Big challenges need united voices. Change starts when we come together.
At Levantar, we create space for honest conversations about what matters most—because when neighbors raise their voices together, real change begins.. We do this in partnership with community organizations such as Redwood City Together, El Concilio, Sequoia Healthcare District, Multicultural Institute, Stanford, and others.
Redwood City and North Fair Oaks are located in one of the most creative and innovative regions in the world. Levantar wants every child here to access opportunities for creative expression of mind, body, and spirit.
Colibrí Rojo
Colibrí Rojo teaches traditional Mexican dancing from the Veracruz region and provides opportunities for dancers of all ages and skill levels. Students learn ballet folklórico, while others learn to play an instrument, such as the guitar, violin, or percussion.
Learn about the traditional music and dance tradition of the southern region of Veracruz, Mexico with Danza Colibrí.
FRidays
Zapateado de Tarima - beginner - 5pm to 6pm
Introduction to Jarana Jaroacha - 6pm to 6:30pm
Introduction to Jarana Jaroacha - 6pm to 6:30pm
Sundays
Violin & guitar lessons - 9am to 4pm
All Are Welcome!
895 2nd Ave Redwood City
For more information about Danza Colibrí call Marta Celis 650.995.4345
For more information about Danza Colibrí call Marta Celis 650.995.4345
Initiative
Community
At Levantar, we walk alongside families with care that’s rooted in trust, culture, and community.
For over 20 years, we’ve built deep, genuine relationships that create space for families to share their struggles and celebrate their successes. Our holistic approach centers on cultural pride and mutual support, making every connection a two-way journey of growth and trust.
Community Connections
Cake4Kids
Volunteer bakers use their talents to provide custom cupcakes and cakes for students. It is a fantastic way for our community to participate in birthday celebrations and special events!
Community Emergency Response
Levantar has a strong community support network, including congregations, nonprofits, corporations, and city government. When crises come upon our families, whether evictions, immigration-related actions, or the tragic loss of loved ones, our network steps up to provide needed support and referrals.
Initiative
Health & wellness
We all know that hunger and fatigue can impair learning and hinder the ability to complete classwork. Illness brings them to a halt. Therefore, Levantar deems fitness and nutrition a necessity, not a luxury, for all children in Redwood City and North Fair Oaks.
Mental Health Focus
OneLife Counseling
OneLife Counseling is a valuable partner who hosts seminars for parents facing everyday challenges
Mental Health Focus
Stanford Office of Child Health Equity (OCHE)
We partner with the Stanford Office of Child Health Equity (OCHE) to host focus groups for parents who are concerned about their students’ ADHD.
Mental Health Focus
BeyondOK
In 2025, we launched a partnership with BeyondOk to host innovative interactive workshops on addressing mental health issues and concerns for parents and families. The workshops included education and an introduction to tools to address mental health literacy, focusing on anxiety, which is the mental health disorder with the earliest onset. The core aim of the program is to provide students and families with the education and tools in a safe, community-based environment that empowers them to address and manage anxiety before it becomes debilitating or transforms into depression or other mental health challenges.
Salud Sabrosa
Hosting weekly cooking classes with families allows them to explore health and nutrition in a fun and interactive way. Kelly Walker brings her expertise as a nutritionist, and parents learn new recipes and have fun cooking together. This is unique because it is hands-on and utilizes the educational technique of ‘tell, show, and do. Everyone was able to eat foods prepared by a chef and then cook and serve food to their cohort members.
Volunteer Today!
We would love to meet you and be blessed by your time.
Initiative
Education
We read to know we are not alone.
– C.S. Lewis
Education changes everything.
When students feel supported, they can grow in confidence, skills, and hope for the future. Whether it’s reading alongside a volunteer, exploring new interests after school, or gaining language skills as a parent— Levantar creates spaces where learning leads to lasting opportunity.
Summer Camp
Levantar partners with local organizations to provide subsidized summer camp opportunities for students. These experiences offer fun, freedom, and continued growth during the summer months. Campers stay connected with tutoring, explore new skills, and avoid the “summer slide” while enjoying time outside the classroom.
Mom’s ESL
Many of the students Levantar serves have parents for whom English is not their first language. Our English-learning groups provide more than just language support—they offer a place for moms to practice conversation, build confidence, and connect with others navigating similar challenges.
