LOS ANGELES (May 30, 2024)  —  On May 30th, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes hosted a dedication ceremony in honor of Gloria Molina, joined by her family and friends. The newly named space will now be known as LA Cocina de Gloria Molina. 

The private event included Gloria’s family, friends, and members of the press. Notable speakers included Valentina Martinez, daughter of Gloria Molina; Hilda L. Solis, Los Angeles County Supervisor; Andy Carrasco, Chair of the LA Plaza Board of Supervisors; Antonia Hernández; and Leticia Rhi Buckley, CEO of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. 

LA Cocina de Gloria Molina is a tribute to Gloria Molina’s legacy. It is a teaching kitchen and flexible event space that highlights the history, culture, and influence of Mexican and Mexican American cuisine. The programming at LA Cocina de Gloria Molina includes culturally rooted cooking classes, talks and tastings, and cooking demonstrations. The Culinary Youth Training Program offers free, bilingual workforce development and skill-building opportunities to young people ages 16-24. 

The 2,500-square-foot space features essential kitchen equipment, infrastructure, and audio-visual capabilities, making it an excellent location for intimate programs and events, including meetings, classes, social gatherings, and team-building activities. 

Gloria Molina, who passed away on May 14, 2023, dedicated her life to serving her community and was a role model for women pursuing public office and community activism. She was the first woman to become a Los Angeles County Supervisor and the first Latina to serve on the Los Angeles City Council and in the California State Legislature. She also helped launch LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, a cornerstone cultural institution in Los Angeles County that centers the Latino experience and provides a space to uplift, share, and preserve the stories of Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and Latinx people in Southern California.