Academic Enrichment Centers
At the heart of Levantar’s work is the Academic Enrichment Center (AEC)—a safe, welcoming space where students receive snacks, read with adult volunteers, get help with homework, and engage in enriching activities that build skills and confidence. Our goal is to support students holistically and help them maintain or reach grade-level performance in school.
Initiative
Art
We proudly partner with local artists to offer art programs for our students. Sheena Wilton of Laurel Street Arts has been working with our students on projects since late 2021. Seeing their work on display in downtown Redwood City has been a joy! In April 2022, the City of Redwood City selected our group to be featured in a new series of murals! We love sharing our creativity with the city and our neighbors! In 2025, Sheena engaged our students in a new project with the Redwood City Arts Commission, which will also be displayed downtown.
Dance & Music Classes
Colibrí Rojo
We began hosting classes by Colibrí Rojo (formerly Danza Colibri) at our Centro Destino site in the 2019-2020 academic year and continued at our Hacienda site in 2021. We have continued this relationship and provided music and dance classes to our students throughout the school year, through all transitions of our location. Students learn ballet folklórico, while others learn to play an instrument, such as the guitar, violin, or percussion. Their performances are always a great blessing to the community.
Dance & Music Classes
Academy of American Ballet
Thanks to Levantar’s partnership with the Academy of American Ballet in Redwood City, many of our students have received professional ballet lessons throughout the years. As the Academy says in their charter, “every student, regardless of innate ability or physical body type, has the capacity to thrive and grow through dance.” We are grateful for the AAB partnership which allows Levantar to use space for our central offices.
Partnership with Woodside Priory
Seeds for Change
Seeds for Change is a club at Woodside Priory founded and led by student Genevieve Desjardins that empowers youth to support underserved communities through hands-on service across the Peninsula. At Levantar, they’ve shown up for our kids in meaningful ways—hosting a basketball day with their school’s team, leading fall-themed art and activity stations, and helping prepare for events by assembling Mother’s Day gift bags and shopping for Christmas gifts. Their energy, creativity, and care have brought joy and encouragement to the Levantar community.
Partnership with Woodside Priory
Soul Space
Soul Space is a community organization that partners with Levantar to nurture creativity and emotional expression in young students. Every other week, they lead engaging art sessions filled with fun crafts and painting activities, with support from Woodside Priory students Kyle Chen and Jackie Biscay, who help guide and encourage the students. Their presence brings warmth and connection, helping students build confidence and feel supported through art.
Art Changes Lives
“Art Changes Lives” is a program that uses art to support mental health, led by Brayden Dare. Each of our partnerships provides an opportunity for students’ creativity to shine and gives them an outlet for expressing themselves.
Initiative
Immigration
Every day, families in our community are being torn apart by immigration enforcement. ¡Levantar! is on the frontlines, responding immediately when a family reaches out.
Become a part of it
By giving or volunteering, you provide the essentials that keep Levantar going!
Donate NowVolunteer
Initiative
Events
In a society that celebrates individualism, Levantar prefers to pursue what is possible when we work in community. We want to promote proximity and purpose instead, convinced that individual happiness is inseparably tied to the well-being of others. Therefore, we bring people together to co-labor for the sake of the community.
Sponsor-A-Family – Christmas Celebration
Families in our community are some of the hardest working people we know. Christmas can be an especially trying time as parents wish to provide over and above the basics for their children. We identify families in need in the community and provide an opportunity for their gift wish list to be sponsored by loving and generous donors. Families come and wrap gifts to bring home for their celebrations. We also provide holiday meals and welcome donated gift cards to Safeway, Target, and more. Join us this year! Click for more information.
Back-to-School Backpack Drive
For many families in Redwood City, the costs associated with returning to school can be burdensome, and some children are unable to attend class with all the necessary supplies. Levantar is grateful for the support of local businesses, church groups, and community partners who help provide over a thousand backpacks for children in 10 Redwood City schools each year.
For the last five years, we’ve partnered with Gunderson-Dettmer and organizations like Peninsula Covenant Church and Peninsula Community Center—thank you! We’re also proud to partner with the Redwood City Police and Fire Departments, who help collect donations and join us each year to visit with students on giveaway day, making it a joyful and memorable event for everyone involved.